Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Free To Be... Stupid

Exhibit A: The Book Display

Recently, there was a controversy concerning a book display in a Florida Barnes & Noble store, in which someone inserted a book about "monkeys" right in the middle of a group of books about our 44th President. And, this comes just a few weeks after the New York Post "monkey cartoon" incident. The spokesperson for Barnes & Noble said that they believe that, more than likely, a customer was the culprit in this case. I believe them. After the hue and cry over that cartoon, no business in their right mind is going to do something like that... but, some idiot customer who still can't get over the notion of a black president would.

Exhibit B: The Birth Certificate

Then, you have the numbskulls who are trying to say that Barack "Hussein" Obama, as they like to call him (with extra emphasis on "Hussein") to not so subtley infer that he is somehow related to the late Iraqi strongman, are saying that the president was not born in the United States and, therefore, is not the legitimate Commander in Chief. These idiots have even gotten two soldiers presently serving in Iraq to go along with this insanity. They are demanding that the president produce his birth certificate to prove that he's an American citizen.

I would get angry but, it's a free country and people are free to expouse any idiotic idea they choose, so long as they don't hurt anyone. These people certainly aren't hurting anyone other than their own image. There are important things to be concerned about right now and someone drawing a cartoon, placing a book in a book display, or demanding that the president produce his birth certificate aren't even distractions. They cause me to shake my head and chuckle a bit but, they will not distract me from the things that I am most concerned about.

Exhibit C: The Email

However, the Southern California mayor who shared an email with a black colleague that portrayed a field of watermelons on the white house lawn with the caption "No Easter Egg Hunt This Year" and then said that he "had no idea that the watermelons was a racial stereotype", will NOT get the benefit of the doubt from me. If he's telling the truth then, I think he should present HIS birth certificate and prove to me that HE is an American citizen.

There is no way that he lived in America for over 40 years and not been thorougly versed on all of the negative stereotypes heaped on not just African-Americans but, Native Americans, Asians, Latinos, gays, and women. I could add the Irish, Italians, and Jews to the mix too. It's just part of growing up in this country... racially and culturally stereotyping other people.

We all do it. We all tell these kind of jokes when we are alone in our respective tribes and giggle together. When this ugliness gets out into the mainstream media for all to see, we then pretend to be shocked, appalled, and act as though this is the first time we are hearing or seeing this kind of thing. And, that is why this type of thing doesn't shock me, surprise me, and now... doesn't even get me angry. It's just more dirt that I'm going to brush off of my shoulders while keeping my eyes and ears open to what is really important and I advise every well-meaning American to do the same.

Exhibit D: The Radio Talk Show Host

And, to Rush Limbaugh: Thank you... your stupidity inspires me everyday to read more books and to continue to educate myself.

23 comments:

Jillian said...

ugh @ rush limbaugh..

the stupidity seems to be in abundance lately...and the continued spotlight into these things only perpetuates it...and its a shame...

that whole cartoon thing..if our president wasn't african-american..no one would have been offended...so we want the freedom to express ourselves but no not really?

...and the beat goes on...

A Free Spirit Butterfly said...

thank you for enlighting me. in my line of work, i have days and weeks where i don't don't the news or listen to it. i have enough stupidity and crime and sadness on the job. but in any event, nothing anyone can say or do can spoil the feeling that i hold dear to my heart, which is the president was elected by the american people fair and square. not because he was/is african american, but overall; "americans" felt he was the very best canidate!

now i have to google comments by "rush limbaugh" i don't know what happened.

ps. you don't have to apologize for not visiting my site, sometimes i'm too busy to visit it (smile)

love, peace and blessings for a great day!

pss. aries may rule, but CANCERS have BIG "HEART"! (lol)

Blu Jewel said...

This madness will continue for the duration of Obama's presidency because there are people stupid enough to promote it. It's going to take time and a lot of patience on the part of those smart enough to not get inflamed every time with see something offensive regarding our president. So, for every time we see/hear something negative, we should return with something positive instead.

Love to live; live to love!

Anonymous said...

Rush Limbaugh is always talking out the side of his face.

Like you I don't get angry. I just laugh.

Anonymous said...

We just have to brush that kind of dirt off of our shoulders Keith. As usual...a good post.

Anonymous said...

This foolishness unfortunately comes with the territory.

Anonymous said...

Good Post Keith....I was not aware of all of the slights and insults, but I agree with you...who has time to even worry about them.

Anonymous said...

You know what they say Keith,Sticks and stones will break my bones, but racist cartoons will never hurt me!-lololol.

Anonymous said...

Some folks will be whining from now until Mr. Obama leaves office, what are you going to do? I feel sorry for them.

Anonymous said...

Like Your Title Says...They are all free to be stupid.

Good Post as always Keith!

Anonymous said...

Your Title says it all Keith, In America we are (they are) Free to be stupid!

Anonymous said...

Great Title and Great Post Keith.
LMAO.

Anonymous said...

The more these fools do stuff like this, the more they show their fear and their hypocrisy!

Anonymous said...

I look at all of these things as people exercising their freedom of speech to make their own political statements. I may not like or agree with what they are saying or depicting, but I respect their right to do so and I hope they respect mine also.

Anonymous said...

Unbelievable that some folks just haven't gotten over the fact that a
Black President is in office...I have to laugh when I see this myself.

Anonymous said...

You could fight fire with fire...but you know what they say about arguing with foolish people..
Somebody might walk by and not be able to tell the difference.

Anonymous said...

I couldn't get over the fact that the Mayor sent the watermelon cartoon to a Black woman and claims to not know it was racially
offensive...I agree with you..How long has HE been living in America??? LMAO- Good one, Keith.

Anonymous said...

Some of this stuff, we just gotta ignore. I agree..It can be distracting if we allow it to be.

Rich Fitzgerald said...

No Easter Egg Hunt This Year -- I got a chuckle out of that.

Man, let these folks show their true color so we can stop giving them the benefit of public dollars in their salary.

Like you said, they are free to be stupid.

♥ CG ♥ said...

Don't get me started! These bottom-feeding, low-class, even lower intelligence havin'...ugh!

ShellyShell said...

Every time I read some of this shyt I get so mad but like you stated we do live in a free country! It's just so ignorant that it disgust me. Have you seen "Right America" It's a 45 minute documentary on HBO buy a liberal woman named Alexandra(forgot her last name) and she goes around to McCain camps and ask people what do they think now that Barack is President. Man the responses were SCARY! One dude said he ain't ready for no blacks in office another dude said "I ain't vote for no NI%^A" It was a mess. If you get a chance definitely take the time to watch it!

The F_Uitlist said...

I will say it again, Racism is real and right now its sheets off and everywhere.

We just have to do as you said, continue to read and educate ourselves.

Angel said...

I agree, lets continue to read and educate ourselves!

Thats the only way

I was laughing at that bookstore thing, I would not have even had the time or mindspace to get offended about it




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