Comments on: Racism on the left http://www.reigndropsfall.net/2004/11/17/racism-on-the-left/ Ramblings from a hacker in Iowa Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:22:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Suzanne http://www.reigndropsfall.net/2004/11/17/racism-on-the-left/#comment-187 Suzanne Sun, 21 Nov 2004 03:37:41 +0000 #comment-187 As an American, I think that I can give you some cultural information that will help you understand why these comments are racist. Actually, I voted for Kerry.. but I still find these cartoons, particularly the one with the tubes and the brown sugar one, to be racist. One of my best friends is black, and is a Democrat and she found them to be very insulting.<br /> <br /> Re the brown sugar comment. Some of you may recall the Rolling Stones song entitled "Brown Sugar." The song basically involves a situation (common in pre-Civil War America) where "massa's" would have sex with their slaves, usually against the will of the slave. Therefore, for a Cucasian to call an African American woman Brown Sugar is deeply insulting.<br /> <br /> Re the cartoon involving the aluminum tubes.... This cartoon is a reference to a particulary ditzy slave in the movie "Gone with the Wind." This is a very famous movie about life in the American South before and after the Civil war. There is a well known and often quoted scene in the movie in which a particularly stupid "house slave" - pretends to know how to birth a baby but then panicks and changes her mnd saying, "No, I dunno nuthin' 'bout birthin' no babies." This cartoon is therefore depicting Dr. Rice as a stupid, ditzy house slave.<br /> <br /> I find any cartoons which depict African Americans in this way to be offensive - I could care less who drew it . Try to put yourself in their shoes. As an American, I think that I can give you some cultural information that will help you understand why these comments are racist. Actually, I voted for Kerry.. but I still find these cartoons, particularly the one with the tubes and the brown sugar one, to be racist. One of my best friends is black, and is a Democrat and she found them to be very insulting.

Re the brown sugar comment. Some of you may recall the Rolling Stones song entitled "Brown Sugar." The song basically involves a situation (common in pre-Civil War America) where "massa’s" would have sex with their slaves, usually against the will of the slave. Therefore, for a Cucasian to call an African American woman Brown Sugar is deeply insulting.

Re the cartoon involving the aluminum tubes…. This cartoon is a reference to a particulary ditzy slave in the movie "Gone with the Wind." This is a very famous movie about life in the American South before and after the Civil war. There is a well known and often quoted scene in the movie in which a particularly stupid "house slave" - pretends to know how to birth a baby but then panicks and changes her mnd saying, "No, I dunno nuthin’ ’bout birthin’ no babies." This cartoon is therefore depicting Dr. Rice as a stupid, ditzy house slave.

I find any cartoons which depict African Americans in this way to be offensive - I could care less who drew it . Try to put yourself in their shoes.

]]> By: Jimbob http://www.reigndropsfall.net/2004/11/17/racism-on-the-left/#comment-184 Jimbob Sat, 20 Nov 2004 06:18:26 +0000 #comment-184 "Your stupidity is breathtaking. Typical American."<br /> <br /> ...As though only Americans have ever misread something because of a pre-existing ideological bias.<br /> <br /> Further, do I really have to point out that tarring 300 million people because one guy--on the Internet--misread an article in The Mirror and a few cartoons is far and away *more* stupid than the misreadings in question?<br /> <br /> For the record, I'm an American, and I sharply disagree with Mr. Forbes' political views. "Your stupidity is breathtaking. Typical American."

…As though only Americans have ever misread something because of a pre-existing ideological bias.

Further, do I really have to point out that tarring 300 million people because one guy–on the Internet–misread an article in The Mirror and a few cartoons is far and away *more* stupid than the misreadings in question?

For the record, I’m an American, and I sharply disagree with Mr. Forbes’ political views.

]]> By: Simon http://www.reigndropsfall.net/2004/11/17/racism-on-the-left/#comment-170 Simon Fri, 19 Nov 2004 02:23:31 +0000 #comment-170 Could you be more ignorant? How could you not know that Bush is regularly compared to a monkey?<br /> <br /> Re-read the Mirror article after attending a class in basic comprehension. <br /> <br /> Your stupidity is breathtaking. Typical American. Could you be more ignorant? How could you not know that Bush is regularly compared to a monkey?

Re-read the Mirror article after attending a class in basic comprehension.

Your stupidity is breathtaking. Typical American.

]]> By: Alan H http://www.reigndropsfall.net/2004/11/17/racism-on-the-left/#comment-169 Alan H Thu, 18 Nov 2004 19:26:06 +0000 #comment-169 Planet Gnome should not be messed with. I am glad there is a variety of content on Planet Gnome, and I am even more glad that some of the authors such as Bryan Forbes make the effort to allow comments so that opposing opinions can be expressed. <br /> As for the "Aluminum Tubes" (Aluminium) mentioned in the cartoon I have found out from reading some of this weeks newspapers that it is a reference to claims by Dr. Rice that Aluminium Tubes found in Iraq could only have been intended for weapons manufacture, a claim she insisted on despite advisors telling her that it was not the case. <br /> <a href="http://gnome.org">http://gnome.org</a><br /> <a href="http://www.abisource.com">http://www.abisource.com</a><br /> <a href="http://inkscape.org">http://inkscape.org</a> Planet Gnome should not be messed with. I am glad there is a variety of content on Planet Gnome, and I am even more glad that some of the authors such as Bryan Forbes make the effort to allow comments so that opposing opinions can be expressed.
As for the "Aluminum Tubes" (Aluminium) mentioned in the cartoon I have found out from reading some of this weeks newspapers that it is a reference to claims by Dr. Rice that Aluminium Tubes found in Iraq could only have been intended for weapons manufacture, a claim she insisted on despite advisors telling her that it was not the case.
http://gnome.org
http://www.abisource.com
http://inkscape.org

]]> By: Jamin Gray http://www.reigndropsfall.net/2004/11/17/racism-on-the-left/#comment-168 Jamin Gray Thu, 18 Nov 2004 17:33:01 +0000 #comment-168 GNOME User: Planet Gnome is just a syndication of people involved in the Gnome Project. The individuals who are syndicated blog about a great many thing including Gnome, personal beliefs, happenings in their lives, and politics. Throughout this election season, Gnome developers have posted their views (both from the left and the right) and yes, they appear on planet.gnome.org. That doesn't mean the individual is "using" planet to spread their views. GNOME User: Planet Gnome is just a syndication of people involved in the Gnome Project. The individuals who are syndicated blog about a great many thing including Gnome, personal beliefs, happenings in their lives, and politics. Throughout this election season, Gnome developers have posted their views (both from the left and the right) and yes, they appear on planet.gnome.org. That doesn’t mean the individual is "using" planet to spread their views.

]]> By: anon http://www.reigndropsfall.net/2004/11/17/racism-on-the-left/#comment-167 anon Thu, 18 Nov 2004 14:23:58 +0000 #comment-167 The mirror is a tabloid aka joke anyway The mirror is a tabloid aka joke anyway

]]> By: joesmiley http://www.reigndropsfall.net/2004/11/17/racism-on-the-left/#comment-166 joesmiley Thu, 18 Nov 2004 00:33:26 +0000 #comment-166 come on, its so blatently obvious they arnt calling her a mokney as in "derogotory term for black", but laptop, etc. which she is. she barks whatever tune he signs... thats her job and she does it with gusto. this whole meme is REALLY REALLY stretching come on, its so blatently obvious they arnt calling her a mokney as in "derogotory term for black", but laptop, etc. which she is. she barks whatever tune he signs… thats her job and she does it with gusto. this whole meme is REALLY REALLY stretching

]]> By: Paul McGarry http://www.reigndropsfall.net/2004/11/17/racism-on-the-left/#comment-165 Paul McGarry Thu, 18 Nov 2004 00:24:43 +0000 #comment-165 Thanks for the explanation of the racism in The Mirror article. At least I can see where you were coming from even if it was due to a simple mistake on your part.<br /> <br /> Can you explain the "racism" in the Pat Oliphant cartoon now? Thanks for the explanation of the racism in The Mirror article. At least I can see where you were coming from even if it was due to a simple mistake on your part.

Can you explain the "racism" in the Pat Oliphant cartoon now?

]]> By: anon http://www.reigndropsfall.net/2004/11/17/racism-on-the-left/#comment-164 anon Wed, 17 Nov 2004 23:53:03 +0000 #comment-164 The Mirror is calling Bush a monkey, note the word his in " then his trainer would be the world's most powerful person." It is calling Condoleeza the trainer. The Mirror is calling Bush a monkey, note the word his in " then his trainer would be the world’s most powerful person." It is calling Condoleeza the trainer.

]]> By: anon http://www.reigndropsfall.net/2004/11/17/racism-on-the-left/#comment-163 anon Wed, 17 Nov 2004 23:36:38 +0000 #comment-163 I just saw your clarification:<br /> <br /> "Regarding the article from the Mirror, it makes a reference to Condoleeza being a “monkey” at the beginning of the article. Last time I checked, most African-Americans don’t like that."<br /> <br /> Besides being an incorrect reading of the article, calling a black skinned person a monkey IS NOT RACISM. It is impolite and insulting but it is not racism.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=racism">http://dictionary.reference...</a><br /> <br /> I do not like being called a gringo. Is it racism when someone calls me a gringo? I just saw your clarification:

"Regarding the article from the Mirror, it makes a reference to Condoleeza being a “monkey” at the beginning of the article. Last time I checked, most African-Americans don’t like that."

Besides being an incorrect reading of the article, calling a black skinned person a monkey IS NOT RACISM. It is impolite and insulting but it is not racism.

http://dictionary.reference...

I do not like being called a gringo. Is it racism when someone calls me a gringo?

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