Not a Joke
Hold the New York Post accountable
The New York Post recently published the political cartoon shown here, depicting two white police officers standing over the carcass of a bullet-riddled chimpanzee, with the animal representing the author of the stimulus package.
The decision to run this cartoon was irresponsible at best, and hurtful and malicious at worst. It seems unthinkable that an editor of a newspaper would not understand the history of Black folks being depicted as monkeys and apes or the recent spate of death threats against President Obama. Worse, when confronted, Post editor Col Allan dismissed people's concerns as baseless.
Hold the New York Post accountable
The New York Post recently published the political cartoon shown here, depicting two white police officers standing over the carcass of a bullet-riddled chimpanzee, with the animal representing the author of the stimulus package.
The decision to run this cartoon was irresponsible at best, and hurtful and malicious at worst. It seems unthinkable that an editor of a newspaper would not understand the history of Black folks being depicted as monkeys and apes or the recent spate of death threats against President Obama. Worse, when confronted, Post editor Col Allan dismissed people's concerns as baseless.
Please join me and other ColorOfChange.org members in demanding that the Post apologize publicly and fire the editor who allowed this cartoon to go to print: http://www.colorofchange.org/nypost/?id=1552-873115
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3 comments:
I sent the following message regarding this cartoon:
This is one of the most despicable and irresponsible cartoons ever printed in a reputable paper. I am surprised and shocked. Beyond the racial implications, this denotes hatred and violence.
An apology isn't enough for this level of blasphemous assault against the President of the United States of America, no matter whether you agree or disagree with him. An apology, complete retraction and some form of discipline against those responsible for allowing this to be printed is called for. This is not "freedom of the press." This is irresponsible and unethical reporting at its worst.
COEXIST
We [society as a whole] will always find it difficult to accept new concepts—valid or not—from those that we find are subordinate [inferior] to us in any fashion. Hence the total lack of respect for our new president. The lack of a Spiritual foundation in the world has caused all of us to have difficulties coexisting with everyone. And coexist we must, if any we are going to experience evolution in its truest form.
We all have been guilty of the ignorance related to intolerance [racism, chauvinism, discrimination, or bigotry], in one form or another; however, it is only when the group [majority or subordinate] that we belong to has been dishonored that we take a stand against injustice. We should all be intolerant to what I have coined as “Satan Hate’n.” But are we intolerant of injustice when it really matters? Not at all! When we stand by and watch women, children, the elderly, the disabled, and certain religious groups be looked over, neglected, or abused, we are just as guilty as the original offender. Nevertheless, we remain passive, just so long as the offended is not us.
I am one to believe that absolutely nothing that is considered to be unjust should be tolerated, no matter what group the individual belongs to. Perhaps the article and the blatant disregard that the editor displayed is a reflection of Americas deteriorating moral views. The first thing anyone supporting the views behind the political cartoon might screem may be "freedom of speech!" The second might be that "it’s just a joke!" However, we all know that jokes are at times a form of passive aggression, and freedom of speech should not be taken so lightly, especially when the speech is purposely offensive to an entire group of people.
Is the article offensive? Yes, but we tolerated so many other things that led up the political cartoon, that instead of crying out against just this particular article, we should advocate for Tolerance… Positive Coexistence… Evolution in its truest form. You know… get to the root of the evil that stirred this type of thinking in the first place. But who am I? Just a Poor, Americanized African, Woman!
In short, stop the madness! Sensor yourself to avoid offensive language against anyone from any group. Lastly, own up to your short commings and at least, Retract the Damn statements!
Deedy, you have made so many good points! Unfortunately, there are some people who have no intention of accepting diversity, tolerance for others, or retraction of open racial/ehtnic/religious/economic/social bigotry. Note the open letter from Schaeffer in my next post.
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