I got this sent to me by way of a family newsgroup I belong to.  I am
appauled like the author.  I ask that you all send the letters requested.
Thanks

Hi all:

Please read the following and act as the spirit leads you.

I received this from another list that I am a pert of.

Dear Family and Friends,

The letter below is a template that you may use to let the WB know

that you are unhappy with the use of the word "retard" in the new

feature film "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."

Please send your letter and copy it to the two gentlemen listed on

the bottom of the letter at the same WB address. It is possible to

get them to take out the line before it goes to home video and DVD

if we they receive enough complaints.

Thank you for your support and please share this with your

family and friends.

Gail Williamson

Executive Director

Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles

818-242-7871

Mr. Rick Mater, Sr. V.P. Standards and Practices Warner Bros.

4000 Warner Blvd.

Burbank, CA 91522-0001

Re: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Dear Mr. Mater;

I am contacting you because of my concern over a line in the Warner

Brothers' feature film "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." When the

audience is introduced to the character Mike Teavee he makes the

statement, "A retard could figure it out."

About 10 million people in the United States are reported to have a

medical diagnosis that includes mental retardation.

The slang "retard" is offensive and hurtful to these individuals,

their families and friends.

I suspect that a statement of this kind directed at a

specific ethnic or cultural minority would have never made it into

the film. This leads me to believe that Warner Bros.' department of

standards and practices has a different set of guidelines for the

human rights of people with disabilities then it does for other

marginalized groups.

I would ask two things.

First, please take this statement out of the film before it is

released on DVD and video for home use. The thought of millions

of children having this example to watch over and over again is

overwhelming. A child will not discern that Mike is bad and is

ultimately punished for his behaviors. They will more likely use the

language he uses in a hurtful way.

Second, please see that your standards and practices department has

the necessary training to recognize discrimination and degradation

of the 54 million individuals with disabilities in the U.S

and the more then 600 million world wide.

(Close it with a paragraph here.)

Sincerely,

(your name here)

Cc: Mr. Barry Meyers, Chairman/CEO

Mr. Alan Horn, President/COO