<p>nj - so it’s ok to portray President Bush as Curious George, but not Obama??</p>
<p>Beyond that, if Obama were to become President, he should be prepared for much worse cartoon characterization.</p>
<p>Yes. Any challenge to **The One **is deemed to be racism.</p>
<p>bz2010:</p>
<p>There really aren’t any racial overtones when calling a white person a monkey.</p>
<p>Go call one of your African American friends–if you have any–a “monkey” or “Curious George.” Let me know if you’re still friends afterwards.</p>
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<p>And, more importantly, she should have been more genuine and less wicked. Ted Kennedy didn’t slam her because he wanted more money from her. He did it because she was acting quite like a desperate witch, especially toward the end of her campaign.</p>
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<p>No, I think he did quite well, exceptionally well in fact, and all on his own, unlike Hillary, who would not be anything were not she first some guy’s wife.</p>
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<p>It is this sort of intellectual dishonesty that grossly impedes social progress. If there are honest people reading these posts, consider that what bz does here is exploit the confusion created by the similarity between the two behaviors referred to above. He does this by ignoring the radically different meanings created by their separate contexts. Calling Bush a monkey is quite different from calling a black guy one, since there was no time in American history where the humanity of people like Bush was ever questioned. Blacks, on the other hand, are suffering terribly from this. It is a constant source of bitterness among us, and [the fact that our nation hates us in this way harms us even today.]( <a href=“Discrimination against blacks linked to dehumanization, study finds | Stanford News Release”>A $1 microscope folds from paper with a drop of glue | Stanford News) Indeed this notion of blacks = monkeys is the nasty core of the racism that destroys black children all across America. It is the enormous elephant in the room that those of us with conscience are unwilling to see, and since we are unwilling to see it, people like bz are able to exploit us with childish and dishonorable tricks. They aim to compel us to casually accept an Obama=ape association simply because someone claimed that Bush=ape, despite that the two claims are not the same.</p>
<p>Since 1619 blacks have lived among a people who have enjoyed thinking of us as apes, who have fashioned science to prove it, who have made profit from it, and who even today still profit from it. Millions of whites still defend this with the dishonest claim that it is only good-natured fun that is not meant to be racist. This is America. It is what America teaches black kids. As black parents, we need to face this and help our children understand how to overcome it. Else, we are doomed to suffer as we always have in this cursed and ever perishing country.</p>
<p>It is disrespectful and unacceptable to compare/call anyone an ape. I find it equally reprehensible to make such a comparison about the President of the United States. What happened to respect?</p>
<p>It’s obvious to me that portraying Bush as a monkey was a slam on his intellect. You may not agree that Bush is light in the brains department, and it is indeed an insult, but comparing him to a monkey is saying that he’s just not too bright.( I don’t agree with the characterization - instead believe that he’s dumb like a fox.)</p>
<p>To those who think it’s ok to portray Obama as monkey - can you please tell me what, exactly, is being insinuated? Are they saying that Obama is not too bright? Really? I’d love to know what folks who believe this is ok (because they did it to Bush) think the intended message is.</p>
<p>Who compared **The One **to a monkey? I thought we were comparing him to Paris Hilton.</p>
<p>BTW, the McCain Celebrity ad comparing **The One **to Brittney and Paris has now been viewed 1.4 million times on YouTube. The follow-up ad ridiculing his appointment as **The One **has been viewed 470,000 times since it was posted late yesterday afternoon. Both ads received massive airplay on network and cable news.</p>
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<p>It is worth stating that my essential position here has nothing to do with the moral propriety of calling someone an ape. I think Americans have the right to call Obama or any other black guy an ape. I have been called an ape by whites, and while this certainly underscored my view of America’s innate hostility toward blacks, I was personally quite fine with it. My contention here is that Obama is not playing the race card when he warns whites about the racist attacks he will endure from McCain’s supporters. Those attacks are real, and he acts quite reasonably when he seeks to disarm them by encouraging whites not to fall for them. I think it is dishonest for whites to see other whites attacking Obama while claiming Obama plays the race card for warning against the attacks.</p>
<p>There is also the point–made several times on this forum, if not this thread–that Curious George actually contains the first name of the current president, and that it was used to imply that he was not always interested in hearing different points of view; thus Curious George was a play on his name and character traits. How does this apply in any way to Obama?</p>
<p>Dross, you have my upmost respect and admiration. You posts here on CC are perhaps the most insightful and well written (if perhaps long-winded, which I am also guilty of 
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And your are OBSOLUTELY right! It is impossible for white america to completely understand the plight and history of the African American community. The curious george situation is a perfect example of this. It’s a black eye on white America to just shrug this hidden insult off as a joke. </p>
<p>I am proud to be a part of an organization (the US military) that has taken huge strides to try to live by MLK’s dream; that a man would be judged by the content of his character rahter than by the color of his skin. But I know we have a ways to go, and the rest of America even longer. I admire the pride and perseverance the AA community has displayed as they try to reach that mountain-top. It inspirational.</p>
<p>But I also think, IMHO, that it would be unfair to ignore that MOST of America is trying to make amends for a shameful history. MOST of my generation is ashamed for America’s tarnished history, built on the backs of the oppressed. But it has only been a start these past 40 years or so to get past this. I think you would find that most of America, rather than harbourig a hidden hatred of other races, is trying to live a more enlightened life, where we judge by character versus color. Are we there yet? Heck no. Are we trying? Yes, but we will make mistakes and mis-steps, especially when it is so hard to comprehend all the facets of this tragedy. </p>
<p>My request: more patience. I know we don’ have the right to ask for it, but I hope you can understand that we are at least trying. Who knows, in another generation or two, the remanants of a tragic history will be just that: history. I know both you and I pray that this will be the case. </p>
<p>I can appreciate your feelings that this country has plans and conspiracies to keep racism as a national policy and agenda to keep the affected on a lower scale. I hope you can appreciate that some of us believe that America is at least trying to do just the opposite. My only hope is that our grand-children will read about this in the history books of the future, and ask thier teachers “did this really happen?”…</p>
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<p>ID-Watch the YouTube clip mentioned in post #61.</p>
<p>Bullet, I agree with your basic sentiments, and while many good people are indeed trying, I think that Americans need to recognize their racism before they can hope to eliminate it. That so many good people don’t recognize it when they see it is frustrating.</p>
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<p>Well, we know they are exploiting historic racism against blacks. We know this, and they know it. They are merely hiding behind the confusion created by the superficial similarities between calling Bush an ape, and calling Obama one. It is all so dishonest , so worthy of McCain supporters, so American.</p>
<p>I myself see nothing particularly noble about calling a black guy a monkey and making a business of it. But apparently many whites find it entertaining and are enjoying themselves with it. This is their country and so they have the right to make it as poisonous against blacks as they choose. Fortunately, I think there is supreme Reason in the shape of the cosmos, that there is Honor, Dignity and Might there, built into the very structure of it, and that it is all on our side, not theirs. This will all be put to rights eventually. All the black kids who have been destroyed by the shame of being associated with monkeys, those who even now fear this so much that it dibilitates them, the sufferring in their minds this nation has caused them for centuries, all of it, will be repaid and there is no escaping it. God loves children. He is going to exact a terrible price for what America has done.</p>
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<p>I think Americans are quite able to recognize racism when they see it. That’s why they rejected Barack Hussein Obama’s association with his spiritual mentor Rev. Jeremiah Wright and his Black Liberation Theology.</p>
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<p>I see here I am perhaps yet again guilty of associating all whites with the unsavory behaviors of some whites. I sincerely do not mean to do this. You see, I have white relatives. I literally consider them me and that I am them. I certainly don’t include them in this nonsense and in fact have difficulty keeping in mind that they are white. So I wish to be very clear that I harbor no anger against “whites” as a principle.</p>
<p>As for patience, there is no time for it. Kids are taking some most atrocious and devastating hits in their minds from this one core issue, and what is more, it is in the heart and soul of America. I personally think it a mistake for black parents to buy into all this “rah rah America” nonsense. Yes, it is our country. We should always work to make it better because people’s lives are at stake and people are precious, at least as precious as I am. Still, America as a concept, is unworthy of so much unthinking devotion. I think it is unworthy of any devotion. I am devoted to people only. Where the country is concerned, I am devoted to the idea of what America can be – not to what it is.</p>
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<p>Hopefully, this is a small start of a discussion that is long overdue. I am glad we can participate in this (and I’m actually a little nervous to do so with someone who obviously has a better grip on presenting a compelling, logical discussion on-line than I will ever be capable of!)</p>
<p>And I humbly have to disagree with you somewhat. Becuase, I see the concept of America as EXACTLY what you discribe: a place where we strive to let the individual have the opportunity to rise to the extent of his ability and efforts. Are there obstacles to this, such as racism? Certainly. But the true goal of America, IMHO, is that we struggle to make this dream a reality for all. And to me that is something to strive for.</p>
<p>So, am I a “rah-rah, America!” kind of guy? I don’t really think so, as I know we have a long way to go in our current sitaution. Rather, I beleive in the struggle to improve her, and I find that worthy. And Ultimately to me, it’s not about the country, but about the people. Each should be able to rise to the limits of their efforts and abilities.</p>
<p>I never thought of Curious George and his Keeper (Man in the Yellow Suit) as a B/W issue. I always thought it was more of who was more intellectual, curious, and responds to the world in a positive way. </p>
<p>I always thought that Curious George was the smarter of the duo. The Keeper as the ignorant one, but not an idiot or stupid. </p>
<p>We never used CGeorge as a good primer for reading or model behavior because we kinda felt that the Keeper stifled exploration and curiosity. </p>
<p>POV</p>