WTF is wrong with politicians? (Re: race in politics)

[MaineDolFan]

Dude - seriously - do you have to be so condensending to everyone?  Try having open dialog and not responding with pictures and gif images.  If someone is missing YOUR point try to explain that point to them?  Believe it or not people aren't in your head.  Sometimes things need to be explained.  It doesn't make anyone less intelligent than you are.  If someone did this to you - your response would be to call that person "immature."  Try playing by your own rules.

[Buddhagirl]

Is the picture on this page offensive?
http://www.freshfromfloridakids.com/phase2/feeding.htm

Not at all. It is a child. Eating watermelon. It's not done as a caricature or to degrade anyone. It's a story about food for infants. There clearly is a HUGE difference.

[CF DolFan]

Just to be politically correct which I' m not very good at ... I was in DC for the 4th of July this past year and lots of people were eating watermelon ... myself included.  I'm curious if it will be banned this year or at a minimum at least have a different meaning to some people. 

[run_to_win]

Not at all. It is a child. Eating watermelon. It's not done as a caricature or to degrade anyone. It's a story about food for infants. There clearly is a HUGE difference.

Exactly - context and intent are important.  It's not just the combination of race and watermelon.

[Phishfan]

Exactly - context and intent are important.  It's not just the combination of race and watermelon.

Maybe its my eyes, but that looks like a white baby to me anyway.

[Spider-Dan]

Exactly - context and intent are important.  It's not just the combination of race and watermelon.

And in the case of the original post, the intent is the problem.

The joke is "funny" because black people like watermelon, so the new black President has replaced Easter eggs with watermelons.

Replace the rows of watermelons with rows of, say, wheat, and it's no longer offensive; it's just bizarre and nonsensical.  Watermelons (or, say, fried chicken) make the joke, which pretty much defines it as part of the intent.

[Defense54]

I always wondered why Blacks eating Watermelon was offensive......I mean Asians eat rice. ect.   Every race has a culture and food is part of it. 
Until Budda pointed out the Watermelon Picture with the smile.  If thats how it truly started and what its refereed to then I can see why its not really that funny anymore.

[bsmooth]

ano you are just being an ass and a troll. Very few people in this country do not know the negative connotation between blacks and watermelon and how it has been portayed in all aspects of media.

[bsfins]

And the Stupidity prevails