Can We Talk, Ben Stiller?

Jill Egle, co-executive director of the Arc of Northern Virginia, has a bone to pick with Ben Stiller over the movie Tropic Thunder. Jill, who has an intellectual disability, sets the record straight.

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Can We Talk Ben Stiller?

People with disabilities would like to say thank you for writing and producing Tropic Thunder—you and your movie have created a much needed national dialogue for millions of people who have or love people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Much of the press has been about using the word "Retard" and how hurtful "hate words" can be to millions of people. What has been most hurtful is the fact that "Slow Jack" portrays people with disabilities in a negative light—by emphasizing the fact that we are slow, un-coordinated, un-attractive and unwanted. I wanted to educate you and others about these attributes.

Some people with Intellectual Disabilities may process information more slowly—we have learned that with accommodations like "giving us information ahead of time, good supervision, developing regular routines and even repeating things on occasion" we can be leaders in the work place, school settings, churches—the community.

Some people with Intellectual Disabilities are uncoordinated—but many of us are talented athletes and even refer to ping pong as "our game"!

Some people with Intellectual Disabilities may appear as "unattractive" to others because of bad haircuts or big teeth. Here is some information that might explain why some of us look the way we do... Did you know that many people with disabilities live off of Social Security Income which is about $653 a month? We are expected to pay for our rent and food with this income. We can work—but often we are trained to work at minimum wage jobs without benefits—so we rely on Medicaid for our health insurance. It is important to understand these issues because it means that we can not afford to get the best haircuts and clothes. And in terms of health care --Medicaid does not pay for dental services and if we do have insurance we have found some dentists won't work on people with Intellectual Disabilities—"It's not their area of expertise!" Are our teeth really any different?

Lastly, and probably one of the most hurtful parts of the movie is when the actors talk about adopting a baby and make reference to the fact "you get to choose your child" rather than "getting stuck" with a child that appears to have a disability...To be honest it is not easy to grow up as a person with a disability or as a sibling of a person of a disability or as a parent of a person with a disability. But once we are here—we are anything but "Unwanted".

Mr. Stiller—Here is one last fact. Having a disability in a country where beauty and riches are valued—leaves millions of people living very lonely and isolated lives. As a result we are some the most avid movie watchers in America. We look up to you and see you as "Stars" because through your movies we experience a life that we don't often have access too...Why does this hurt so much? Because you have made us feel "Unwanted!" Can we talk Ben Stiller?

Jill Egle'
Co-Executive Director and a Young Woman with an Intellectual Disability

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• ben
• stiller
• tropic
• thunder
• r-word
• arc
• virginia
• egle
• jill
• northern

[parasiticproductions]

I watched your video, and you make some very valid points. What people fail to realize is that Ben Stiller was parodying how Hollywood makes these movies about mentally handicapped people because they know it's an automatic quick buck, and an automatic Oscar; that's their goal. In other words, Stiller is saying that Hollywood is so full of itself, they feel they're untouchable. It's a parody of the industry, not a parody of the mentally disabled. I myself am autistic and had no problems with it.

[ruhster58]

This video was excellent!!! I really hoped millions of people view it. It is such a joy to see people with disabilities advocating for themselves. We are a large group much larger than any other minority group and we need to be heard. We are proud to be part of this amazing community. Many thanks to the ARC of Virginia for making us all look good. I hope Ben Stiller reaches back out to our community. Thank you, Debra Ruh

[TheAbstractreason]

Ben, you got schooled! Let's see if you have the honor to respond.

[TheAbstractreason]

Ben, you got schooled!!! lets see if you have the honor to repond.

[cinstlu]

I am glad that you weren't offended, however I myself have a son who is 13 and autistic and it was very painful for me to sit there for the retard dialogue to go on and on and on. The point could have been made better and without inflicting what i was feeling during that part of the movie. I fight for my son and for others rights. Stiller needs to be knocked down a peg or two.

[fleebus090]

If tropic thunder got under your skin, you should have seen "There's something about Mary". with ben stiller saying he keeps his "retard in a cage"....that came out years ago. Is there a video coming out about that film also?

[stuttsdc]

Thank you!

[downmama]

I wish he would see this. Jill, you did a really good job and you represent so well. It was not angry or hateful. Just facts. Everything you said was so acurate. People will hear you.

He can't undo the movie but I would like to see him do something on the flipside of TT. It can be done. The Ringer was a great movie that did great job. It might heal some of those wounds that he's caused.

...and of course then never do a movie like TT again.

[ardzter]

thx for coming to LHMS ms jill and i think the speech was great!

[ardzter]

thanks ms jill for coming to LHMS i think some people really need to think before they say!

[Kristle911]

you came to langston hughes middle school! ur awesome thank u jill and the ARC for standin up with those who have disabilties