New movie outrages disabilities groups for use of 'R' word

A comedy-action movie opening in theaters Wednesday has outraged groups representing those with mental disabilities for what they call the gratuitous use of the word "retard."

"Tropic Thunder" follows a group of prima donna actors filming a Vietnam War "Platoon"-like movie when they get tangled up in real warfare with a paramilitary gang.

The satire spoofs the film industry about the lengths actors will go through to advance their careers. It stars Ben Stiller, who also directed the film, Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr.

Officials with Special Olympics of South Carolina and local relatives of people with Down syndrome say the "R" word should not be perpetuated as OK by the highly influential Hollywood film industry.

"It is as inappropriate to use the "R" word as it is to use the "N" word," said Todd Nimmich, whose son, Paul, has Down syndrome and was featured in a Coca Cola commercial Friday during the opening ceremonies of the Olympics in Beijing.

"It's demeaning and degrading to a group of people who don't deserve it," Nimmich said. "They didn't ask to be the way they are. They were born that way. It should not be used in such a way to make fun of other people."

Read more in Wednesday's editions of The Post and Courier.