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

[Dave Gray]

People are stupid and do stupid things.  When you're in the public eye, you need to be twice as careful not to do blatantly stupid things.

I'm not really sensitive to racial stuff.  Honestly, I think a lot of racial humor is funny, so long as it's not mean-spirited.  Sometimes, there's a lot of gray area with that.  But then, there are situations where you see something and think....damn.  WTF were they thinking?

Here's an email sent by the mayor of Los Alamitos:


It said something about not having Easter eggs this year.


Link to the story:
http://opinion.latimes.com/opinionla/2009/02/watermelon-joke.html


I wouldn't even send this out, because I would be afraid to paint myself as a complete bigot.  What is a MAYOR doing it for?  How stupid can you be?  You have to realize that this stuff is so easily traced back to you, yet this kind of thing keeps happening OVER and OVER again.

If this were said by a comedian on stage, you might get a chuckle out of me (probably not), but for a public official to send this stuff is just suicide.

[Defense54]

No doubt. Like a Police officer he is held to a higher Standard.  If they found that he actually sent it from his personal PC he needs to go. Like that NY POST editor , he might not be racist but.........USE SOME FUCKING COMON SENSE! 

[Phishfan]

It looks like the Mayor has decided to step down.

[Buddhagirl]

This is one of those where you wonder if the guy has completely lost his mind. Geesh.

[MaineDolFan]

I see where Dave is coming from on this.  But - I have to say this - I can almost hear my Grammy D now, God Bless her soul.  She would see that and say "damn straight, someone get me a napkin."  

I just forwarded this to a couple uncles to see what they think.  The mayor should not have sent this.  Dave is right.  But I swear - in my heart - I know that the black members of my family would laugh at this.  I'll be shocked if they find it offensive.

I think that if it were a field of burning crosses that would be one thing.  This isn't so much a racist thing as a stereotype.  And some stereotypes are actually true and apply to all races.  I think sometimes people get offended on behalf of other people.  Sometimes that is needed.  Sometimes not.

[run_to_win]

And some stereotypes are actually true and apply to all races.  I think sometimes people get offended on behalf of other people.  Sometimes that is needed.  Sometimes not.

I think we rush to be offended to show how enlightened we are. 

Who doesn't love watermelon?  If I wasn't aware of the sensitivity surrounding associating certain races with watermelon, that picture would make me think that's there going to be one huge picnic on the White House lawn.



Can someone explain why it is offensive to associate certain cultures and watermelon?  I've never heard the explanation.

[MaineDolFan]

^Completely off topic but I have to say this:  I LOVE that picture of the little one chowing on some mellon.  I didn't realize how much I love babies until I had one of my own.  Now I am worse than a girl when I see little ones.  That picture is adorable.

[YoFuggedaboutit]

I think the mayor of Los Almalitos just killed his chances of for re-election.  How stupid can you be??

[Sunstroke]

I think we rush to be offended to show how enlightened we are. 

And I think that those who weren't offended there are nowhere near enlightenment, as it pertains to American social dynamics.

If I wasn't aware of the sensitivity surrounding associating certain races with watermelon, that picture would make me think that's there going to be one huge picnic on the White House lawn.

But you ARE aware of it, and yet you still try to sweep it under the rug.

Can someone explain why it is offensive to associate certain cultures and watermelon?  I've never heard the explanation.

I'll be glad to explain that to you, right after I explain why water is wet.  In other words, OF COURSE you DON'T need an explanation on this racial stereotype, because you already know that it is offensive, and you know WHY it is offensive.

Cute baby picture though...warm and fuzzy always makes for a nice diversion.

[MaineDolFan]

I noted that I was going to email my uncles to get their take.  My Uncle Jay is a Baptist Minister and a self confessed "recovering Black Panther."  He grew up a poor black kid in Birmingham, Alabama and some scars run deeper than others.  Anyway...I was wrong about what I thought he might think.  Read on.

"At first when I saw that picture I chuckled.  Then I thought, wait.  I shouldn't be chuckling.  That isn't right.  I should take offense to this but I am so jaded by our culture that I'm not taking offense.  In a world where brothers are killing brothers and people say "n*****" like they would have said "Mister" in the 1950's, people have become very desensitized.  The popular rhetoric that the world is too politically correct only shades the real issue from the sun.  "Lighten up, they are just watermelons" someone might say.  Another group will gasp and say "heinous!"  The truth lies in the middle.  Yes, our society has become too politically correct in areas.  To the point where someone hides behind that under the guise of "comedy" and tries to ignore the fact that comedy is at the expense of something larger than a laugh.  Your friend was right to be appalled by this picture.  I'm ashamed of myself that I wasn't appalled myself at first glance.  You're right, it's a field full of watermelons and not "burning crosses" as you say.  Why does it need to be something as obvious as that to demonstrate that both are equally racist?"

I think he said that quite well.

[Buddhagirl]

Can someone explain why it is offensive to associate certain cultures and watermelon?  I've never heard the explanation.

Notice the darkness of the skin for the blacks and the redness of the lips and mouth area. It actually looks like...a slice of watermelon.

A full explanation is here:

http://www.ferris.edu/JIMCROW/question/may08/

Also, it's easy to sit and say that one does not find any of these things offensive when they have never had to overcome them. I have been called a coon, a pickininny, a nigga, asked if I eat lots of watermelon and chicken, pushed down, spit at, beat up, picked last, told I'm ugly because I'm black, and stopped for driving while black. Until it happens to you, or your child comes home crying wanting to know "why she's not pretty like the other girls in class" or "why the other kids keep asking her if she likes watermelon" it's easy to blow off as politically correct bullshit.

[Dave Gray]

Watermelon for blacks is more than just a sterotype.  It's backed with lots of other racism, including serious stuff like lynchings and unequal rights.  I don't think that the picture is outright offensive under every circumstance, but for a mayor to send out that picture is just super duper stupid.

[bsmooth]

I think we rush to be offended to show how enlightened we are. 

Who doesn't love watermelon?  If I wasn't aware of the sensitivity surrounding associating certain races with watermelon, that picture would make me think that's there going to be one huge picnic on the White House lawn.



Can someone explain why it is offensive to associate certain cultures and watermelon?  I've never heard the explanation.

Why did this picture only come out after the election of a black president?  SOmetimes you really come across as the cliche  " I have a black friend" guy.

[run_to_win]

A full explanation is here:

http://www.ferris.edu/JIMCROW/question/may08/

The Jim Crow Museum itself has hundreds of images of African Americans -- usually with very dark skin, blood red grinning lips and raggedy clothes -- eating watermelons. These images on postcards, sheet music, ashtrays, and souvenirs are visual expressions of the stereotype of Blacks as ignorant, mindless buffoons.

Thank you Buddha.  I guess I just grew up sheltered from all the ugliness you describe.    

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

[run_to_win]

Why did this picture only come out after the election of a black president?  SOmetimes you really come across as the cliche  " I have a black friend" guy.