Terri

I think the artist intends to parody and ridicule those who partonize the disabled. He seems to be making fun of America’s Shriners, not the children. The artist presents the Shriners clown-car as creepy, and the image on it as patronizing, I think.

I think some day the word “disabled” will be considered insulting. That is, it will become insulting if the public does not change its attitude towards those who differ from the perceived “norm’”. If people continue to look down upon those of us who have mental and physical differences, the word used, what ever it is, will acquire negative connotations.

I call it the circle of bigotry. At one time the word “Negro” was the word those who yearned for racial equality favored. However, though the word replaced it’s predecessor, the word “colored”, and mainstream America adopted the word “Negro”, mainstream America failed to embrace racial equality. And the word “Negro” lost it’s lustre. America still treated the people descended from Africans as inferior, and the word came to reflect the appalling attitude most white Americans held towards “negros”.

The word “Negro” then was replaced with a term that was considered less condescending: “black”. “Black” has likewise fallen from favor, and has been replaced with “African American”. We can keep adopting new terminology ’till the cows come home (an American colloquialism meaning “forever”), but if we Americans don’t change our attitude about those we consider “minorities”, we will continue to connote negativity to the names we give those we consider “different”.

I mean no disrespect to the disabled by posting the photo. I don’t think the person who took the photo does either. And I don’t even think the artist who created the car meant anything but to ridicule those who consider the disabled people who should be pitied. The disabled deserve our respect, not our pity.

Thank you for commenting, your point is well-taken.

I like the rest of the sculptures. Thanks for sharing them.

Terri

Looking back on my post, I feel my remarks are awfully cynical, and mocking of this film. It really is good, and it carries a good message with a commons sense approach.

Thanks for commenting, Lola.

Ma’s speech made me all teary even.

Twenty-plus years since then and nearly 80 years since it was made, it’s still so striking to see. I like to look for Dali’s influence in it.

Yup. The influence on the hippy and beat movements must surely be complete revulsion at the codification of behavior and morals.

OBEY! CONFORM! WASH BEHIND YOUR EARS!