Curious George/Obama 08 Shirt raises racist concerns

[bodie54]

Re: Obama a monkey? I'm just curious...

oh and your answer Jamrak, its because thev'e been brainwashed since birth,

Oh that's utter nonsense.
It will always be possible to find select instances of political correctness gone overboard. That's just part of a society in transition. But it doesn't change the fact the dehumanizing black man=monkey association has been around for centuries.

 

[calpoon]

I hate people. as usual the Left is saying that EVERYTHING is racist. and the Right is saying that NOTHING is racist.

Some things are racist, racism still exist in America. face it. it's true.

On the other hand, we shouldn't have to be so worried about if everything that we say or ever joke about might offend someone or be interpreted as racist and try to white-wash (no offense white people! ) everything so it's PC.

 

[meesterperfect]

I don't think anyone denies that some things are raciism and have racist motives.
And that blacks have been the target of racism at times.
Some are just aware enough to realize its a two way street.
(not directed at anyone here in particular).

my brainwashed comment was directed at those who automatically call this and similar things racism.
Such as the teacher who threw out the mexican flag.
Without even considering the intentions and motives of the actual subject that they deem to have acted in a racist way.

 

[senob44]

I think it is racist, but I still think it is funny. Does that make me a racist? :dunno:

I wouldn't wear such a shirt, though, since it would offend people. And I don't want to do that.

 

[jamrak]

Re: Obama a monkey? I'm just curious...

This should answer Jamrak's question about why portraying Bush (an individual, and a white one) as a monkey is completely different than portraying a black man as one. Associating black people with monkeys has deep roots in portraying them (as a race) as subhuman.

This is fundamental moment. I proceed from the idea that all people are equal. And since people of all races are equal, it should be in equal measure offensive (or non offensive) for any of them to be associated with a monkey. Because in oppoiste case it is kinda ridiculous: we want equality, but at the same time divide blacks from whites from time to time. This is a dead-end street!

Was not the equality what all anti-racists were fighting for? From that point of view there is no difference between Bush and Obama. I do not want to offend no one, but I feel like those who divide human beings in blacks and whites are more racist than those who associate Obama with a monkey. Because those who say that it is "by default" more offensive for black people only underline the difference between people with that dividing, and in fact they are making a very racist step approving that for some race it is more insulting than for another. Though it should not be insulting, cuz neither Obama, nor Bush are monkeys. And non of them is not a whit 'nearer' to that animal.

And I do not think that it is reasonable to refer to racist hangover in that question. Lets do what all the human rights activists were fighting for, let us erase the boundaries between races and let us stop to emphasize a race! I am sure that "Deep roots" that Bodie54 had mentioned are not a guidance at all! By appealing to that racist "heritage" you only resuscitate that ideas and keep them alive! If that racist ideas are nonsense, and they are completely wrong and "uncrowned" - why should we refer to them now, in 21 century? Is not that an artificial sustentation of them?

I wish that people could see some things from a 'clean sheet', without the reanimation of shady "roots".

 

[gunslingingbird]

Re: Obama a monkey? I'm just curious...

I think it is racist, but I still think it is funny. Does that make me a racist? :dunno:

I wouldn't wear such a shirt, though, since it would offend people. And I don't want to do that.

No, it doesn't make you a racist. I would wear it just to see peoples' reactions.

I've seen a lot of pictures with George Bush in a monkey image or associated with monkeys.

http://www.anvari.org/fun/World_Trade_Center/Bush_Monkey.html

Just type a "Bush monkey" in a google image search and you will recieve a lot of results.

So I have a question, why no one was crying about racism in case of Bush/monkey, but when Obama is associated with a monkey a topic of racism is immidiately raised?

In BOTH cases a human being was kinda compared to a monkey. So what is the difference? I am just curious, why in one case it is a "legal" humor, and in the other - a "racist crime"? What is the reason for such a double-standart for the same situation? And ain't those who see racist subtext in one of those cases the biggest racists themselves? :dunno:

I think that every human being could be compared with any type of animal - with a bear, wolf, pig, monkey etc. And racism is only in the mind of those, who maniacally WANT TO FIND IT everywhere.

You know what it is? It's their political stance. It's ok to to draw offensive and demeaning images of conservatives, but the moment someone does the same thing to liberals, all sorts of buzzers and flags go off. If the guy would've made the shirt with Colin Powell, nobody would've given a rat's ass. If he would've made it with the ball busting bitch, everyone would've been screaming bloody murder.

 

[calpoon]

Re: Obama a monkey? I'm just curious...

If that racist ideas are nonsense, and they are completely wrong and "uncrowned" - why should we refer to them now, in 21 century? Is not that an artificial sustentation of them?

not everyone shares the same enlightened viewpoint as you. there are still a good deal of people that believe in the separation of races, and most especially of one race as being "superior" to others. I think that it would be irresponsible to pretend like those people don't have an agenda, and it needs to be adressed and accounted for to truly equalize the situation and bring about the kind of racial atmosphere that we are shooting for.

 

[Friday on my mind]

Not that those you just can't see how racist this is will probably be persuaded by anything I still feel some things should be said.
First off to try to say that racism is some sort of 2 way street is just without any basis in fact and history(and yes history matters).Racism has allways been a one way street and is very alive and talk of how it was only something that existed in the past and should just be forgotten now is just conveient rhetoric for those who would like to just deny its existence for self serving reasons. Equality is not about people denying who they are racially.The idea of a color-blind society is not that minorities are suppose to deny their backgrounds but that it is not seen as negative.
This thread shows clearly how we still have long long way to go before there is ever any true equal treatment of all people.

 

[bodie54]

not everyone shares the same enlightened viewpoint as you. there are still a good deal of people that believe in the separation of races, and most especially of one race as being "superior" to others. I think that it would be irresponsible to pretend like those people don't have an agenda, and it needs to be adressed and accounted for to truly equalize the situation and bring about the kind of racial atmosphere that we are shooting for.

Well said.

You know what it is? It's their political stance.

No, it's a humanitarian stance. And the same sensitivity would be extended to Powell - or any other black person being portrayed as simian.

I wish that people could see some things from a 'clean sheet', without the reanimation of shady "roots".

I think most of us "wish" that. But wishing doesn't make it so, and the way to get there isn't by pretending those roots haven't branched into the present. They have, and quashing their further proliferation is the way to get clean.

 

[jedi007gotham]

here what do you all think of this..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yL3mTBe-E-o

As strongly as I dislike Obama and know he is going to completely fuck up our country even worse than it is right now, those tshirts are completely uncalled for

 

[CptHa]

I can see the resemblance. But you can't put something like that on a t-shirt. You just can't, especially in the South. Eventually though, people are going to have to stop taking this type of stuff so seriously and making a big deal of it. If you want true and intended racism, look at some of the interviews of people from West Virginia.

 

[Nomad 800]

everywhere you have racists, sadly it is the situation.

I agree 100%.

 

[dave_rhino]

Protest video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93ti-26Av7o with store owner interview.

Hell, all this media just makes me want to buy one.

 

[senob44]

Obama finally commented on this today. Here's a pic from his speech:



He seems angry!!!! :nanner:

 

[jamrak]

I wonder if I am the only one who think that Obama and russian billiard champion (best player in Russia and many times world champion) Evgeny Stalev look similar?

a few Stalev photos:

 

[dave_rhino]

Has Obama actually talked about this yet?

 

[Friday on my mind]

Has Obama actually talked about this yet?

No and he would be dumb to even acknowledge it.It really is not a big issue here and not getting any media coverage.Obama is busy anyhow with Bush and McCain getting rough and calling him an appeaser for saying he would talk to people like the Iranians.

 

[senob44]

I think Obama should sue the shirt-sellers for royalties. That would go over well.