Morgan Spurlock. Free speech hero, an asshole, or both?

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

HORSHAM, Pa. - The filmmaker who ate nothing but McDonald's meals for a month for his Oscar-nominated film "Super Size Me" gave a profanity-laced, politically incorrect speech at a suburban Philadelphia high school, but not everyone was lovin' it.

Speaking at Hatboro-Horsham High School's first-ever health fair, Morgan Spurlock joked about the intelligence of McDonald's employees, about "retarded kids in the back wearing helmets" and teachers smoking pot in the balcony.

The special education students in the back row were led by teachers out of the hourlong presentation.

"If you put the whole package together, the use of the F-word and poking fun at teachers and the comments about special-needs students, it just wasn't appropriate," Superintendent William Lessa said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060326/ap_on_en_mo/filmmaker_speech

[Bunny]

1. Anyone who makes fun of people with mental retardation is an

asshole in My Book. So, go fuck yourself, Morgan.

[ikojo]

2. I got the impression he's an elitist from watching

Supersize Me. His girlfriend is a vegan chef and came across to me as one who looked down upon anyone who didn't eat macrobiotic organically grown foods. While we can all make better food choices, not everyone can afford organically grown foods.

[LostinVA]

3. Aster watching his TV show, I have to disagree

His GF was featured prominently in the first episode, and she came across as a [pretty decent person who has a very good, pragmatic head on her shoulders (the episode where they spent several weeks living on poverty wages)... but I understand what you're saying.

[ikojo]

4. I've never seen the TV show

So I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

[TheBaldyMan]

5. other, I won't condemn him until I saw a transcript or tape of his

speech.

It depends if the 'tard jokes were funny IMO.

[flamingyouth]

6. I loved his movie

I'm deeply disappointed in him after hearing about him making fun of retarded kids. Really nice, jerk. x(

[fudge stripe cookays]

7. I'm with Lisa.

Loved the movie, but the making fun of retarded kids was horrible.

And like he needed to drop repeated F bombs in front of these kids. They hear enough of that every day. Wouldn't it be nice to be a great example while being funny without being a jerk?

Freedom of speech is one thing. I'm all for a rowsing version of "Kick Out the Jams" anytime.

But there's sort of a line of respectability when addressing a crowd of youngsters in the company of their instructors and seniors. And it sounds like this crossed it.

fsc

[Lavender Brown]

8. What was he thinking? What an ass

:thumbsdown: