The new Ben Stiller film, “Tropic Thunder,” caused immense controversy within the disability advocacy community.

An angry group of over 22 organizations, including the Special Olympics and the American Association of People with Disabilities, highly objected to the repeated use of the word “retard” in the film.

Etan Cohen, co-writer of the film stated, “We’re really trying to make fun of the actors who use this material as fodder for acclaim.”

After viewing the movie myself, I found that Cohen was right. Stiller and Co. were making fun of the actors, not people with disabilities. However, the over-use of the word “retard” proved to be very unsettling and could encourage other people to use the word.

Dr. Greg Long, professor of communications disorders class Disability in Society, speaks about the word in class and the importance of using appropriate language in addressing people with disabilities.

“We have all thrown the word around before, I know I have, but we need to create better attitudes,” Long said.

“Across the board, people with disabilities say that the number one issue they face on a day-to-day basis is simply the negative attitudes of non-disabled people.”

Long said the major groups in the nation are trying to make a switch from using the term “mental retardation” to “intellectually disabled,” which is much more politically correct.

Stephen Colbert once said, “Of course we are not making fun of people who are retarded,” on his use of the word. “We are just making fun of people who do stupid things.”

This is true, and most likely what most people think when they casually throw out the word.

However, when the word “retard” is also used to describe people with cognitive impairments, it is basically calling them stupid, and they know it.

Long is right when he said “I don’t think that people are intentionally mean or hurtful, they are just unaware.”

He says his goal of the class and in life is not to preach, but to merely educate people that words like “retard” are harmful, and hopes that this education can cause a much needed change in the way society views people with disabilities.

“When we use words like “retard” we are only enforcing that negativity,” Long said.