Hey Jen,I just thought the below would be something worth posting and commenting about on your Blog. This is very disrespectful, outrageous and upsetting. I will be writing a letter and think your blog is a good communication board to encourage others to do the same.
It should be understood that this new generation of young voters and Americans who want to move forward and look to the future will NOT tolerate such shameful reporting and antics... It's plain out not funny!!!
The main thing I would like to get across is that "we" whom all a have a part and responsibility to this presidency MUST respond to this!!! This was the NY Post... where are their heads at to allow such a thing to be printed? I think this is the perfect opportunity to nip this sort of bad behavior in the bud by making it be known that this is upsetting and not cool, not cool at all! Please encourage ALL to take 10 minutes and write to the editor
I'm pissed, really pissed!
Thanx!
Roc
oh shit you really posted it!
ReplyDeleteRoc
I was appalled as well. I think John Legend said it best.
ReplyDeleteJohn Ledgends Respose:
John Legend: Open Letter To The New York Post
Dear Editor:
I’m trying to understand what possible motivation you may have had for publishing that vile cartoon depicting the shooting of the chimpanzee that went crazy. I guess you thought it would be funny to suggest that whomever was responsible for writing the Economic Recovery legislation must have the intelligence and judgment of a deranged, violent chimpanzee, and should be shot to protect the larger community. Really? Did it occur to you that this suggestion would imply a connection between President Barack Obama and the deranged chimpanzee? Did it occur to you that our President has been receiving death threats since early in his candidacy? Did it occur to you that blacks have historically been compared to various apes as a way of racist insult and mockery? Did you intend to invoke these painful themes when you printed the cartoon?
If that’s not what you intended, then it was stupid and willfully ignorant of you not to connect these easily connectable dots. If it is what you intended, then you obviously wanted to be grossly provocative, racist and offensive to the sensibilities of most reasonable Americans. Either way, you should not have printed this cartoon, and the fact that you did is truly reprehensible. I can’t imagine what possible justification you have for this. I’ve read your lame statement in response to the outrage you provoked. Shame on you for dodging the real issue and then using the letter as an opportunity to attack Rev. Sharpton. This is not about Rev. Sharpton. It’s about the cartoon being blatantly racist and offensive.
I believe in freedom of speech, and you have every right to print what you want. But freedom of speech still comes with responsibilities and consequences. You are responsible for printing this cartoon, and I hope you experience some real consequences for it. I’m personally boycotting your paper and won’t do any interviews with any of your reporters, and I encourage all of my colleagues in the entertainment business to do so as well. I implore your advertisers to seriously reconsider their business relationships with you as well.
You should print an apology in your paper acknowledging that this cartoon was ignorant, offensive and racist and should not have been printed.
I’m well aware of our country’s history of racism and violence, but I truly believe we are better than this filth. As we attempt to rise above our difficult past and look toward a better future, we don’t need the New York Post to resurrect the images of Jim Crow to deride the new administration and put black folks in our place. Please feel free to criticize and honestly evaluate our new President, but do so without the incendiary images and rhetoric.
Sincerely,
John Legend
Well said!
ReplyDeleteTrip
Well said!
ReplyDeleteTrip