The recent controversy in regards to an editorial cartoon is proving what people already know, though don't want to admit.
Everyone is racist.
Let's begin with the cartoon itself. It depicts two police officers standing over a dead monkey. The officers clearly shot the monkey, and are conversing with one another saying, "They'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill."
On initial reaction, I took it to mean the bill was poorly written. Poorly written as in a monkey could, and in this case did, write it.
I can also see why people could claim the cartoon is racist. Those who claim not to recognize the historical connection of blacks and monkeys are perhaps part of the continuing problem. If you don't know the history, and can't think critically about it when evaluating something a wide-ranging audience will see, something needs to change.
As far as the likeness of the monkey to President Obama, that's a stretch. Obama was not responsible for writing the stimulus plan. According to the New York Times, it was a number of people, none of whom were Obama.
Before people begin throwing accusations, the proper information should be collected. Whoever first equated the monkey with Obama has some obvious racist tendencies.
But every group has been discriminated against in some way. Perhaps some don't have the history or extensive ongoing coverage of others, but it's still there.
Native Americans, slavery, Pearl Harbor, 9/11...it seems to be the unfortunate nature of human interaction. Some people have to feel better than others. Some go about it in the wrong way. There is little we can do to completely rid the world of ignorant people. Pointing the finger at people and calling them racist is hypocritical. Everyone is guilty of a racist thought at some time in their lives.
Everyone is racist.
Everyone is racist.
Let's begin with the cartoon itself. It depicts two police officers standing over a dead monkey. The officers clearly shot the monkey, and are conversing with one another saying, "They'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill."
On initial reaction, I took it to mean the bill was poorly written. Poorly written as in a monkey could, and in this case did, write it.
I can also see why people could claim the cartoon is racist. Those who claim not to recognize the historical connection of blacks and monkeys are perhaps part of the continuing problem. If you don't know the history, and can't think critically about it when evaluating something a wide-ranging audience will see, something needs to change.
As far as the likeness of the monkey to President Obama, that's a stretch. Obama was not responsible for writing the stimulus plan. According to the New York Times, it was a number of people, none of whom were Obama.
Before people begin throwing accusations, the proper information should be collected. Whoever first equated the monkey with Obama has some obvious racist tendencies.
But every group has been discriminated against in some way. Perhaps some don't have the history or extensive ongoing coverage of others, but it's still there.
Native Americans, slavery, Pearl Harbor, 9/11...it seems to be the unfortunate nature of human interaction. Some people have to feel better than others. Some go about it in the wrong way. There is little we can do to completely rid the world of ignorant people. Pointing the finger at people and calling them racist is hypocritical. Everyone is guilty of a racist thought at some time in their lives.
Everyone is racist.
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