Frankly, I think the cartoon that was recently published in the New York Post was in extremely poor taste. Though the Post denied that the cartoon (which likens President Barack Obama to a chimp) was meant to be racist, it is hard to image the cartoon was created without any racial undertones.
Initially, I was concerned that Post editors and staff thought the cartoon was appropriate to publish. However, now I believe that it was a few top editors who allowed the cartoon to run, for many Post employees and editors are unhappy and angry about it.
Though I'm disgusted about the racist nature of the cartoon, that isn't the only aspect of it I'm bothered about. The cartoon parodies the chimp mauling of a woman in Connecticut a few weeks ago. The woman, named Charla Nash, was attacked by her friend's pet chimp. Nash's injuries were so horrifying that some staff members who treated her have sought counseling. Furthermore, the chimp, which was shot dead, was loved by the community and by its owner as a pet. No doubt, this was a traumatic experience for everyone involved.
That Sean Delonas, author of the cartoon, thought it was appropriate to parody such a recent and disturbing event shocks me. It is a miracle Nash is still alive, but her condition is still critical. If the attack had killed her, would Delonas still have produced the cartoon? Probably not, out of respect for Nash, her family, her friends and the community. Delonas should have thought about all the interpretations of his cartoon before submitting it for publication.
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