Nailed it again! Just what I was thinking but unable to articulate. Well said!

Not because of one strip that's offensive to women, but because it continues to be an unfunny waste of ink and newspaper space.

Right on Chris! I've taken issue with this kind of pro-active self-righteous indignation several times before. People are so eager to fight any and all injustices that they don't take a step back to figure out what the intent of the statement or action was. The divorcing of action from intent causes so much confusion and unnecessary offense-taking it's ridiculous.

Nice double standard Mr hicks. It's OK to refer to a group of people by a name that is degrading and sophomoric because it is used in the context of satire. But, it is not OK to satirize the characteristics of another group of people? You may be surprised that in an upcoming movie, people who are born without full brain capacity are called "critics" and those who play them immerse themselves in the role so much they refer to themselves as the "full critic". They need your number to study for the sequel.

I have read your comment ten times, and I still can't figure out what you are talking about. You have managed to prove Mr. Hick's point nicely. The film was not making fun of people with diasabilities, it was making fun of those who shamelessly portray disabilities to further their "acting" careers. Tropic Thunder is mocking people who think the complex issues of disability can be tritely and smugly portrayed in a patronizing yet award winning manner manner.

You ought to be thankful, both to Mr. Hicks and the filmakers that they have the courage to point out the humor of this selfishness.
But if you still are offended by it, then Mr Hicks was right; you just don't get it.

Until you are a parent of a disabled child, and I have 2, you just won't get it

As a matter of fact I too am the parent of a disabled child. And again, I say to you, it IS NOT THE DISABLED THAT THE MOVIE IS MAKING FUN OF!!! It is making fun of people in hollywood, who insist that there is no deeper meaning to the lives of the disabled than to be used as "Inspiration" for the able bodied.
Do your disabled children have a sense of humor? My daughter does, and in spite of her life threatening disabilities, is one of the funniest people on the planet.
And guess what? all humor is based on pointing out the peculiar, unexpected attributes of one group or another. EVERYBODY gets laughed at at some point. Its a fact of life. My family and I are at least able to understand the difference between real life and the movies. If we are able to grasp the consept of a world larger than film, it ought be no problem for you as well.

So those of us who have disabled children must then concede that we are humorless! I will reform! I will rethink the real life experiences my daughter has had to endure as she has been mocked, avoided, passed over, bussed miles away from home to attend a school where she would be accepted... I will rethink this and we will all have a big laugh together. Oh, and the kids at church that don't want her to come on a camp out because she is a "retard"... hilarious!!!
Anything that reinforces the behavior that hurts my child, whether satirical or not, should be looked at if it will create more "tag lines" and mocking gestures that will be repeated by adults and children alike. Mr Hicks is naive to say that just because this is a R rated movie that those who would be influenced by it will not see it. There are people at my work that already use the phrase "the full retard" that was coined in this movie. They have not separated it from real life, have they.
Stand up for your children! Yes, we all need humor. But hurt is hurt!

So you are making the assumption that if people stop watching movies, the stupidity of the human race will lessen?

Now that is just absurd! Where would we be without the brilliance of Hollywood?
I think the assumption you make is that I am against all movies, humor, or joy in general. Not so!
But, when people in any wide spread media, or local media for that matter, treat the uniqueness, beauty and dignity of those with special needs with a "matter of fact" attitude because they can not defend themselves, I hope I have the courage to at least stand up for my children and say "Enough!" . I think the thing that upset me most about Mr. Hicks' article is that he gave the impression that the ridicule directed toward the Chinese (no class or respect whatsoever by the b-ball team, by the way) had greater weight in his mind than ridicule or disrespect of those with disabilities. Disabled people are treated as such second class citizens that I just sometimes have to voice my love and respect for those individuals or families who live the life, and let those who aren't blessed to have disabled people in their lives know that we are still here. I like Ben Stiller. Just a bad choice in script writing.

What an incredible ego Mr. Hicks must have to make a statement that "those who are complaining don't get the jokes". I saw Tropic Thunder and it was obvious within the first two minutes that bad actors, directors and other Hollywood types were the object of the movie's "humor". It was also obvious that people with disabilities were being used as the object of ridicule. The two targets are not mutually exclusive. The difference is actors, directors etc. are fair game and can defend themselves, if they so choose. People with disabilities are not fair game. Does Mr. Hicks really think that the R rating will keep young people from seeing the movie or being influenced by it. Just who does he think the t-shirts with the saying "don't go full retard" or the posters with the statement "once upon a time there was a retard" were aimed at? No, Mr. Hicks, we get the joke and we are not amused.