Equally famous among film buffs are posters that show Robby the Robot in "Forbidden Planet" and Gort in "The Day the Earth Stood Still" similarly carrying the respective female stars of those films.

In both of these cases, those who are complaining don't get the jokes. It's important to understand intent, and in these cases the object of ridicule is Hollywood silliness, not mentally challenged people or women.

Personally, I'm much more offended by real-life offenses, such as the recent photos of Spain's Olympic basketball teams (both the men and the women) posing for the camera with their hands forcing their eyes to "slant," in a mock depiction of their Chinese hosts.

And instead of apologizing, the team has defended itself by saying it was meant to be funny.

Now there's a group in need of a boycott.

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E-mail: hicks@desnews.com