February 19, 2009 | In Humour, Politics | No Comments
A recent cartoon in the New York Post has been deemed “offensive” by American race hustlers, prompting calls for the popular newspaper to issue an apology. Critics allege that the cartoon, which features a bullet-riddled chimpanzee and refers to the recent ’stimulus’ bill passed by the U.S. Congress, contains racist overtones and compares President Barack Obama to an ape.
Now, if I had just had my face ripped apart by a chimpanzee, I might find this attempt at humour to be a little insensitive. But racist? Any “racism” here is clearly in the eye of the beholder.
Even if the chimp in this picture is intended to symbolize President Obama (which I sincerely doubt), how is comparing a black man to an ape any more “racist” than comparing a white man to an ape?
Unless one believes that people of African origin are actually more similar to apes than other humans, I fail to see what the problem is. Except maybe that Obama’s supporters are too touchy and indignant to accept satire that would be “fair game” when applied to any other politician.
The New York Post should not apologize.
