What's new: 'Tasteless' cover of 'The New Yorker »
Posted by: Bkumm 1 month, 3 weeks agoHere's some feedback from the usual suspects about the New Yorker cover.
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Bkumm1 month, 3 weeks ago
I'm stunned that so many people didn't get this. These are the same folks that laugh like hyenas when the Colbert Report is in full swing. It's just stupid.
For heavens sake people the "New Yorker" was making fun of all the idiocy surrounding this campaign. Get a grip.
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smithichie1 month, 3 weeks ago
You're absolutely correct, I could easily see the same sort of parody coming from the Colbert Report, heck Stephen might of even got Obama to carry out the roll himself.
I think besides the media hype for this story there is a lack of recognition of the New Yorker or that it's parody, much like newbies have been confused when the encounter Goppy for the first time.
Sure it's offensive and tasteless, that's the point.
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Candida1 month, 3 weeks ago
I've posted this on another thread about the same issue, but I'll repeat it here.
I find this cartoon absolutely despicable. A cartoon usually pokes fun of some weakness or, occasionally, some strength of the people it depicts. Nowhere in this cartoon is it clear that it is directed at the right-wing fringe, rather than the Obamas. The right-wing will look at it, if they do, and will say: "That's right, these are dangerous people." The rest of the population won't get it either and will be wondering what the hell the New Yorker was trying to do with this offensive cartoon. I know that's what I would have done without the explanation. With the explanation, I know what they were trying to do, but I agree with the assessment that they have failed.
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gamahuche1 month, 3 weeks ago
Can't follow you even an inch on this, Candida!
We MUST allow people to push our buttons right to the very limit if we support freedom of expression.
Its the Ralph Steadmans and the Lenny Bruces who are the cultural heroes!
Context is everything - I would agree that if Rupert Murdoch or any of the nazi-Right had published it then it would deserve to be condemned as rabble-rousing.
But right to publish - how can it legitimately be curtailed unless it seeks to provoke violence??
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scott42611 month, 3 weeks ago
I gave you a plus....I get it. And the artist even states, "I think the idea that the Obamas are branded as unpatriotic (let alone as terrorists) in certain sectors is preposterous. It seemed to me that depicting the concept would show it as the fear-mongering ridiculousness that it is."
But here's the rub: Those who would never pick up the New Yorker - or even understand the intention of the satire - are the ones who will use this as confirmation that Obama is a Muslim or that he's a terrorist. The nutjob talking heads have already started.
Do I think it will have long-term damaging effects for Obama? Well, no, not really. The dumbasses who actually believe the myths satirized wouldn't vote for Obama anyway.
Still, IMO it is negative energy in the discourse. And I would be lying if I said I didn't find the drawing offensive.
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Bkumm1 month, 3 weeks ago
I hear ya'. But, those same people already think he is incredibly dangerous to the American "way of life". Those selfsame people who will use this as a tool to "prove" that Senator Obama is a Muslim terrorist sympathizer have no intention of listening to the truth, regardless.
I'll admit that my first reaction to the cover was to laugh hysterically. Then, I found it offensive. Then, I laughed again, but not at the cartoon. I realized the this cartoon was going to cause a visceral reaction in Obama supporters (of which I am one). I also realized that some on the Right would use this as a weapon against Senator Obama. And they have.
Maybe, just maybe, if we could learn to laugh at ourselves a bit (I know, in this political environment we're afraid to give the "enemy" an inch) we could truly end some of the animosity in politics.
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aniokly1 month, 3 weeks ago
No, people will believe what they want to believe. 10% of the voters in this country believe Sen Obama is a Muslim, and after his lovely wife's own words proclaimed how she had never been proud of this country until recently it is not that difficult to conclude she is anti-American. They both attended the Rev Wright's church for 20 years listening to him curse, and damn, and accuse America of heinous crimes for 20 years. All of this leads people to make one conclusion. Then to see the front cover of the N Yer confirm their suspicions is just icing on their cake.
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Bkumm1 month, 3 weeks ago
Well, you're right in that people will believe what they want to believe, but if they believe that oranges taste like apples when that is obviously not the case they are delusional.
Nothing that you wrote would lead me to believe that Senator Obama is a closet Muslim. The "New Yorker" cover was satire...nothing more, nothing less.
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Candida1 month, 3 weeks ago
aniokly: "Then to see the front cover of the N Yer confirm their suspicions is just icing on their cake."
Well, Bkumm, what did I say above? A cartoon has to be obvious enough for people to get it without explanation. This isn't. Just think how often reasonable people try to use satire here on Propeller and fail because others take them seriously. Even with Goppy, I remember that when he started a lot of people took him seriously. I remember the posts: "Is he serious?" With good satire you shouldn't have to rely on a thorough familiarity with the publication. People should be able to get it even if they've never read the paper or magazine, especially when it's on the cover where a lot of people will see it who have never even considered opening a New Yorker.
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aniokly1 month, 3 weeks ago
You wouldn't believe Obama was a Muslim if he made Osama bin Laden his veep. Millions of people are checking out both candidates, and some are disturbed after reading Obama's books how he is an enigma. You can turn him into anything you want him to be. That is not good. We need him to be left. or center, but he cannot be both. From his voting record I would say he is 100% Liberal, and check out his mentor Frank Marshall Davis.
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Bkumm1 month, 3 weeks ago
And despite every indication, including the fact that he belongs to a Christian church (which Muslims may not do under any circumstances), you insist that he may be a Muslim.
It's ludicrous.
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MereMortal1 month, 3 weeks ago
I thought Rev. Wright was his mentor. Geez, ani, you neocon shills really need to get your lies straight. It would give you at least an ounce of credibility.
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Candida1 month, 3 weeks ago
aniokly: "some are disturbed after reading Obama's books how he is an enigma"
Have you read his book. What did you find there that was enigmatic?
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gamahuche1 month, 3 weeks ago
"You wouldn't believe Obama was a Muslim if he made Osama bin Laden his veep"
Great idea ani!
How do you come up with these brilliant solutions?
That would mean that the war on terror could end right there, yes? And all your boys or grandchildren or ex-slaves or whatever who are fighting for King George and country could come straight home.
Game,set and match!
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Bkumm1 month, 3 weeks ago
No radical Muslim would pray to Jesus Christ in a Church. It's blasphemy.
There is no God but God and Mohammad is His Prophet.
Jesus ranks high, but not that high. It just wouldn't happen.
I simply do not understand what the man has said or done that would make you think he is a Muslim. There is zero evidence to support that assertion as far as I can tell. The only possible evidence for him being even exposed to Islam is when he attended a religious school (Muslim) in Indonesia for a couple of years. That's the only evidence that I can see for any belief of him being a Muslim.
He is a baptized Christian. He may not be your particular brand or flavor of Christian, but he is a Christian.
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aniokly1 month, 3 weeks ago
Then why did he lie about being a Muslim? He attended a Catholic school, and his religion was listed as Islam. It was 5 years, not 2, and all he had to do was talk about it, and it would have been over. But he didn't, he lied about it, why? Because even in the TUCC he could hold onto his anti-White, and anti-American beliefs, and no one would notice. I would also like to hear more about the trip he took with Rev Wright, and Louis Farrahkan to Libya in 1995. He just has some funny friends, PLO Sympathizers, Domestic Bombers, and Louis Farrahkan of the Nation of Islam. It isn't just one aspect of Obama's life that just doesn't look right. It looks contrived
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Bkumm1 month, 3 weeks ago
He went to both Catholic and Muslim schools for the five years he lived in Indonesia. Where did he lie about that? In his book, he stated clearly that that was what he had done. Where's the lie? His religion probably was listed as Islam. His father was (although he was no longer a practicing Muslim at the time of Barack Obama's birth), so why would it be unusual that a young man would carry the religious imprimatur of both his birth father and the man his mother was married to at the time? That's not unusual at all.
There are LOTS of people with "funny friends". Like, oh, I don't know, Vice President Dick Cheney who was quite friendly with Saddam Hussein for a while. Or, maybe President Reagan who was a strong supporter of Osama bin Ladin when he was in Afghanistan.
But, I suppose that's easy enough to forget.
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Candida1 month, 3 weeks ago
First of all, he didn't fall apart. All his campaign said was that they found it offensive, which it is. I'm sure President Bush has found the "Bushitler" cartoons offensive too.
The big difference is, that this cartoon is supposed to be poking fun at the right wing, people who are not in the cartoon at all, while the "Bushitler" cartoons were poking fun at President Bush himself. If this cartoon had tried to imply that Obama is a closet Muslim with a militant wife, then it would have achieved its purpose. I would still find it offensive if it had no basis in truth, but I would understand what it said. The way it stands, it's just stupid.
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Submitted By:
Bkumm
Ex-Navy, degrees in History and Marketing and Management.
Socially liberal, fiscal conservative.
Just following my own brand of atheistic spiritualism.
" [T]he only purpose for ...
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