Curious George/Obama T-Shirt Racist? (Full Version)

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todd_t -> Curious George/Obama T-Shirt Racist? (5/14/2008 7:00:18 PM)

This story is in reference to an election year t-shirt being peddled by Mike Norman, a local bar owner in Marietta, GA, depicting Barack Obama as a cartoon monkey, and Norman's insistence that the image is not racist.

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/cobb/stories/2008/05/13/mulligans_0514.html

Agree or no?

As for my 2-cents, considering how images of American blacks as apes have been used as a racial slur against them since the 18th century (at least), I'm siding with "agree."



Jhud -> RE: Curious George/Obama T-Shirt Racist? (5/14/2008 7:13:27 PM)

I think the image is certainly racist, or at least as it is used it is; and selling such items is reprehensible.



todd_t -> RE: Curious George/Obama T-Shirt Racist? (5/14/2008 7:14:20 PM)

On this, we agree...

Thanks for your input.



lightshineon -> RE: Curious George/Obama T-Shirt Racist? (5/15/2008 9:26:09 AM)

I saw it on Anderson Cooper 360, how ignorant and racial can one be? I like Curious Geroge, when I was little, and still do. Though showing a man, little lone a black man as a monkey, is mean and hateful. I hope no one buys the shirts. I do not think he should recieve attention for them. BTW, does Curious George not have a Trademark, or copyright?
quote:

ORIGINAL: todd_t

On this, we agree...

Thanks for your input.



CatholicCritter -> RE: Curious George/Obama T-Shirt Racist? (5/15/2008 10:35:52 AM)

Foolish AND racist...



cow451 -> RE: Curious George/Obama T-Shirt Racist? (5/15/2008 11:31:25 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: todd_t

This story is in reference to an election year t-shirt being peddled by Mike Norman, a local bar owner in Marietta, GA, depicting Barack Obama as a cartoon monkey, and Norman's insistence that the image is not racist.

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/cobb/stories/2008/05/13/mulligans_0514.html

Agree or no?

As for my 2-cents, considering how images of American blacks as apes have been used as a racial slur against them since the 18th century (at least), I'm siding with "agree."

Curios George is also trademarked and copyrighted. Only an idiot would pull that kind of stunt. Oh, wait, the guy's bar got mentioned in the story. Now, we know the real deal.



worthaboverubies -> RE: Curious George/Obama T-Shirt Racist? (5/15/2008 1:17:58 PM)

Definitely racist.



IonMoon -> RE: Curious George/Obama T-Shirt Racist? (5/15/2008 1:30:23 PM)

I grew up in a very racist community, but in a non-racist home. There weren't any non-whites in my home town (are only about 2-3 families even today). Racist comments weren't made often (at least around me) --the community just acted like non-whites didn't exist.

I was in my late 20's before I knew that monkey/ape/etc was used by some as racist terms. I learned through a bad experience in which *I* was accused of making a racial remark. People who knew me laughed it off... unfortunately, the person who was offended by it did not know me well enough to realize that it was completely innocent.

Soooo... I would not think it totally beyond the realm of possibility that an adult would miss the connection... though it probably is rather unlikely. Especially since the bar is known for "provocative" political slogans. And when they say something like "[I'm] providing a public service of sorts, reminding people they have a right to offend."

Tara P



TomTurn -> RE: Curious George/Obama T-Shirt Racist? (5/15/2008 1:52:07 PM)

George Bush was shown as curious george long before this. Was that racist?



lightshineon -> RE: Curious George/Obama T-Shirt Racist? (5/15/2008 2:09:41 PM)

really, i did not know that.
quote:

ORIGINAL: TomTurn

George Bush was shown as curious george long before this. Was that racist?



TomTurn -> RE: Curious George/Obama T-Shirt Racist? (5/15/2008 2:31:34 PM)

quote:

This story is in reference to an election year t-shirt being peddled by Mike Norman, a local bar owner in Marietta, GA, depicting Barack Obama as a cartoon monkey, and Norman's insistence that the image is not racist.

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/cobb/stories/2008/05/13/mulligans_0514.html

Agree or no?

As for my 2-cents, considering how images of American blacks as apes have been used as a racial slur against them since the 18th century (at least), I'm siding with "agree."


I prefer the image of him as the new messiah for anyone stupid enough to follow him or vote for him.



EStan -> RE: Curious George/Obama T-Shirt Racist? (5/15/2008 2:39:20 PM)

I'd just like to point out that THIS is the only true Curious George. That new monkey is an imposter!!



cow451 -> RE: Curious George/Obama T-Shirt Racist? (5/15/2008 4:10:58 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: TomTurn

George Bush was shown as curious george long before this. Was that racist?


YES. Curios George was greatly offended by the comparison to a lower species.[&o]



rcjames -> RE: Curious George/Obama T-Shirt Racist? (5/15/2008 4:11:21 PM)

Well the simularity between Obama and the Curious George cartoon character was first pointed out to me by my 4 year old grandson.

He was visiting me in my office and started laughing at the TV that I keep on the news and pay very little attention to. It was Obama giving a stump speech somewhere or another. My Grandson was laughing and told me look Gpaw it's Curious George. I did notice a lot of resemblance between Obama and the books I had seen in the nursery.

Later that day I purposly watched a Curious George DVD of my grandchildren's, the first cartoon of him that I had seen.

The resemplance is uncanny, not only the same hairline and large ears, but the long arms, lankyness, the waving of the arms when he talks etc; the likeness was nearly spooky.

Now as to whether this guy who is selling t-shirts is a racist or trying to make a racist statement, I have no clue. But the resemblance is definately there.

Obama and his supporters are being way oversensitive.


Thanks
RC



cow451 -> RE: Curious George/Obama T-Shirt Racist? (5/15/2008 4:24:37 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: rcjames

Well the simularity between Obama and the Curious George cartoon character was first pointed out to me by my 4 year old grandson.

He was visiting me in my office and started laughing at the TV that I keep on the news and pay very little attention to. It was Obama giving a stump speech somewhere or another. My Grandson was laughing and told me look Gpaw it's Curious George. I did notice a lot of resemblance between Obama and the books I had seen in the nursery.

Later that day I purposly watched a Curious George DVD of my grandchildren's, the first cartoon of him that I had seen.

The resemplance is uncanny, not only the same hairline and large ears, but the long arms, lankyness, the waving of the arms when he talks etc; the likeness was nearly spooky.

Now as to whether this guy who is selling t-shirts is a racist or trying to make a racist statement, I have no clue. But the resemblance is definately there.

Obama and his supporters are being way oversensitive.


Thanks
RC

I would give you a history/sociology lesson, but it would obviously be pointless.



saved9201 -> RE: Curious George/Obama T-Shirt Racist? (5/15/2008 6:31:43 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: rcjames

Well the simularity between Obama and the Curious George cartoon character was first pointed out to me by my 4 year old grandson.



I hope someone talks to your grandson before he gets himself into trouble.

- Julius



todd_t -> RE: Curious George/Obama T-Shirt Racist? (5/15/2008 6:39:32 PM)

quote:

George Bush was shown as curious george long before this. Was that racist?


No, for two reasons: a) It's a play on Bush's first name, and; b) it pokes fun at his public image as a dim bulb.

During the Civil War, editorial cartoons often depicted Lincoln as an ape due to his gangly appearance. However, race had nothing to do with those cartoons, just as it has nothing to do with some comparing Bush to a chimp in the 21st century.

Unflattering images of monkeys in reference to American blacks, though, is a very old racist device used to mock their African heritage.



lightshineon -> RE: Curious George/Obama T-Shirt Racist? (5/15/2008 6:40:30 PM)

Now, I would not mind someone putting my face on a Curious George T-Shirt, I like him and he is brown, not black, and I really like the man in the big yellow hat, he looks lik my uncle Bill. It is not nice though to do it to Obama, unless it has nothing to do with race, maybe Norman thinks he he looks like him. GWB looks like a muppet to me, especially when he does hand gestures. I guess what is this mans motivation? I am sure it is not good. Though maybe it is that Norman thinks he does resemble him, never thought about it. All black people do not look alike, and certianly not like monkeys. A very beautiful people IMHO. BTW when my youngest only buys black barbies, saying they are much prettier.



rcjames -> RE: Curious George/Obama T-Shirt Racist? (5/15/2008 6:59:09 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: cow451
I would give you a history/sociology lesson, but it would obviously be pointless.


You know far too many folks are way to sensitive and wear their feelings on their shirtsleeves. This victim mentality that many have is just down right overboard.

When George Bush was running for President there were many t-shirts with the Mad Magazine character Alfred E. Newman on them with President Bush's name. You did not see the Bush family getting all defensive and hollering poor ole me about it. Jeeeezzzzzzz.

Obama seems to be just what the liberal demokrats want; an over-sensitive, self-loathing, arrogant, eletist, pro gay marriage supporting, abortion promoting, USA hater.

Thanks
RC



todd_t -> RE: Curious George/Obama T-Shirt Racist? (5/15/2008 7:31:57 PM)

quote:

When George Bush was running for President there were many t-shirts with the Mad Magazine character Alfred E. Newman on them with President Bush's name. You did not see the Bush family getting all defensive and hollering poor ole me about it.


Compared to the Obama-as-Curious George shirt, this is apples and oranges. Name one president who wasn't the target of public jokes during his time in office.

If people dislike Bush's or Obama's politics, that's fine. People can call them each morons all day long. But the t-shirt in question is the equivalent of publicly calling Obama a racist slur.

Is making racist innuendos illegal? No. The shirt's designer is protected by the First Amendment.

However, that doesn't mean he can't take public scorn for his actions.



rcjames -> RE: Curious George/Obama T-Shirt Racist? (5/15/2008 7:38:21 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: todd_t
Compared to the Obama-as-Curious George shirt, this is apples and oranges. Name one president who wasn't the target of public jokes during his time in office.

If people dislike Bush's or Obama's politics, that's fine. People can call them each morons all day long. But the t-shirt in question is the equivalent of publicly calling Obama a racist slur.

Is making racist innuendos illegal? No. The shirt's designer is protected by the First Amendment.

However, that doesn't mean he can't take public scorn for his actions.


As I said far too many folks are way to sensitive and ought to get a life.

Just my humble opinion.

Thanks
RC



ken1906_4 -> RE: Curious George/Obama T-Shirt Racist? (5/15/2008 8:18:29 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: rcjames

quote:

ORIGINAL: cow451
I would give you a history/sociology lesson, but it would obviously be pointless.


You know far too many folks are way to sensitive and wear their feelings on their shirtsleeves. This victim mentality that many have is just down right overboard.

When George Bush was running for President there were many t-shirts with the Mad Magazine character Alfred E. Newman on them with President Bush's name. You did not see the Bush family getting all defensive and hollering poor ole me about it. Jeeeezzzzzzz.

Obama seems to be just what the liberal demokrats want; an over-sensitive, self-loathing, arrogant, eletist, pro gay marriage supporting, abortion promoting, USA hater.

Thanks
RC


uh....you forgot about racist, Marxist, Anti-Christ and the Islamic Manchurian Candidate.



By the way, from a historical context this was offensive, but of course I don't expect you to understand.



TomTurn -> RE: Curious George/Obama T-Shirt Racist? (5/15/2008 8:45:39 PM)

This is a good lesson to all. Should Obama become President, and new messiah for the mislead, there will be no disagreeing with him, no charactures drawn, nothing, without the cry of racism.



todd_t -> RE: Curious George/Obama T-Shirt Racist? (5/15/2008 9:09:20 PM)

quote:

As I said far too many folks are way to sensitive and ought to get a life.


If you think people--particularly blacks--are hypersensitive in their reaction to this Obama shirt, and its reference to the senator as an ape, then I invite you to go up to the next African-American you see and call him or her such.

Then watch what happens.



todd_t -> RE: Curious George/Obama T-Shirt Racist? (5/15/2008 9:16:08 PM)

quote:

This is a good lesson to all. Should Obama become President, and new messiah for the mislead, there will be no disagreeing with him, no charactures drawn, nothing, without the cry of racism.


You're right about one thing.

Your apparent willingness to disregard the petty racism at the heart of this story in favor of scoring base political points is indeed a good lesson as to where your own principles lie.

Knocking a politician for his/her platform is fair game. Using obvious slurs against that person is another.



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