New York Post Cartoon

[Eilonnwy]

Adrian and I were discussing the new york post cartoon featuring a gunned down chimp and mention of the stimulus plan on twitter. Since twitter ahs a 140 character limit I decided to bring the discussion over here. Below are some links related to the cartoon:

The Cartoon itself: http://is.gd/jZTt
Huffington Post Article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/18...67841.html
Pam's House Blend Article: http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=9532
Keith Olbermann talks about it: http://tinyurl.com/cmgyur
Republican Campaign Monkey: http://tinyurl.com/avagoh

To be clear, I'm simply arguing that the cartoon is racist. Not that the cartoonist should be lynched for it. I whole heartedly believe in freedom of speech and that cartoonist can be as racist as he wants and I can then boycott the New York Post (which I don't read anyway).

Anyway, Adrian's twitter post said:

Please can a sane person explain how this is racist in any way, shape, or form

Since I like to think I'm sane, I will explain!

Here in the US black people have historicly been equated with monkeys and not in the nice factual evolutionary way. Obama was insulted as one in the campaign. You can see that in links I posted above.

Furthermore, the US also has a history of police shooting down black people. Not a pretty fact, but it's a fact. There's also the fact that Martin Luther King was gunned down. Stuff like that.

While yes, I agree that the cartoonist was refering the chimp that went crazy and mauled a lady, the racist undertones are glaring since the police then mention the stimulus bill which Obama had been trying to pass once he got into office.

The racism is there. While I may not think that cartoonist should be lynched and I can agree that political correctness goes to far. I have to agree there is racist undertones.