Message sent to Mark Durieux Sociology of Compassion
Just a cartoon? When leisure is political. · 2/20/2009 
Cartoonist Sean Delonis of the New York Post has offended many with his depiction of two policemen shooting and killing a chimpanzee. What’s important is the caption: "they'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill."
Granted, the First Amendment protects freedom of speech. Granted editorial writers and cartoonists have the right to criticize just about anything and anyone, including the stimulus bill and its supporters. And some would even claim that “Cartoonists have to be free to be creative, to not edit themselves during the drawing process.” In fact, offending others “has never stopped cartoon strips or editorial cartoonists from pushing the envelope.” Editor-in-Chief of New York Post Col Allan said: "The cartoon is a clear parody of a current news event, to wit the shooting of a violent chimpanzee in Connecticut.” Certainly, it was the case that just the previous day a chimp had badly mauled the friend of its owner in Connecticut and had to be shot dead.
So, perhaps it was the case, too, that the Delonis was simply trying to “jam two stories together” and that his target was simply those economist advisors who wrote the bill- that the stimulus bill is “a bad thing and someone should be shot for it.” “The point of the cartoon” according to another writer, “is directed at the ‘Monkies’ who wrote the stimulus bill.”
However, the cartoon has provoked alarm and outrage. Many apparently believe the target of the cartoon is not economist advisors but President Barack Obama. On the previous page of the Post, a photo showed President Obama signing (“writing”?) the stimulus bill into law. One reaction states: “The cartoonist was stupid for not fully considering the implications of linking America's first African-American president with an image of a monkey.” And African-American leaders such as Rev. Al Sharpton point out that "it is not a reach to wonder are they inferring that a monkey wrote the last bill." Such an inference would conjure up a deeply insulting legacy: “Black people have been depicted as ‘monkeys’ by racists in this country for a long time, and everyone knows it.” To the contrary, “Americans went to the polls to elect a man of honor from its country, not a monkey, not a chimpanzee.” Back to the issue of responsibility, “Delonas, and whatever editor or editors saw the cartoon before it went in the paper, cannot be completely unaware of the long and repulsive history of white racists calling African-Americans ‘apes’ and ‘monkeys’ and, yes,’chimpanzees’.”
Now comes the mudslinging, unfortunately. On one hand, “If you see a cartoon of a monkey and think a black man, you are a sad individual.” On the other, “You racists defending the racist garbage fool no one” and “I have come to the conclusion that White people are just too pompous and arrogant to even see themselves as racist.”
If you want to see the cartoon for yourself, try any of these links:
http://media-files.gather.com/images/d659/d518/d745/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg
http://image.examiner.com/images/blog/wysiwyg/image/postcartoon.jpg
http://www.cbsnews.com/images/2009/02/18/image4809295.jpg
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Posted: Feb 20, 2009
Mark, too bad that the cartoon wasn't funnier to partly offset the offensiveness of the juxtaposition of chimp and advocate of the stimulus bill. It just doesn't hang together...why would enforcement officers be killing an advocate of economic policies? Am I just too dense, or is the cartoon just not clever enough to rise above the unfortunate association of chimp and black advocate?
Posted: Feb 20, 2009
Great to hear from you, Andy! It's been too long. I hope you're keeping well. I don't think you're dense at all. A lot of people are just shaking their heads over this one. "Ill-conceived" is a huge understatement. In conscience, the cartoon probably never should have run and I really do think it's an indictment against not only the cartoonist but the management of the New York Post for pushing it out the public. Nevertheless, maybe some good is coming from all of this. Once again a veil has been partially lifted and we get yet another glimpse of the questionable motives, heavy-handedness (or clumsiness), and lack of critical insight that seem to govern mainstream media these days. Sheesh!
Posted: Feb 22, 2009
Perhaps this cartoon, can be seen as exploring leisure's boundaries. Can leisure that is seen as political, also be a form of deviant leisure? Or is it not deviant leisure because it is simply the artist expressing their creative consciousness. The artist of this comic probably seem to not be fully aware of the impact that his leisure activity may cause, especially when linking it to political connotations. Do we often overlook the politics, economics, and social issues that may be related to our leisure activities and how they are viewed by others? If this is true, than we may need to be more conscious of how our leisure activities are going to affect others within society.
Perhaps the creator of this cartoon should have been more aware of the implications, of his leisurely activities, and how they promote or establish prejudice and discrimination. There is a fine line between a leisure activity that promotes the betterment of society and provides fulfillment and one that works to continue make discrimination a morally acceptable act within society.
Posted: Mar 01, 2010
I'm a fan of Sean Delonis when it comes to his creativeness. i like his art work.
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Posted: Mar 21, 2010
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