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Elections, Politics, and Partisanship Topics relating to politics, elections, or party affiliations of interests to SOS associates |
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#1
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Oh, please. The entire gist/humor behind the picture is that the President is in a subservient position to Sarah Palin. Shoe shining (whether you consider it honorable work/honest labor or not) is a profession that was almost completely occupied by uneducated blacks. That picture is a jab at his race. The "humor" just happens to work because he's black. If we had an Asian president, the same thing could be conveyed by putting that person in a Chinese laundry situation or dressing him as Hop Sing from Bonanza. If he was Latino it could be a cartoon with the President using a leaf blower or mopping a floor. With Clinton or Jimmy Carter it could've been conveyed by having them lounging around a trailer/mobile home park with a can of beer in hand. That cleaning, gardening, ironing shirts and shining shoes are respectable ways to turn a buck is irrelevant. They are positions of subservience accurately associated with members of certain ethnic/racial groups. The shoe shining thing wouldn't work with Bush or Clinton b/c shoe shining isn't associated with whites. To pretend that these stereotypes don't exist is folly. And to disapprove of a jibe with a racial overtone to it is hardly throwing the borders wide open. Obama is a bad president because he's bankrupting us. He's not a bad president because he's black. |
#2
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I used to have a standing reply to some of my male employees back in the day, after they came crawling back to ask for work after having voluntarily deserted their posts without a word for some short term higher paying gig that didn't pan out. I'd say: "I'm glad you're back; I can always use a faithful man servant to hand my undergarments to before my shower". It was humorously demeaning, but never racially motivated. That's the way I saw this photo. |
#3
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Last edited by Jeanfromfillmore; 12-17-2009 at 11:35 PM. |
#4
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I look at it this way: Am I personally offended by something which might be construed as racist? There are some things which I find racially offensive and some which I do not. My gut reaction to the picture was obviously a positive one, and since there is nothing in it I find offensive it would be hypocritical for me to label it as racist.
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OPEN BORDERS AND MASS AMNESTY Ich Bin Ein Arizonan! "I entirely reject the concept, however, of "anchor babies." If parents are found to be here illegally, then the whole family, children as well, should be sent back to the parents' country of origin." |
#5
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From my perspective, you guys are denying what's plainly in front of you. Your lack-of-racial-undertone suggestions defy reality. If there isn't a play to the stereotype about blacks shining shoes, the picture isn't "funny." If it isn't about him being black in a stereotypical uneducated African-American position, what's the joke? Obama lost his job and is now doing this? He hasn't lost his job, Jean. He hasn't come close. There's nothing that has happened in the real world to make that the tie-in to the attempt at humor.
For those who have had little exposure to ethnic stereotypes, let me clue you in (I grew up with ethnic humor. My parents, who are from the East Coast, had children late and are closer to two generations older than me, than one): Poles and Italians - Stupid, a step in "class" only above blacks. The latter are notorious for being involved with organized crime. The former work mostly in coal mines. Irish - Commonly drunk, work as policemen and have a hardcore devotion to the Pope. Jews - Completely dishonest, particularly in financial dealings. Germans - Makers of lousy food and no senses of humor. Anal retentive and devoted to detail to the Nth degree. Chinese - Found in two places: Chinese restaurants and laundries. Japanese - Scheming backstabbers. Blacks - The lowest rung in American society. Only fit for positions that entail physical labor (domestics, drivers, servants, laborers ... and certainly shoe shine boys, which were commonplace in large American cities during the first half of the 20th Century). Are these dated stereotypes? Sure. But to deny them and their place in American culture is pointless. Particularly in view of the fact that the picture in question doesn't make any "humorous" sense otherwise. Whether you perceive it or not, the person who made the Obama/Palin pic intended it, because there's no other quickly understood "funny" reason to have a black president shining shoes. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Do I think the pic is a big deal or something for which we all have to immerse ourselves in "sensitivity" courses about, or some other PC nonsense? No, of course not. But when a black woman in her 80's doesn't like it, I completely understand why. It's a cheap shot at the guy. The joke, at least in part, is about his skin color, no question. OK, end of discussion on my end. You either get it or you don't and this topic really doesn't merit the time we've invested in it. Please excuse me now, I have to go lend money at exorbitant rates of interest. Last edited by DerailAmnesty.com; 12-18-2009 at 05:16 AM. |
#6
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"Italians - Stupid, a step in "class" only above blacks. The latter are notorious for being involved with organized crime. The former work mostly in coal mines."
Yeah, so, what's your point? Oh, and by the way SZ, for Hanukkah/Chanukah, I got you a cement overcoat with matching shoes. I hope you like them. The outfit will go along with your free toll tokens for the Brooklyn Bridge tour. A car ride down by the river is lovely this time of year. Enjoy. ![]() Trivia: All the roads in New York City end at the river. Fugheddaboudit, lol.
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"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead Last edited by Ole Glory; 12-18-2009 at 09:50 AM. |
#7
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A Greek and an Italian
A Greek and Italian were sitting in a Starbuck's one day discussing who had the superior culture. Over triple lattes the Greek guy says, "Well, we have the Parthenon." Arching his eyebrows, the Italian replies, "We have the Coliseum." The Greek retorts, "We Greeks gave birth to advanced mathematics." The Italian, nodding agreement, says, "But we built the Roman Empire." And so on and so on until the Greek comes up with what he thinks will end the discussion. With a flourish of finality he says, "We invented sex!" The Italian replies, "That is true, but it was the Italians who introduced it to women!" ![]()
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"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead |
#8
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Really? OK, that sounds reasonable on the conditions that you sell it to me at wholesale and there is an extra coat, tossed in gratis, for my Uncle Morty. Alright, off the top of my head, I can come up with this trio; the last two of which are so bad that if the Christians are right about the existence of Hell, I just reserved myself a seat in the first 20 rows. Question: Why do Jews have such big noses? Answer: Because the air is free. Have you heard about the new German-built microwave currently being marketed to consumers on Fairfax and in Brentwood? It seats 40. Question: What is the difference between a pizza and a Jew? Answer: Pizzas don't scream when you toss them in the oven. |
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