So I’m doing my daily 20 minutes of StumbleUpon cardio and I come across the following image by Patrick Moberg:
The image struck me as at once both whimsical and telling. Honestly, I didn’t think much more of it, in fact. Then I read the comments on its accompanying SU page. Here are some excerpts:
- “I don’t like the racist message of this cartoon (as if all those presidents had identical skintone[sic])”
- “Because of this cartoon, it proves that everyone who voted for him did so based on race? That’s he conservative mind at work for you.”
- “Once again, liberals prove that to them race is what matters. I’d pity them if they weren’t ruining my country.”
- “Yes and you all voted for him because of his color, this very stumble proves it. What about the issues, you politically illiterate white guilt filled sheep”
- “This certainly supports my assertion that Obama got elected because of his race, ignoring his ties to domestic terrorism. Anyone caring to debate this should make contact. By the way, I am 100% black, grew up poor, and I currently make more than the average in my city and Zip code. That shouldn’t matter to normal people, but we live in the age of demographics, so I thought I’d throw it out there.”
- “aside from the terrible drawings, the very people that claim race isnt [sic] important are making a very big deal out of a mixed man becoming president.”
- “Uh-huh – so, I guess it really WAS all about race all along, right? How about going with someone who has better ideas, more experience, instead of their skin colour? Wasn’t that what the US is supposed to be all about?”
There were comments from the left as well. In fact, at the time I wrote this, there were NINE pages of comments. The first three of which were all positive and pro-Obama. And then this first negative one [gave it a thumbs down]: ”Is it racist to think all those white people look so much alike? Just asking.”
Yet, among the supporters, there were few thoughtful reactions that attempted to diffuse the animosity. This is more a function of electronic media, wherein people hide behind persona that allows them to say and/or do things they typically would not otherwise say and /or do…that’s called metablogging, ladies and gentlemen.
Among the thoughtful responses, there was only one voi de raison, “[...]it’s not racist to simply be aware of all the historical, political and cultural ramifications of Obama’s election. ‘Racism’ doesn’t equate to ‘any acknowledgement [sic] of race’… it means deliberately working against a group of people because of the colour of their skin.”
What are your thoughts on the image?
In other news, I have to get myself two of these commemorative plates. Check out this AWESOME commercial:
*All linked media are the sole property of their respective owners. And that commerical is decidedly lame.
