ROBERT SIEGEL, host:
Now to your comments.
MELISSA BLOCK, host:
One interview I did for yesterday's program generated a lot of e-mail. I spoke with Tim Shriver. He's the chairman of the Special Olympics, and he's calling for a boycott of the new film "Tropic Thunder."
SIEGEL: DreamWorks, which is releasing the film, says it's a satire of the excesses of Hollywood. Shriver and other disability rights groups say the film uses hate speech with its frequent use of the word retard.
BLOCK: Well, many of you wrote to say that's going too far, such as David Monpa(ph) of San Antonio, Texas.
SIEGEL: He writes: Whenever a group calls for the ban of a particular work of art on the grounds that it is offensive, they're assuming that the audience is not sophisticated enough to decide for itself whether the work is meant to mock a stereotype or perpetuate it.
The Shrivers have a distinguished history advocating on behalf of those with cognitive disabilities. Certainly there are better ways of serving that interest than promoting censorship.
BLOCK: We also got several letters thanking us for the interview. Laurie Arsenalt(ph) of Essex, Massachusetts wrote this: I am the sister of a woman who in this era is referred to as intellectually challenged. She's literate, funny, compassionate and aware. She lives in a group home, where she thrives with responsibilities as she faces her challenges.
When we were children, Deborah(ph) was defined by the appellation mentally retarded. One evening I was alone with her. We watched a TV show which had a so-called retarded character. Deborah turned to me and asked: What does retarded mean?
Arsenalt continues: I had fully intended to see the movie. Now I know not to subject myself to what would ultimately be a sad and angry evening.
SIEGEL: Send us your comments, good or sad or angry. You can write to us at NPR.org. Click on Contact Us at the top of the page. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.