A cartoon on the famed Page 6 of Wednesday's New York Post has outraged some who consider it racist.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090218/ap_en_ot/ny_post_cartoon
The cartoon was inspired by a chimp named Travis who mauled a friend of his owner nearly to death the other day before being shot to death. In the Post's version two policemen are standing over the body of a bullet-riddled chimp. The caption reads: "They'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill ."
Col Allan, editor-in-chief of the Post, defended the cartoon, by Sean Delonas, with ts statement:
"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."
Say WHAT? Is there anyone here who does NOT think this is racist? Is there anyone who subscribes to the Post who intends to now boycott it?
Annie
[question posted by anniepa]responses and comments:
My only question is, would the cartoon have been considered offensive if we didn't have an African-American President? I think it is all in how someone views it as to if it is actually "racist" or not, but I do believe it is in poor taste. It trivialises the incident that woman went through, and to me that is wrong. [MYKLJ999_VERSION_2]
"I have to ask if the cartoon would have ever been written if we didn't." Once again Annie, have you SEEN all the George Bush Monkey cards? Google George Bush and monkey PLEASE. [Taskr36]
Personally I did not think it was racist. But I can see how some people would. I saw it as a insult to congress. Basically saying the economic stimulus bill was so bad and that a monkey not congress wrote it. Which is picking on Pelosi more than anyone else. Obama did not write that bill. Members of congress did. And apparently this cartoonist feels that congress lets a monkey write the bills for them. [lilwonders456]
If it hadn't been a common racist insult for years to equate African-Americans to monkeys I wouldn't see it that way either. Also, if it hadn't been the NY Post, maybe people wouldn't have been so quick to assume the worst. However, we know the bill wasn't written by President Obama but we also both know many people don't realize that, that's quite apparent even here on myLot. I guess nobody knows what the cartoonist was really thinking when he wrote it but it sure could be taken in that way and was by many people, especially in a city like New York where there have been racial problems involving police officers. It was tasteless, offensive and NOT FUNNY no matter what was meant by it. Annie [anniepa]
What can you expect from the NY Post? That has ALWAYS has had the reputation of being the sleaziest New York newspaper around in the same genre of those tabloids sold in supermarkets...one of the reasons I've never bothered paying money to buy it in the first place [pyewacket]
That's what I've always thought but coming from a New Yorker like you I feel sure that's the case. I know I wouldn't give my money to anything owned by Rupert Murdoch! Annie [anniepa]
I'm not sure if I'd call it racist. I think it's just saying that whoever wrote this bill has the intellect of a chimpanzee (I don't actually know much about the bill as I don't live in America). The last American president was frequently compared to a chimpanzee even though he was very, very white. I looked at the cartoon and I think it's in very poor taste, but I'm not sure about racist. If anything it's more offensive to the people who were involved in the incident with the chimpanzee. It's certainly not funny. [crispeater]
You're both right about it being offensive to the woman who was attacked and about it not being funny. Annie [anniepa]
I do think it was in extremely poor taste. But I don't think it is racist. First of all, it doesn't refer to Obama, or any specific person for that matter. Besides, it's seemingly mostly white scientists that are trying to make monkeys out of everyone by devoting their lives work to finding a common ancestor for humans and apes. [murderistic]
I am personally offended that they made a joke out of what happened to that poor woman. That was a tragedy and I think the owner of the chimp should face criminal charges. I don't know what the intent of the cartoonist was, but when I looked at it, the first thing I thought is that they were implying that the stimulus bill was so bad a monkey could have written it. I really didn't see any comparison to Obama as he didn't write the bill, that was primarily Pelosi and Obey, and I honestly believe a chimp could write a better bill than either of them. I really think people need to get over the "any monkey reference is racist" bit. To this day I still see Bush being compared to a monkey and there are greeting cards all over the shelves with pictures of his face next to a monkeys with various expressions. Seriously, just google George Bush monkey and see what you come up with. If you are going to call every monkey joke racist towards Obama than you should call them racists for doing it to Bush. [Taskr36]
As I've said, I'm also offended that they made a joke out of what was nearly a fatal incident to that poor woman. I think they're may be charges filed because I believe it's illegal to have a chimpanzee as a pet, especially one that big. It weighed over 200 pounds and did you realize an adult chimp has four times the strength of a human of the same size and weight? Think about that - FOUR TIMES the strength of a 200 pound man! I think part of why some people jumped to conclusions may be that it was in the NY Post. I don't know the intent of the writer either but considering where it appeared doesn't make me more likely to give him the benefit of the doubt. I couldn't agree more about getting over the monkey reference/racist bit but it goes both ways and people really should stop playing into the hands of those who may be too quick to cry racism. Again I must say we know Congress wrote the bill not the President but many people don't realize that and I'm sure the Post cartoonist is aware of that. Annie [anniepa]
If you are white you will look at this cartoon and see nothing wrong with it as the implication is that a monkey wrote this bill. If you are black you will look at this cartoon and be offended because the implication is that a monkey wrote this bill. wink [mariposaman]
I must respectfully disagree; I'm white and I looked at this cartoon and found it offensive and unfunny on every level. Annie [anniepa]
People often use the metaphor of a monkey to equate that to stupidity, and I think the New York Post is just capitalizing on this unfortunate event of the chimp being shot to death to make a mockery of the US Congress. I don't personally think it is racist, even though I feel it is not done in good taste. I am more concerned about the victim of the attack, a poor elderly lady who went to the chimp owner's home to help her coax the animal back into the house. The poor unfortunate dear is now in critical condition, and the owner has lost her pet. It's so unfortunate, and all the New York Post can do is to use a picture from the scene and make a joke out of it. No matter how the editor-in-chief defends the action of his newspaper press, I'd say shame on them for being heartless and insensitive. [lexus54]
I don't see the big deal. Then again, I'm not a touchy stiff with no sense of humor. I can see how it can be perceived as racist, though. I agree with the editor-in-chief, Sharpton is a publicity opportunist. It also looks like people just want something to complain about. That's how most American's are, though: whiny and opinionated. The only thing that bothers me about it is it downplays what the owner of the chimp had to go through to reign him in. I can't imagine stabbing my own pet to death. [Latrivia]
Apparently the New York Times apologised. See here:http://www.nypost.com/seven/02192009/postopinion/editorials/that_cartoon_155984.htm The funny part is, in the apology they implicitly stated "f*ck you Al Sharpton". Al Sharpton and his ilk don't get an apology. I really hope they stick with that sentiment. [Latrivia]
GIVE ME A BREAK!!!! I find it hard to believe that these peoples lives are soooo perfect that they have the time to pick apart a cartoon. THis is the problem. There have been cartoons such as these for years. Now that the president is african american, Its racist. COME ON!!! I sincerely hope Americans dont play into this. This is exactly what I said would happen if Obama was elected. Every little thing would be scrutinized and made racist. We have world issues to take care of. People are being killed for nothing. People are starving. I think racism doesnt have to be played into everything. THis is only the beginning. I promise you. Al Sharpton has only just BEGUN!!!! dl [dloveli]
I definitely think the cartoon was in poor taste and racist as well. I do believe that there is still a notion by some uneducated white Americans and others that black people are inferior and close to monkeys. I don't think the catoon was playing on this tale but it sure sends this message. [Lindalinda]
Yeah, I bet Al Sharpton's Rorschach Tests would be very telling and interesting. [Ima_C_Suvaya]
They should fire that stupid Delonas. He should have known the uproar it would cause and the fact that most people would consider it racist. Why do people do such things as this? That cartoonist and his boss are both just plain stupid! [iriscot]
I think the cartoonist and his boss are both dumb like foxes. They knew exactly what kind of uproar it would cause and that's exactly what they wanted to happen. I think a lot of people aren't aware of the history of the Post so they're more likely to give the cartoonist and the publisher and benefit of the doubt but this paper is owned by Rupert Murdoch and is part of News Corps which also owns Fox News. Annie [anniepa]
I looked at the cartoon and I see how it could be misunderstood as racist, but I don't think that's what the cartoonist had in mind. I think the cartoon does poke fun at the stimulus package in the sense that any "monkey" could have written it. Not that Obama is black, therefore comparible to an ape. I think anyone that sees this as racist is looking for something to complain and raise cain about. [MissAmie]
And as I've said the writer of the cartoon was hoping for exactly the reaction that it got. He and his editor wanted someone to raise cain about it. Annie [anniepa]
I don't find it racist, but I do find it offensive. Being there is a poor old woman sitting in pain in a hospital. [zoesden]
You're right, I find no humor in someone having her face ripped off, as the 911 call went. Annie [anniepa]
It was in bad taste all around. Not only is he showing a lack of respect for the chimps owner, everyone knows that chimps and monkeys have been used to depict black people, especially black men in this country. Even if the artist was aiming this at congress did he not really think that people would take this as a racial insult to our president. [renemouche]
I have no doubt he knew exactly how some people would take this. Annie [anniepa]
Annie, I think you're aware that I'm not a big Obama fan and probably thatI didn't vote for him. But that "cartoon" is one of the most racist things that I can recall in many years. A parody of a current news event? Give me a BREAK! What recent news event had a primate that wrote a stimulus package? There is nothing to MASK the fact that the cartoonist was referring to Obama. NOBODY deserves to be the subject of that kind of INSULTING "parody." I never liked Sharpton (maybe it's his hairdo), but he's right on target with this one. For Col Allan to defend that piece of trash merely proves HIM to be as much of an a&&hole as the cartoonist who drew it. Memo to self: Right is right. Allan and Delonas are clearly WRONG. (C) 2009 RJScott [rjscott]
Thank you for an honest and objective response. That's certainly NOT to say that those who have responded and said this cartoon wasn't racist weren't being honest but I think you know what I mean...you've been critical of Obama and I know you didn't vote for him but you still aren't afraid to speak up about what you think is wrong. Annie [anniepa]
I think it is racist, too. I would never subscribe to the Post. [Bd200789]
Annie, oh Annie, You knew in your heart I would respond to this. I have too seeing I live here. I have boycotted the tabloids, I mean the Post and Times for a bit now. I also write and verbally speak out about them to the point that when someone who tried to give me a free copy of both down on 42nd street got the response from me that I would not take that smut if he paid me. I shake my head at the journalist of today and where they stand. Then people wonder why the world is headed down... Ainge [Aingealicia]
Annie, Well where is my money...hehe. Ainge [Aingealicia]
Wow, I guess they are looking for any kind of publicity. I think that it was a harmless enough comic and I don't think that it warrented the reaction that it got. I don't understand what the big deal is. I guess some people just look for anything to stir trouble up. [CRIVAS]
I don't think it was intended to be harmless at all. Whether you believe some people are overreacting or not the Post expected the reaction they got. Annie [anniepa]
They just had a segment on the news about that very cartoon. I'm sorry, but no one is going to believe its simply a parody. They are trying to cover their butts, realizing they may have gone too far. What really saddens me is that in this day and age we still have to even use the word race in any way. President Obama is a man, just like all other men. Color of skin should not have to play into it, but for some reason people around the world just can't let it go. [TessWhite]
I understand the Post has issued an apology and there had been internal e-mails about this cartoon. Annie [anniepa]
Perhaps what's most striking there is that the cartoon showed white men killing a black monkey, do you get what I mean? Plus the caption says 'They'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill' actually points to the monkey writing it, which could then lead to President Obama writing the stimulus bill. Anyhow, they should have filtered it. Any cartoon or any posting on the newspapers would severely be trivialized if not properly thought of. [laydee]
So what do you make of the fact that the two policemen who just shot the chimp are white. Do we associate that with the police shooting of blacks too? What do you make of the Beware of Dog sign posted on the lamp post? Is that anti religous as dog is god spelled backwards. I realize that everything in the United States is tinged with race but sometimes a cartoon is just a cartoon, not something with many levels of underlying racist code to be deciphered. The fact that you find the cartoon funny or not funny is rather irrelevent and just because you do not think the cartoon is funny does not therefore make it racist. [mariposaman]
You're right, sometimes a cartoon is just a cartoon but this cartoon must have been intended to be racist since they've issued an apology! Annie [anniepa]
Actually, Chimpanzees are APES not MONKEYS. in America all types of men are called apes. As in "get yer back waxed, you big ape", or "back up, you big ape". It's very telling that sharpton automatically thought of black people. Anniepa, what did you think when you first saw it? Or, were you looking at it from Sharpton's racist eyes? [Ima_C_Suvaya]
I first saw it on the TV news, because I certainly do NOT get the NY Post, and I saw the cartoon well before I heard Sharpton's opinion of it. Probably because I'm quite familiar with the Post and know what their agenda is, I did see it as racist before anyone told me I should. Perhaps had it been published somewhere else I wouldn't have humped to that conclusion as quickly but calling African-Americans monkeys or apes has been a much too common racial slur for years. Of course, Sharpton automatically thought of black people, he's a New Yorker and is also quite familiar with the Post. They've issued an apology, by the way. Annie [anniepa]