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Going Ape Over a Cartoon
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by Fred Miller | February 18, 2009 at 12:15 pm
1745 views | 94 Recommendations | 52 comments
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A woman was mauled by a chimp in Stamford, Conn., and a Police officer shot the chimp dead.
How do you use that image to comment on the controversial Stimulus Bill passed by Obama ?
Well, if you're Sean Delonas of The New York Post simply caption the shooting of the chimp in this way:
"They'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill"
Then you sit back and let others field the outrage of Civil Rights activist Al Sharpton, who called the cartoon "troubling at best given the historic racist attacks of African-Americans as being synonymous with monkeys."
In addition to Sharpton, over a thousand readers of The Huffington Post voiced their disapproval, to which columnist Sam Stein responded:
At its most benign, the cartoon suggests that the stimulus bill was so bad, monkeys may as well have written it. Others believe it compares the president to a rabid chimp. Either way, the incorporation of violence and (on a darker level) race into politics is bound to be controversial. Perhaps that's what Delonas wanted.
So what's all the huffing about ? Would you call this an offensive cartoon, or do you believe artist Delonas was merely exercising his rights to Free Speech ? His website has apparently been shut down due to overload as of this posting.
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Fred Miller
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Paschen
Narita, Chiba, Japan
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (52)
at 12:22 on February 18th, 2009
I think it's quite offensive actually - not only from the point of view of the chimp that died but especially because of the obvious relation to Obama in this cartoon. What an idiot this guy is to post a cartoon like that.
at 12:31 on February 18th, 2009
Thanks Amy, for reading and recommending !
The Guardian.co.uk has weighed in thus :
at 15:03 on February 18th, 2009
I agree, Amy, and the "Wha ...what's wrong with that?" reaction from the NY Post and the artist is ridiculous, given the President has been widely identified as the 'one who wrote the stimulus bill'.
Everyone has seen the video of folks, supporting Senator McCain, carrying sock monkeys labeled Obama, the Curious George tee shirts with 'Obama for '08' on them. There is no mistaking who the chimp could be and I say could because, as an artist, this guy will say, he left it to the observers' interpretation.
A study from last year this time, brought to our attention, here, by Science Dave, revealed to researchers:
The researchers consistently discovered a black-ape association even if the young adults said they knew nothing about its historical connotations. The connection was made only with African American faces; the paper's third study failed to find an ape association with other non-white groups, such as Asians. Despite such race-specific findings, the researchers stressed that dehumanization and animal imagery have been used for centuries to justify violence against many oppressed groups.
"Despite widespread opposition to racism, bias remains with us," Eberhardt said. "African Americans are still dehumanized; we're still associated with apes in this country. That association can lead people to endorse the beating of black suspects by police officers, and I think it has lots of other consequences that we have yet to uncover."
Historical background
Scientific racism in the United States was graphically promoted in a mid-19th-century book by Josiah C. Nott and George Robins Gliddon titled Types of Mankind, which used misleading illustrations to suggest that "Negroes" ranked between "Greeks" and chimpanzees. "When we have a history like that in this country, I don't know how much of that goes away completely, especially to the extent that we are still dealing with severe racial inequality, which fuels and maintains those associations in ways that people are unaware," Eberhardt said.
The history of America is long and complicated and, although one group or the other may have been viewed or portrayed in a demeaning manner by another group here in America, this study and its allusion to American history is exactly what Reverend Sharpton has voiced, as for centuries, many were of the belief that Africans were sitting in trees, behaving like monkeys, waiting to be civilized.
at 17:57 on February 18th, 2009
Karen that can be said for any place on Earth and all people as well. I have seen some rather horrible racist posters against White by Black american yet no one cares, why they do not work. Maybe it is time to stop caring and just accept the fact that humanity is not perfect and never will be, may they be White, Black, Red, Yellow or soon Green since we can now change DNA so the colour of the skin can even be fluorescent and I am certain some will go for that. I personally like the chameleon best maybe that will be possible soon as well.
Every one seems to be making an elephant out of a Fly. Be well.
at 18:35 on February 18th, 2009
You miss the point. The cartoon is in an American newspaper, viewed through an American lens.
As the history of the United States and the study at the link reveals, the deliberate denigration of those of African descent all throughout American history, with reams and reams of paper written, libraries full of books, used to support claims that were not true yet, they made it into mainstream American consciousness and were taught for centuries by teachers in schools and professors in colleges. These indiginties were suffered by Black people at all levels of society.
White physicians were taught that Black people did not experience or feel pain, like White people.
All of the centuries of anti-African rhetoric in America has not been matched by any Black person in America. The majority of Black people in America were not allowed to openly read or write for centuries. It was against the law, punishable by death so, it cannot be said of African Americans writing about Caucasian or White Americans that there is an institutional and structural phenomena that has arisen as relates to the debasement accorded Black people here in America.
As you've said on several occasions, you don't understand racism in America, period.
at 19:04 on February 18th, 2009
Ah, As I read your comments on Israel and Gaza or other highly volatile issue you turn this around and when called anti-Semite are greatly offended because you say you are not and I believe that. Same here People are not racist for putting up a cartoon, they may but most likely are not, they are using every thing they can to make a point about a situation in time with event of the time, why some cartoon can not be understood decades later unless one has all the event studied of that time.
Obama has any other President of the US and leader of any other country will be made fun of and it wont be pretty and has never been. Grow up I would say and if life hands you lemons well smart are those that make lemonade with it. Not those that complain.
I saw the other day a poster on a post that was racist towards White and Blond blue eyed people by a Black, no one ever complained nor was offended except for the one that put up the post. Lemon-Lemonade.
What angers me here more then any thing is the double standard of being offended that Muslim are offended at cartoons against the prophet and this is called backward and an attack against free speech, where as now, that a carton seems to be offensive to the American President it is outraging and racist. Where is the logic here? Some times I do wonder who is racist or discriminating. I do understand Karen what can be understood no matter what country that may be. Maybe just maybe we should reverse the question and argument and this from a purely intellectual stand point and let see where that leads us.
The art of Socrates Philosophy is to be able to argue any point and argument from all angles and point of views taking all sides and trying to find the truth. That is what I am interested in.
at 19:12 on February 18th, 2009
Paschen, strangely I was looking up the wiki on Socrates a few hours ago to see if his death could have any bearing here but then I remembered the Shakespeare play from my school days and chose that instead.......you made the right point in your last paragraph.
at 19:26 on February 18th, 2009
Paschen, do not instruct me on what to do nor attempt to characterize my thoughts as, in this case and has been in every case in the past, you are not capable of relaying my thoughts, ideas or opinions.
Any and all characterizations that you have attributed to me are yours alone.
at 19:33 on February 18th, 2009
Karen, I did not even try to do any of that. I am sorry if you feel that way. My apologies. Cheers.
at 17:11 on February 19th, 2009
Didnt Nancy Pelosi and David Obey write the bill? If that is the case then the crazy chimp metaphor is not only valid but I wish the cartoonist had of somehow tied in the muslim TV exec who cut off his wifes head.
at 15:09 on February 18th, 2009
That's done in extremely poor taste. I guess he needs the ratings, huh?
at 15:51 on February 18th, 2009
this story is very busy on Twitter too!
at 15:53 on February 18th, 2009
After all, the New York Post has a long history of controversy regarding the articles it willingly publishes. It revels in the fact that it refuses to be The Daily News or the New York Times, and is the tabloid New Yorkers love to hate. Fox News Network and TMZ are also part of owner Rupert Murdoch's bold sales vehicles.
at 16:17 on February 18th, 2009
The question would be why is it offensive and to whom? Is it offensive because the cartoon uses an Ape, or because the President is Obama and we can not make fun of him?
I have seen similar cartoons and worth going against German Chaneloor and French Presidents as well as Italian and Arab leaders even some using an Ape in this way.
Why is it then offensive more so now then before for others?
I think we better start treating all equal and do not restrain freedom of expressing with some dubious arguments. It would not ever stand in Court. The Cartoon against the Prophet where Okay and so where does making Fun of Bush, However now it is offensive for Obama? I am sorry that is discriminating and racist but not against Obama, against all others. Cartoons, Good one and bad ones are part of the Political landscape for Generations... Never have we questioned them until the Debate over the Prophet Cartoons in Denmark and we said including some that now find this cartoon offensive, fund that those that fund the cartoon against the Prophet offensive where out of line and bad people. Then those that find this offensive have to be out of line as well..... Or would that not apply equally? Soon we won' t dare open our mouth any longer because some one some where may be offended... Freedom of expressing is being destroyed by all sorts of interest groups....
Now all that being said, I do not like the Cartoon either, just as I did not like the once against the Prophet and believed them to be tasteless as well as discriminating. And even though I do not like Bush my self, I though some of those cartoons depicting him where out of line, when every one else was thinking they where great especially some of those that are now offended.
at 15:59 on February 18th, 2009
Yeah, well as they say Nothing is Sacred in Comedic writing, but even I a Righty can see the reference in it all. What a Turd Burglar!
at 16:02 on February 18th, 2009
Of course this is racism. I don't know if the cartoonist actually thought about it that way on the surface but subconsciously he obviously did. The relation of monkeys to Africans Americans is quite prevalent in the U.S. Not on the surface so much bu int jokes and whispers.
at 16:18 on February 18th, 2009
I first didn't see the racism. I thought it was a simple reference to the Milion Monkey Theory (or Infinate Monkey Theory). I guess I am like Stephen Colbert....I don't see colour.
at 16:35 on February 18th, 2009
Actually it could be east, I did think along those lines at first more so that all behave like Apes when it comes to follow bad Ideas yet that involve big cash hand outs. However as I read the comments I realized that it was perceived as being racist and looking at it from that point, I can see it as well. But on the other hand is that not what cartoonist do, use any thing and every thing of a person to make a point? They used the Physical handicap of Jean Chretien in Canada to death and in a very mean way at times. But that was his most visible attribute. Same in Germany Chancellor Kohl was portrayed as a Pear since his head was some what to that shape and the Pear in Germany is a great insult symbol of stupidity, calling some one a pear means to call them stupid. Yet no one ever said any thing nor complained. And the bail out plan is not the right way. I think Bush actually came up with the Idea and not Obama so both are Apes or what ever.
at 22:20 on February 18th, 2009
don't flatter yourself 51 estvanray, Stephen Colbert is a satirist, and you're nothing more than blind & clueless
at 10:09 on February 19th, 2009
Read the Code of Conduct.
at 17:19 on February 19th, 2009
Mike A not verified his comment should be deleted!
at 22:08 on February 19th, 2009
Thanks Paschen. His comment was inappropriate.
at 16:37 on February 18th, 2009
This cartoonist should be fired. it is horrible , from the respect that a woman had her face torn off and this guy is using it for a joke... also same as I listen to Rush Limbaugh
yesterday he said this was hilarious and was laughing about it... no more insensitive Rush
at 16:38 on February 18th, 2009
Unlike the average person, those in Publishing and the Arts and Entertainment media have to push the envelope every day in order to satisfy themselves and their employers. It's an instinct that drives people like Howard Stern and Don Imus. And people like William Shakespeare, who as late as last year was regarded as Anti-Semitic for 'The Merchant of Venice'.
Talk about 'a picture is worth a thousand words.'....
at 16:43 on February 18th, 2009
Who is the racist here , the cartoonist , or the reader.
at 16:56 on February 18th, 2009
Added a pic above that needs to be part of this, I believe. Still funny this time around ?
at 17:03 on February 18th, 2009
Thank you Fred, for those Ape/Bush Photos, I was searching for them on the net since I remembered them.
I suppose it is okay to call president Bush an Ape and yet not Obama, havens forbade that is offensive...
at 18:13 on February 18th, 2009
I thought he was talking about the "monkeys" in congress. Obama didn't write the stimulus bill, Nancy Peloci and Harry Reid wrote the bill. I guess they should have used donkey butts instead, but the monkey was in the news cycle.
at 22:01 on February 18th, 2009
The 'apes', or maybe the 'chimps' in Congress. The woman's pet, she nurtured to her breast and then it turned on her friend and ate her hands and ripped off her face. OMG it's the congress who didn't even read it before passing it! Get the symbolism?
at 22:51 on February 19th, 2009
Now we're beginning to see how Art may be interpreted in different ways by different persons, which is as it should be always.
Nice one, Rene !