Tea Party Republican sent offensive Obama email

[Dakine10 5,452]

oh no

I am not racist. I do not have any black friends.

I think that's OK in your case. When you don't have any friends, it's understood that you don't have any black friends.

[Danno 1,228]

Hmmmmmmmmmmm, with only 1% of the Vermont population black ? You have to go visit another state.

Or better yet, create incentives to attract AA's to Vermont.... the lack of diversity must be stifling, how do you get by?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I think that's OK in your case. When you don't have any friends, it's understood that you don't have any black friends.

[The Dude 206]

I am not racist. I do not have any black friends.

Good that we cleared tha up Gary. We were all dismayed at the uncertainty.

Lets see how this works, when the same imagery was used with Bush, it wasn't racist.. because he was white, yet it is with Obamer because he is half black, would it be doubly as racist if he were a fully Black president?

Or does the "one drop" rule kick in to determine if it is in fact racist ....(the ultimate sin of course)?

Danno, you can either stop lying or stop being disingenuous. If you don't know why superimposing a pic of president bush on a chimps face is not racist and doing the same of obama is, then you've got far greater comprehension problems. Here's a hint chimpo, the point of superimposing bush's face on the chimp was to insinuate his lack of intellect. Doing the same technique to a picture of obama is racist because of the connotation of a chimp in relation to black people. See Danno, so easy, even a chimp could understand it, I hope you do too.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Good that we cleared tha up Gary. We were all dismayed at the uncertainty.

Danno, you can either stop lying or stop being disingenuous. If you don't know why superimposing a pic of president bush on a chimps face is not racist and doing the same of obama is, then you've got far greater comprehension problems. Here's a hint chimpo, the point of superimposing bush's face on the chimp was to insinuate his lack of intellect. Doing the same technique to a picture of obama is racist because of the connotation of a chimp in relation to black people. See Danno, so easy, even a chimp could understand it, I hope you do too.

But in all seriousness how do you know the obama image isn't also implying a lack of intelligence?

[The Dude 206]

But in all seriousness how do you know the obama image isn't also implying a lack of intelligence?

The fact that Obama is half black, and identifies with the black community automatically implies the racist connotation of the image, whether that is intended or not is immaterial. It's like sending a wedding gift with a swastika on it. You may have meant good luck, but the implied imagery of it states another meaning.

[Vi-Jay 218]

True story:

I am out having dinner with some clients. I used the phrase, "let's call a spade a spade".

An African-American seated at a nearby table, looked up from his plate and glared at me.

I pondered this.

When I got home, I Googled the phrase.

Wiki Aswers:

The phrase "to call a spade a spade" was introduced in 1542 by Nicholas Udall, in his translation of Erasmus, "Apophthegmes, that is to saie, prompte saiynges". It means to speak directly about a topic, without considering that the topic might be embarassing or of a sensitive nature to others.

This usage is older than the use of the term "spade" as an ethnic slur against African-Americans, however, the phrase is generally avoided due to the possible confusion with the slur.

And,

This phrase goes back to Greek text at least as early as 300BC and doesn't have racist origins. John Knox introduced it into English when translating a Latin text by Erasmus. "I have learned to call wickedness by its own terms: A fig is a fig and a spade a spade."

It means "to speak plainly or bluntly; to avoid euphemism."

Alt.english.org:

This, of course, does *not* necessarily render the modern use of

"to call a spade a spade" "politically correct". Rosalie Maggio, in

_The Bias-Free Word-Finder_, writes: "The expression is associated

with a racial slur and is to be avoided", and recommends using "to

speak plainly" or other alternatives instead

I heard my father and grandfather use that phrase. I liked it and used it too!

I don't use that phrase anymore!

[The Dude 206]

[^_^ 5,021]

si, man.

[Vi-Jay 218]

Something else I don't understand:

Why do some people, when angry say, "Douchebag!!!"

I am confused. I know it's a dirty job but, is that really an insult?

I am so very thankful for the douchebag and I think it is a God-send.

Like the "man" upstairs surely understands and showed mercy to "mankind".

and, Frankly, I sometimes feel a little jealous of the douchebag.

That damn thing is spending more time, up there, than I am!

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

The fact that Obama is half black, and identifies with the black community automatically implies the racist connotation of the image, whether that is intended or not is immaterial. It's like sending a wedding gift with a swastika on it. You may have meant good luck, but the implied imagery of it states another meaning.

I think the swastika has permanent negative connotations tied to it, but apes and monkeys? I think it takes a racist point of view to make the conclusion that it reflects Obama's ethnicity.

I'm not in anyway saying you or anyone else is racist...i'm just trying to look at this with an open mind. I think if I was trying to insult Obama's race in this situation, I would not have made his mother an ape but rather a human.

[Zero Sum 305]

"Besides, I only sent it to a few people–mostly people I didn’t think would be upset by it."

Didn't you know that it's not racism if nobody but your closest friends know about it?

Everyone knows that falling trees in desolate forests don't make any noise.

[The Dude 206]

I think the swastika has permanent negative connotations tied to it, but apes and monkeys? I think it takes a racist point of view to make the conclusion that it reflects Obama's ethnicity.

I'm not in anyway saying you or anyone else is racist...i'm just trying to look at this with an open mind. I think if I was trying to insult Obama's race in this situation, I would not have made his mother an ape but rather a human.

You think a black man of influence portrayed as a monkey doesn't have a permanent negative connotation? Sorry Sousuke, when you return to reality, please respond.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

You think a black man of influence portrayed as a monkey doesn't have a permanent negative connotation? Sorry Sousuke, when you return to reality, please respond.

No in fact to say its ok to portray a white man as a monkey but not a black man is a double standard that everyone, especially the media, needs to kick.

Since when did monkeys and apes equal the racial profile of a man?

Edited April 18, 2011 by Sousuke

[Zero Sum 305]

No in fact to say its ok to portray a white man as a monkey but not a black man is a double standard that everyone, especially the media, needs to kick.

Since when did monkeys and apes equal the racial profile of a man?

Sure it needs to be kicked- starting with the people that very specifically use such images with a very obvious racial tone against a black man whereas others that use monkey imagery to depict the stupidity of a white man. Both have their context and both have their specific intended effect.