Editor:

I am writing this letter today to ask all of your readers to stop and take a moment to think about their own personal life. Consider all of the wonderful gifts, talents and blessings that they have been allowed to enjoy throughout their life. Many of these things we take for granted as we live our life. Two of the most important are feeling valued and having self-respect.

Unfortunately, that institution known as Hollywood has again taken an opportunity to portray people who have intellectual disabilities as less than deserving of human dignity and self-respect. The motion picture "Tropic Thunder" has debuted as the next derogatory depiction of people who have an intellectual disability.

The picture employs the use of the word "retard" or "retarded" throughout the film in a phony attempt at humor but an effective attempt at hurting people.

While humor is the stated goal of the picture, what a reasonable person would take away after watching the film is a methodical attempt by its producers at de-valuing the worth of people with intellectual disabilities and depicting them as dumb or worthy of ridicule.

Please note that I am not insisting that the clinical use of the term mental retardation is in and of itself derogatory or inappropriate. I am, however, suggesting that the use of the words "retard" or "retarded" are hurtful, derogatory and inappropriate in today's society toward people with intellectual disabilities.

It is especially disturbing to see adults use such language around young people thus sanctioning its use. People who have an intellectual or developmental disability often times are targeted by those who find these words as acceptable, accurate or funny.

These words however are stinging, hurtful and filled with hate. I urge you to model to your children and to other adults around you the appropriate way of treating people with disabilities as you treat every other person you encounter - with dignity and respect.

Please send a clear message to Hollywood and others who profit by these kinds of movies. What is more important though, is that you model to others that people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities are a part of our communities and deserve to be valued and included. That is the strongest message which can be sent.

CHRIS BOSTON, Casper

Executive director, NOWCAP Services