Arc Mercer takes on Tropic Thunder

By Greg Forester / Staff Writer
   WEST WINDSOR — The Arc Mercer may have failed in its attempts to persuade the United Artists theater at MarketFair shopping center to halt the showing of the film “Tropic Thunder” because of the use of language deemed offensive to persons with development disabilities.
   But Steven Cook — the executive director of the Mercer chapter of the national organization that serves people with developmental disabilities — says the film and the organization’s response provided a unique stage for advocacy and education, which the general public might not have otherwise received.
   ”We ended up with an opportunity to let people know that this is offensive language,” Mr. Cook said.
   The film, which grossed $65.7 million as of Sunday, has proven controversial due to its repetitive use of language deemed offensive to persons with development disabilities and their supporters, including the words, “retard,” “imbecile,” “moron,” and “idiot.”
   In response to the film’s opening two weeks ago, Mr. Cook and others from the organization made a show of force that included asking the manager of the United Artists theater in MarketFair and other theater managers in the county to halt the showing of the movie.
   Those requests were denied, as United Artists theaters across the country received similar requests but continued to show the film, which stars Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr., and Jack Black.
   The next step for The Arc Mercer was to request that theater officials provide opportunities for short educational segments prior to the showing of the film, Mr. Cook said. Those requests were denied as well.
   Finally, the group staged a limited protest on a stretch of sidewalk along Sloan Avenue in Hamilton on Aug. 15, adjacent to the AMC Hamilton theater complex.
   Called the “Rally for Respect,” around 250 people showed up for the event, including people with various degrees of developmental disabilities, along with their friends, family members and supporters.
   ”It was excellent,” Mr. Cook said of the rally.
   A spokesperson for United Artists, Dick Westerling, said the company would continue to show the film, noting the great financial success the film is continuing to experience.
   ”We do not take positions based on the content,” said Mr. Westerling. “It is the ultimate decision of our moviegoers to decide which movies to see.”
   Many chapters of The Arc have come out against the movie and taken action similar to the Mercer County chapter.
   Mercer County was one of the original areas were The Arc organization emerged, according to Mr. Cook, who said there are currently 1,000 chapters of the advocacy group in the U.S.
   Besides providing advocacy for people with different degrees of disability, the organization also provides residential facilities for 150 individuals in the county, consisting of independent residences and some with varying degrees of supervision.
   The organization also provides transportation to day programs, job training and adult daycare for persons with severe disability, Mr. Cook said.