Racist Chimpanzee Cartoon

[Steven E. Webster]

Friends,

Here's a link:

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/...stionable.html

If you go to google news and search the words: chimpanzee cartoon, you will find the cartoon itself.

The charge is that this is an ugly, racist attack on Barack Obama. Seems that way to me. The newspaper where this originated is the New York Post owned by Rupert Murdoch, a right-winger.

Steven Webster

[Gennee]

The New York Post is a racist paper which I don't read. I'm not surprised by the attack. Black people get this all the time.

Gennee

[Rick336]

Here's a statement from the New York Post today:

"The cartoon is a clear parody of a current news event, to wit the shooting of a violent chimpanzee in Connecticut. It broadly mocks Washington's efforts to revive the economy. Again, Al Sharpton reveals himself as nothing more than a publicity opportunist."

If the New York Post wants to be given the benefit of the doubt, it seems to me that it would have been better for them to have said something along the lines of:

"The New York Post deeply regrets our error in allowing the cartoon to be published. We now realize that the cartoon may be seen as insensitive to African Americans and President Obama. We offer our sincere apology."

I mean, come on! The cartoon is NOT a "clear parody". I think it's very easy to see how it could be misinterpreted.

Rick

[BrianB]

May I ask a question? Is there any unfavorable commentary about President Obama that won't be seen as a racist attack? Bush has been portrayed as worse things than a chimpanzee. I guess we all have to walk on eggshells when commenting about President Obama.

[BruceChris]

It's usually an understatement. I find it awfully hard to say anything positive about a society that has been comatose for the last 8 years.

Bruce Chris

[Steven E. Webster]

Originally Posted by BrianB

May I ask a question? Is there any unfavorable commentary about President Obama that won't be seen as a racist attack? Bush has been portrayed as worse things than a chimpanzee. I guess we all have to walk on eggshells when commenting about President Obama.

I think there are all sorts of "unfavorable commentary" that could be made about President Obama that would not be perceived as racist---just don't include a reference to a chimpanzee in it. Can it be that hard?

Oh, and by the way, leave out nooses, burning crosses, welfare queens and the N-word.

I don't think any intelligent "unfavorable commentary" is going to be taken as racist.

Frankly, I think the implied accusation that Obama can't be criticized without there being counter-charges of racism is itself an expression of racism.

Steven Webster

[BrianB]

Originally Posted by Steven E. Webster

I think there are all sorts of "unfavorable commentary" that could be made about President Obama that would not be perceived as racist---just don't include a reference to a chimpanzee in it. Can it be that hard?

Oh, and by the way, leave out nooses, burning crosses, welfare queens and the N-word.

I don't think any intelligent "unfavorable commentary" is going to be taken as racist.

Frankly, I think the implied accusation that Obama can't be criticized without there being counter-charges of racism is itself an expression of racism.

Steven Webster

You may think what you like. I was just asking a question. Asking questions is an expression of racism? If that is racist I apologize for asking.

[Rick336]

Even if we forget about the racist connotations of the cartoon, the character representing the president in the cartoon was gunned down and killed. What kind of a sick message does that send?

The New York Post is trash.


Rick

[Steven E. Webster]

Originally Posted by Rick336

Even if we forget about the racist connotations of the cartoon, the character representing the president in the cartoon was gunned down and killed. What kind of a sick message does that send?

The New York Post is trash.


Rick

There is and has been a lot of fear that Obama will be assassinated, even to the extent that he's had an unusual amount of Secret Service protection since he became a candidate. Why? Because this is a racist country full of violent racists who kill African Americans and who are outraged to see African Americans in positions of authority.

What that cartoon hints at is nothing less than lynching. It is not just an attack on Obama, it is an expression of this country's hatred for its African American citizens, and our country's desire to keep them in a subordinate position.

Since LGBT people suffer from a similar (though different) cultural prejudice, I would expect that we would also be sensitive to such racist expressions. I do, think, though, that we need to educate ourselves about racism. We really need to make some effort to understand what it must feel like to be an African American seeing such a cartoon.

Steven Webster

[Steven E. Webster]

Originally Posted by BrianB

You may think what you like. I was just asking a question. Asking questions is an expression of racism? If that is racist I apologize for asking.

C'mon, get serious! Of course, asking questions is not racist. Asking racist questions is racist. If the shoe fits, wear it!

Steven Webster

[BrianB]

Originally Posted by Steven E. Webster

C'mon, get serious! Of course, asking questions is not racist. Asking racist questions is racist. If the shoe fits, wear it!

Steven Webster

You can keep your shoes. I'm not a racist.