Rupert Murdoch, CEO of News Corporation and owner of the New York Post, has publicly apologized for a controversial cartoon printed in the Post last week. It sure was nice of him, but we've heard these conciliatory words for racism before, so it's hard to be shocked by this move.
The cartoon in question was the brainchild of political cartoonist Sean Delonas, who already carries a reputation for controversial or grotesque imagery in his work. It depicted two police officers, one of whom has just gunned down an escaped chimpanzee. His partner tells him: "they'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill."
As with the best satirical cartooning, Delonas' piece draws from more than one facet of the past week's news. A woman was mauled by her friend's 200-pound pet chimpanzee on Monday in Stamford, Conn., leaving her in critical condition. The ape was shot to death after it attacked a police cruiser, prompting the media to air the story, one that contains equal parts tragedy and absurdity.
Now, to hear Delonas tell it, his cartoon ape is not meant to represent President Obama in any way. He simply feels that the stimulus is so poorly thought out that it must have been drafted by a chimp. Apparently, the editorial staff at the New York Post felt the same way.
It's nice to get simple choices in life from time to time. So much of what we opine on is too nuanced to get a really solid demonization going. But here goes.
You're either stupid or racist, Mr. Delonas. It's your choice.
Take your time.
Delonas says that he is using the ape to represent the author of the stimulus plan. The author of the stimulus plan is a black man. Ergo, Delonas is using a chimpanzee to represent a black man. There are perhaps a dozen racial slurs against black people that involve the words 'monkey' or 'ape' that come immediately to mind, thanks to the long and varied history of racism. Either Delonas did this in full knowledge of the effect of his actions, or he's an idiot.
Sorry, Sean. We don't make the rules.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
