Seriously…This is News?

The July cover of the The New Yorker printed and rolled out cover  art that’s apparently pissing lots of people off. The cartoon, named The Politics of Fear, depicts Barack Obama and his wife Michelle as a “Muslim” and a militant black woman in the oval office, flag burning in the fireplace and Bin Laden’s picture on the wall. I got a few phone calls from my friends who were upset, but I was really busy yesterday so I didn’t check it out. My reaction?

Who cares? Have you read The New Yorker ? Alot of what they have in that publication is just plain false. Some of it’s true, and thought-provoking. Much of it is unfunny. Some of it is frikkin’ hilarious. But with so much crap to talk about like health care, immigration, school fees, genocide, global warming, energy, etc. I knew the News Media would focus on this shit.

Why should they? This isn’t a story. I’m an Obama supporter, but this doesn’t bother me. The New Yorker tried to be funny, and it didn’t work. When I got a chance, as soon as I saw the picture, I went online and actually looked at the magazine. Within the pages, was actually two articles on Obama and his history in Chicago and early beginnings. Although some of the content is questionable, it’s a news magazine and that’s expected. I found nothing wrong with it. Yeh it was unfunny and dumbass people will look at it an some will believe that Obama’s Muslim and his wife owns an AK-47. If anything, Muslim people should be offended cuz apparently Muslim = Evil.

The cartoon’s name alone ( The Politics of Fear ) should have flagged off all criticism, or at least postponed it till the reader look further passed the surface. And that’s the problem, moFo’s don’t do that anymore. To me, it’s saying, “This is what the media and political propaganda is feeding people and trying to pass off as truth“. And the media, true to form, eats it up. It’s always hilarious (and saddening) to watch the news media scald people for allegedly playing on people’s fear, and then insinuating much much worse in the same programming. It’s like more and more, the few “more credible” news reporters out there sell out.

The bottom line is:

People, get over yourself. It’s political satire. It’s not offensive, it’s just not funny. Please go waste your time being outraged over something else. As far as I’m concerned, The New Yorker got what they wanted, attention. And that mess didn’t even have to be funny. What do you think? Is this a nonsensical waste of time, or am I missing a larger point?

Discuss…

The image made me happy because it very subtly demonstrated and captured the affection that the couple share, not only as husband and wife, but as companions and friends. More importantly, it highlighted the fact that the tide may in fact be turning in Washington and, if given the chance, the duo could possibly help steer this country in a direction never seen before (hopefully for the better).

The “First Bump” has stirred up a huge hubbub in the media as they hunger for news stories. I swear they are getting more and more desperate. Among the media’s best names for this action are “Closed-Fist High-Five”, “Knuckle-Knock”, and “Celebratory Punch”. But, in what I think was the most affectionate moment in politics since Al Gore smooched up Tipper at the DNC Convention, I was waiting for someone to just f*** this one up.

Enter Fox News. Leave it to Fox News to call this slight gesture of fellowship a, and I shit you not, a “Terrorist Fist Jab”. I’m just gonna leave it at that. America just doesn’t pay attention. This isn’t even a “urban” issue (damn I hate that word). Everyone does this! And it’s funny how no one made any mention of Bush’s “Terrorist Chest Ram” from a few weeks back which, by the way, I think is frikkin’ hilarious.

I don’t know what I’m more angry about, the fact that they’ve linked a gesture comparable to a thumbs up to terrorism, the fact that the media’s officially ran out of things to talk about, or the fact that the two above are true and I’m spending my time writing about it. Dap Anyone? Be careful, the NSA may be listening…

(Pictured: Controversial Israeli political cartoon)

In case you were under a rock this week, you should know by now that US Senator Barack Obama clinched the Democratic nomination for president. I, like some other oh, (currently) 18 million or so, supporters sat in sheer jubilance and awe as he was finally able to lay claim to this protracted primary contest against the usually unbeatable and formidable Clinton juggernaut machine. Although this is not the ultimate prize of obtaining the White House, this historic feat is nonetheless completely exhilarating and satisfying. Yet, I am somewhat saddened…

As Barack’s speech in Minnesota faded to black, I reflected upon what his accomplishment was beginning to mean: We’ve (almost) arrived. Why does that sadden me? Because, if and/or when Barack becomes Mr. President, I, along with most of my fellow brethren will no longer have any excuses. Don’t get me wrong, clearly there will remain most if not all of the current institutional, structural, downright inherent forms of racism that have weighed us down like an anchor since we were drug over here some 400 years ago. Still, a Barack presidency (hell, even his nomination) will now serve as a clear sign for most that we have now overcome all of those issues because there is just no way America is racist since we’ve (almost) elected a black president.

Well isn’t that what you (people) want? To not have those challenges and barriers in place anymore? Of course!! The concern though is that this can and will be used to ignore the ongoing ills that persist and infect black Americans. Liberal elites, staunch conservatives, working-class whites and the like will continue to point to his presidency as a barometer on race relations in America. Again, don’t get me wrong!! I want this more than anybody (besides maybe Barack himself, ha ha) but I refuse to let this be the side door to give injustices and structural problems an easy way out of the picture.

I believe it is incumbent upon us to keep the pressing issues upfront and not allow this (one) Herculean (ongoing) accomplishment to be used to sweep race and other problems under the rug. I dare not use statistics to illustrate my point as they are used so much nowadays that they don’t have the effect that they should.

However, keep the bottles poppin’ and let’s prepare for cookouts on the front lawn of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave (don’t act like you not ready for Michelle and Barack to throw down on grill). But as we continue to celebrate and push towards the ultimate prize, I caution us to not let this historic ride be used to say we’ve (almost) arrived.