Political Correctness and Identity Politics

I got dumped last night, through facebook. Harsh. Anyway, one of the reasons was that I didn’t want to see Tropic Thunder. Apparently the fact that I was willing to judge it before I’d seen it was not something she could understand.

She had mentioned us going to see Tropic Thunder, but also mentioned that it is pretty ‘un-pc’. On hearing this I had a quick look into the film, using, to start with, Wikipedia. I noticed there that a number of disability rights groups had criticised the film, saying it was offensive to people with learning difficulties. The premier had been picketed by groups including the Special Olympics and the American Association of People with Disabilities (see here). People have also not been asked to go and see the film. In fact, the organisation Special Olympics are running a campaign (at the moment the link to the campaign isn’t working, but this is a related link) surrounding the use of the word “retard.*” According the Wiki entry the makers of the film (and also the woman I was sort of dating) felt that it was clear they were actually taking the piss out of people who do make money from stuff like this, specifically referencing Forrest Gump. I did a quick bit of research, but could not actually find any similar protests surrounding the film Forrest Gump!

I am a person in a position of privilege in relation to the people this film takes the piss out of. As a result, I clearly can’t understand the way people who will be offended are affected. It’s not ‘political correctness gone mad’ that I respect their opinion and don’t go and see the film. It’s simply good manners! What’s more, I don’t care what the intentions were of the people who made the film, because they, also, are in a position of privilege, so can’t understand to the same extent how it makes people feel. I expect, to be honest, if you have learning difficulties, or are related to someone with learning difficulties, hearing the r-word jumps out at you, and makes you feel bad, in the same way I can’t help but notice when someone around me says, “that’s so gay!”

It actually kind of worries me that treating other people with respect is seen as something we should apologise for.

Note to UK readers: I don’t think the film has received as much bad press here, but even if it might not cause offence to people here, if you watch it you’re still funding the wankers who disregarded the feelings of those in the US who are, and have every right to be.

*The campaign refers to this word as the ‘r-word’. Obviously I don’t support the use of this word in general, but I don’t feel that my use in this context can be seen in the same way. I know this maybe doesn’t seem to fit with the rest of my post, but this is a judgement that I have made. I like to think of myself as open-minded so if this is something you have a problem with, I’m happy to be convinced.