Petition to Remove Dumbo

[IamBrerBear]

Saw this on another forum. This is just the beginning folks!

https://www.change.org/p/the-walt-d...bwcCjIVFBCetXV5EAZOmjwRa5cCIQci6_VEyi1uzwbKMQ

 

[JimMIA]

Saw this on another forum. This is just the beginning folks!

https://www.change.org/p/the-walt-d...bwcCjIVFBCetXV5EAZOmjwRa5cCIQci6_VEyi1uzwbKMQ

Looks like an important cause...sigh.

 

[BrianL]

When news of Disney+ first came out it was said that many movies would be edited, including Dumbo. By the time the service started, they had changed that and did not edit the movies, but rather added teh "outdated cultural depictions" note at the beginning. While I certainly understand why scenes in Dumbo are problematic, I do not think they should remove the movie. Perhaps they could add more of a disclaimer at the beginning or a short discussion about it to add context - thi sis something that Whoopi Goldberg has always been a proponent of. - they could get her to do it. Burying this stuff from view doesn't serve to further the conversation, but rather silences it.

 

[Minnesota!]

I get it. I hope it DOESN'T end...we all have (hopefully) grown since these things were released.

 

[low-key]

I wonder if this is the new normal, or people stand up and say enough, know one really knows for sure how this ends

 

[Jennasis]

I wonder if this is the new normal, or people stand up and say enough, know one really knows for sure how this ends

People are standing up and saying enough.

 

[2012disney]

If you erase everything from where we came from we'll never know how far we've come. If everything is offensive, insensitive, and problematic then nothing becomes problematic.

 

[Dead2009]

People are standing up and saying enough.

Attempting to erase history isnt standing up and saying "thats enough".

 

[bcla]

When news of Disney+ first came out it was said that many movies would be edited, including Dumbo. By the time the service started, they had changed that and did not edit the movies, but rather added teh "outdated cultural depictions" note at the beginning. While I certainly understand why scenes in Dumbo are problematic, I do not think they should remove the movie. Perhaps they could add more of a disclaimer at the beginning or a short discussion about it to add context - thi sis something that Whoopi Goldberg has always been a proponent of. - they could get her to do it. Burying this stuff from view doesn't serve to further the conversation, but rather silences it.

This isn't quite like the depictions in Song of the South. Even back when Song of the South came out it was controversial. Dumbo was never considered terribly controversial at the time, and even today I'd say it's only mildly so. Over the years, Disney has tried to stay away from controversy, including going away from Louis Armstrong for the voice of King Louie in Jungle Book.

I don't even get that the Roustabouts are necessarily any particular race. They're just faceless, unskilled laborers. I certainly wouldn't have gotten that feeling just looking at it.

However, I sense "Jim Crow" as more a joke about the stupidity of racism. The singers from When I See an Elephant Fly did sing songs in that particular vernacular.

 

[Planogirl]

I'm glad that a flying elephant ride is considered a problem now. My eyes are tired from being rolled so much.

 

[VandVsmama]

This is dumb.

 

[kaytieeldr]

This is dumb.

No. It's Dumbo.

 

[JM23457]

I'm glad we have APs this year, despite the restrictions. We have 3 trips scheduled for the next several months, in which we can ride all of the classic Disney rides that the PC police are trying to take away. That way, after Disney caves into more demands from random college students on Twitter, we'll at least have our memories. At this point, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Little Mermaid ride, Be Our Guest, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and Cinderella's castle removed, too. After all, those films have politically incorrect depictions, as well.

I'm part African-American, btw. Not offended by the rides or the movies. Just sick to death of armchair politicos interfering with others' creative expression. Books are being censored, movies withdrawn, classic theme park rides de-themed. It's a terrible onslaught that will have a chilling effect on future creative efforts.

 

[Welsh_Dragon]

Perhaps the question is, at what point does the portrayal of a character using stereotypes cease being humorous and become instead insulting.
Personally, I am not insulted by Welshmen’s reputation for having inappropriate relationships with sheep, or adding extra unnecessary words to sentences, or treating rugby as though it is a religion. And I don’t suppose most British people are insulted by the portrayal of the cockney in Mary Poppins or the nanny in Peter Pan etc. But are stepmothers hurt by the Disney stereotype and does that influence how stepmothers are viewed by children? Are dwarfs insulted by the portrayal in Snow White and does it influence how people treat them? I could go on ( I am Welsh after all). There are so many unanswered questions. However, clearly, very clearly, without a shadow of a doubt, the crow characters in Dumbo are a harmful and insulting portrayal.
Should the film be banned? I don’t know. Maybe there is value in keeping it as a reminder of just how awful, cruel and racist the world was and to ensure that we never allow society to go back to that place.

 

[anthony2k7]

Petition live for 2 weeks and only 32 votes. I think Dumbo is safe for now at least.

 

[Jennasis]

Attempting to erase history isnt standing up and saying "thats enough".
[/QUOTE}

Not to you.

I get it. I am not offended by Dumbo. I don't think the ride should be removed or the movie banned...but I'm not black. I don't have a problem with anyone saying it should be, and I wouldn't have a problem if changes were made.

Apparently kneeling is disrespectful, protesting is frowned upon, marching is too inconvenient, rioting definitely out, removing statues and flags of confederate traitors is erasing history and starting an online petition to reconsider an amusement park ride/movie is also bad.

HOW EXACTLY WOULD YOU ALL LIKE FOR PEOPLE TO STAND UP AND SAY THAT'S ENOUGH? Please...can anyone please tell me what exactly would be acceptable to you

 

[PollyannaMom]

I personally hated Dumbo (the movie) as a kid, but not for the “right” reasons. (I was five and didn’t know any better.) I simply found it too sad that he was separated from his mother. I won’t miss it at all if the movie disappears from Disney+ but I’m also OK with a disclaimer or editing out the parts with nasty stereotypes. - - - I have no problem with the ride, however. Dumbo himself is not the hurtful character.

As for petitions, I think that is absolutely the right way to say “enough”! The wrong way is any method which targets someone other than the people who actually harmed you (rioting, for instance). I think in today’s ultra-connected society, media is the best tool of change we have. It’s been so encouraging to see people putting out things to really educate each other rather than attack each other.

 

[2012disney]

An acceptable approach to say "ENOUGH" would be at the ballot box or in the wallet. This mob violence masquerading as "peaceful protest" is a joke on its face and people see right through it. That's how it's supposed to work.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Boy oh boy....from Dumbo to mob violence.
What unusual lens some see the world through.

I don’t really remember the film and have never been on the ride.

 

[WEDWDW]

In today's climate Washington,Jefferson,etc. have to go if we are to be "consistent".

But does that cause more harm than good?