TheCatSite.com › Forums › General Forums › IMO: In My Opinion › Racism or Politics?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Racism or Politics?

post #1 of 64
9/29/09 at 3:01pm
Thread Starter 
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/ne...131803/296042/

NAACP is protesting the banner hanging outside a club here in the city. They claim it is racist. Most agree that it is an attack on the president and his politics, not his race. I agree. Would anyone have even said a word if this had been Bush?

What do you think?

Poor taste, yes.

Racism, no.
Reply
post #2 of 64
9/29/09 at 3:22pm
I don't think it's racism.
Reply
post #3 of 64
9/29/09 at 3:23pm
A picture of Bush made up of Monkeys made it into an art gallery. Bush as Joker (exact same reference, just without the word "socialism") was published in a few different magazines, including IIRC The New Yorker. A film about the assissination of President Bush was filmed and shown at various film festivals. I think there was at least one book on the subject as well. If ANYONE said "That's really not appropriate to portray the current President in that manner" the 1st Amendment was thrown in their faces.

Now the SAME THINGS (only a lot more tame!) are being done with reference to Obama, but now it's racist. It isn't any more or less rude uncivilized than before, but I really don't see the difference. If it was covered by free speech before, why isn't it now?
Reply
post #4 of 64
9/29/09 at 3:25pm
It is not racism, IMO.
Reply
post #5 of 64
9/29/09 at 3:26pm
How is that racist? Tacky? Sure. Racist, nope! They should find something else to complain about.
Reply
post #6 of 64
9/29/09 at 3:29pm
I saw some pretty racist images of Obama during the tea party protests, but I don't know that the Joker thing looks all that racist. Some of the signs people had at the protest were blatantly blackface- but I'm not really seeing the Joker image as being blackface.
Reply
post #7 of 64
9/29/09 at 3:36pm
Agree--not racist. Once again the double standard rears its ugly head! NAACP needs to get a freakin' GRIP!
Reply
post #8 of 64
9/29/09 at 3:54pm
Nope I don't see racism either. And considering the kinds of caricatures and insults we see not only aimed at presidents but also presidential candidates this is MILD IMO!
Reply
post #9 of 64
9/29/09 at 3:59pm
I know - and all this stuff backfires... it's ridiculous! Obama never used the race card during the campain, and that was a beautiful thing. Why are these people using it now? Come on - fight a fair fight - blame the man on his politics, and nothing else - after all, the other presidents didn't have the "benefit" of a different race to put the blame on... Obama shouldn't either - and HE is not the one doing it, neither is anyone remotely related to him.
This whole thing is just dumb.
Reply
post #10 of 64
9/29/09 at 4:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by carolinalima View Post
I know - and all this stuff backfires... it's ridiculous! Obama never used the race card during the campain, and that was a beautiful thing. Why are these people using it now? Come on - fight a fair fight - blame the man on his politics, and nothing else - after all, the other presidents didn't have the "benefit" of a different race to put the blame on... Obama shouldn't either - and HE is not the one doing it, neither is anyone remotely related to him.
This whole thing is just dumb.
It would be politically incorrect for him to play the race card, he would never do it even if it is racism IMO..

I don't know if it is racism- I don't think anyone can tell because no one can remove the politics and be unbiased.
I mean, I don't think the poster itself is racist, however I am not sure if hanging a poster with the president's face distorted from a business place is something someone would do because they disrespect him and see him as inferior to the rest of the US presidents because he is black or simply because they disagree with his politics.
Reply
post #11 of 64
9/29/09 at 4:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ut0pia View Post
It would be politically incorrect for him to play the race card, he would never do it even if it is racism IMO..
Well.... Can the other people realize that too?
Reply
post #12 of 64
9/29/09 at 4:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by carolinalima View Post
Well.... Can the other people realize that too?
Yea, I agree that this stuff backfires when it is completely random..The NAACP will not be taken seriously if they shout racism at every chance they get. The thing is though it really is hard to know if race played a factor and to the NAACP it always seems like race played a part because that's all they look for..
I honestly don't think we should dismiss them but rather just think about what they are trying to say and how in their eyes it could be interpreted as racism, then maybe their claims wouldn't backfire so much.
Reply
post #13 of 64
9/29/09 at 5:25pm
How is that racist?

Omg I am so sick and tired of the race-card pulling bullcrap. It's going to quadruple now that we have a black president.



I still remember the time that the news did a broadcast at my old highschool for a picture of some KKK members down a timeline in senior hall.

This very same timeline had several depictions of Hitler as well, but because one black student was offended by a tiny little picture of the KKK the media was all over it and my school was forced to take down a timeline of events in our history.
Reply
post #14 of 64
9/29/09 at 5:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by carolinalima View Post
Well.... Can the other people realize that too?
It would be nice if they could. Some people constantly pull out the race card because it's easier for them to hide behind that than it is to debate the issues. It's the cowards way out.
Reply
post #15 of 64
9/29/09 at 5:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ut0pia View Post
I am not sure if hanging a poster with the president's face distorted from a business place is something someone would do because they disrespect him and see him as inferior to the rest of the US presidents because he is black or simply because they disagree with his politics.
All presidents, or anyway at least the recent ones since that's what I actually know about (though I would bet on all of the others too), have been mocked, distorted, caricatured, etc. Doing the same to Obama is proof of his equality with other presidents; saying it's off-limits because he's black would be racism.

If the word at the bottom were the infamous "n-word," I would buy that it was a racist poster. But it's not; the poster is calling him a joker for his ideology, which is fair game for a national political figure. If he doesn't like it he should probably find a different career.
Reply
post #16 of 64
9/29/09 at 5:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ebrillblaiddes View Post
All presidents, or anyway at least the recent ones since that's what I actually know about (though I would bet on all of the others too), have been mocked, distorted, caricatured, etc. Doing the same to Obama is proof of his equality with other presidents; saying it's off-limits because he's black would be racism.
I agree, people have been making a mockery of presidents for as long as a can remember. Growing up in the 1980's I remember seeing skits mocking Reagan, Bush and his veep Quayle, Clinton, and G.W. Bush and Cheney. Some of the folks on Saturday Night Live helped to make a name for themselves by making fun of presidents.
Reply
post #17 of 64
9/29/09 at 5:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ut0pia View Post
I don't know if it is racism- I don't think anyone can tell because no one can remove the politics and be unbiased.
I mean, I don't think the poster itself is racist, however I am not sure if hanging a poster with the president's face distorted from a business place is something someone would do because they disrespect him and see him as inferior to the rest of the US presidents because he is black or simply because they disagree with his politics.
This confuses me because to me this IS a political statement, so how can one remove the politics and be unbiased with a politcal statement? Basically it seems to me that anyone that disagrees with Obama, in your eyes, is racists until proven otherwise. I don't think Obama is inferior to the rest of the US presidents...there are plenty I didn't agree with in the past so I lump him in with all of them. And, I think "joker" is a nicer term than some of the things I've called past presidents.
Reply
post #18 of 64
9/29/09 at 7:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nekomania View Post
How is that racist?

Omg I am so sick and tired of the race-card pulling bullcrap. It's going to quadruple now that we have a black president.



I still remember the time that the news did a broadcast at my old highschool for a picture of some KKK members down a timeline in senior hall.

This very same timeline had several depictions of Hitler as well, but because one black student was offended by a "tiny" little picture of the KKK the media was all over it and my school was forced to take down a timeline of events in our history.
Ok... this is a "tiny" bit different... KKK members in a high school.... Pictures of the KKK... This is racism and NOT to be played with - no matter how "tiny" the pictures hanging around are - NOT bull.... Especially in a school environment.
Sorry for the High-jack, but...
Reply
post #19 of 64
9/29/09 at 7:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by carolinalima View Post
I know - and all this stuff backfires... it's ridiculous! Obama never used the race card during the campain, and that was a beautiful thing. Why are these people using it now? Come on - fight a fair fight - blame the man on his politics, and nothing else - after all, the other presidents didn't have the "benefit" of a different race to put the blame on... Obama shouldn't either - and HE is not the one doing it, neither is anyone remotely related to him.
This whole thing is just dumb.
Are you kidding? Barack was the ONLY one to use the "race card" during the campaign. I heard him do it myself.

No, I don't think this is racist.

I also never saw any blatantly racist signs at the Tea Parties. Never saw any signs with Barack in blackface. Maybe I just missed them.
Reply
post #20 of 64
9/29/09 at 7:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ckblv View Post
Are you kidding? Barack was the ONLY one to use the "race card" during the campaign. I heard him do it myself.

No, I don't think this is racist.

I also never saw any blatantly racist signs at the Tea Parties. Never saw any signs with Barack in blackface. Maybe I just missed them.
I forgot you went to all Tea Parties Cindy ... Also - let's hear it - when did the President use the race card? Because I Don't remember... So can you please bring it forth?
Reply
post #21 of 64
9/29/09 at 7:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Allmycats View Post
Agree--not racist. Once again the double standard rears its ugly head! NAACP needs to get a freakin' GRIP!
IMHO those that first bring up the race issue are the true racists. NAACP, Jackson, Sharpton, etc. all stand to profit if they continue to make a case in favor of racism. If we were all to become mocha colored, their income stream would dry up. How sad.
Reply
post #22 of 64
9/29/09 at 7:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by valanhb View Post
A picture of Bush made up of Monkeys made it into an art gallery. Bush as Joker (exact same reference, just without the word "socialism") was published in a few different magazines, including IIRC The New Yorker. A film about the assissination of President Bush was filmed and shown at various film festivals. I think there was at least one book on the subject as well. If ANYONE said "That's really not appropriate to portray the current President in that manner" the 1st Amendment was thrown in their faces.

Now the SAME THINGS (only a lot more tame!) are being done with reference to Obama, but now it's racist. It isn't any more or less rude uncivilized than before, but I really don't see the difference. If it was covered by free speech before, why isn't it now?
Exactly. I call it equal opportunity bashing.
Reply
post #23 of 64
9/29/09 at 10:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by carolinalima View Post
Ok... this is a "tiny" bit different... KKK members in a high school.... Pictures of the KKK... This is racism and NOT to be played with - no matter how "tiny" the pictures hanging around are - NOT bull.... Especially in a school environment.
Sorry for the High-jack, but...
I wasn't trying to hijack the thread either. I was just making a statement about how the smallest things can be taken out of context.

Realizing that the KKK is part of history is not racist though, just like poking fun at Obama isn't. Like nobody in the past has ever made fun of a president or mocked their ideals. My point was that minorities seem to jump at even the smallest chance to make a big uproar about something that doesn't really make any sense.


Does that mean every history book that I've ever had to read through school that mentioned the KKK and had photographs was racist?
Reply
post #24 of 64
9/30/09 at 4:26am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ebrillblaiddes View Post
All presidents, or anyway at least the recent ones since that's what I actually know about (though I would bet on all of the others too), have been mocked, distorted, caricatured, etc. Doing the same to Obama is proof of his equality with other presidents; saying it's off-limits because he's black would be racism.

If the word at the bottom were the infamous "n-word," I would buy that it was a racist poster. But it's not; the poster is calling him a joker for his ideology, which is fair game for a national political figure. If he doesn't like it he should probably find a different career.
Exactly! They are mocking him as a president, not a black man. This particular club owner is known for hanging controversial signs and banners, none of them racist. It seems its impossible for anyone to disagree with the current administration without being racist. You can hardly breathe in Richmond though, without the NAACP stepping in
Reply
post #25 of 64
10/1/09 at 12:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nekomania View Post
Does that mean every history book that I've ever had to read through school that mentioned the KKK and had photographs was racist?
Wait a minute - the KKK picture was inside of a text book, and used in a REGULAR History class? or.... was it ripped out of the book, glued on the walls... what happened exactly?
Of course it is part of history and it will be in history books... as long as it remains IN the book, and it is used for that.... that fine... That's not what I am saying at all - I though the picture was in the hallway or something - forgive me if I was wrong.
Reply
post #26 of 64
10/1/09 at 9:49am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ebrillblaiddes View Post
All presidents, or anyway at least the recent ones since that's what I actually know about (though I would bet on all of the others too), have been mocked, distorted, caricatured, etc. Doing the same to Obama is proof of his equality with other presidents; saying it's off-limits because he's black would be racism.

If the word at the bottom were the infamous "n-word," I would buy that it was a racist poster. But it's not; the poster is calling him a joker for his ideology, which is fair game for a national political figure. If he doesn't like it he should probably find a different career.
That's true but what I'm saying is no one can judge when mocking becomes extreme and and respect is not shown as it should be and that it crosses the line between disagreeing with the president's ideology and personal insults and racism. It's just so subjective. To the NAACP it seems racist because not only do they look for things like this but also because they are likely to agree with the president's politics..they just see it from that angle.
Reply
post #27 of 64
10/1/09 at 10:02am
Poor taste yes, but I don't consider it "racism". But now, doesn't matter what you say - if you disagree with anything that Obama says or does or his policies, then you are labeled RACIST!
Reply
post #28 of 64
10/1/09 at 10:04am
Quote:
Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45 View Post
Poor taste yes, but I don't consider it "racism". But now, doesn't matter what you say - if you disagree with anything that Obama says or does or his policies, then you are labeled RACIST!
No, not at all. Says who?
Reply
post #29 of 64
10/1/09 at 10:08am
Says who? Where have you been? News, commataries, co-workers, etc. When he was running before he got elected, anytime I questioned or commented on his morals, etc. then I was more/less labeled racist. "oh you only are saying that cause he's black". I was told that anytime I disagree with what was going on.
Reply
post #30 of 64
10/1/09 at 10:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by carolinalima View Post
I forgot you went to all Tea Parties Cindy ... Also - let's hear it - when did the President use the race card? Because I Don't remember... So can you please bring it forth?
http://news.aol.com/newsbloggers/200...the-race-card/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvhZDzwuenM

Quote:
On June 20, Obama said, "We know what kind of campaign [the Republicans are] going to run. They're going to try to make you afraid. They're going to try to make you afraid of me. 'He's young and inexperienced and he's got a funny name. And did I mention he's black?' "
http://www.stoptheaclu.com/2009/09/2...-civil-rights/

http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonath...race_card.html

Quote:
Yesterday in Missouri, Obama predicted McCain and the GOP would use racially tinged attacks against him.

"What they're going to try to do is make you scared of me," Obama said. "You know, he doesn't look like all those other presidents on the dollar bills."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESsaVSTSYxQ

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1205...googlenews_wsj

http://www.associatedcontent.com/art...ard.html?cat=9


Okay, the above are some links to Obama race card playing.

Now, please post some links to these awful, racist, blackface, Tea Party signs that esrgirl was talking about. I NEVER saw anything like that.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: IMO: In My Opinion
TheCatSite.com › Forums › General Forums › IMO: In My Opinion › Racism or Politics?