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February 18, 2009 at 22:25:19

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Promoted to Headline (H3) on 2/18/09:

Interpretation Depends on the Receiver - Not the Intent of the Sender

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By Rowan Wolf (about the author)     Page 1 of 1 page(s)

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For OpEdNews: Rowan Wolf - Writer

We all learn that the message depends on what is received and not just what is sent. Our intent does not take away the harm of the message. This is the case with the Delonas cartoon in the 2/18/2009 New York Post. The cartoon depicts to police having just shot dead a chimpanzee (lying in blood on the sidewalk). The bubble reads "They'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill." The article is unabashedly racist - protests to the contrary aside.

The Post, and Delonas, can argue all they want that the dead chimpanzee refers to articles the Post has been running as coverage of the Travis the chimp. However, if that was the case, then why the bubble regarding the stimulus bill? That takes a tasteless "cartoon" and turns it into a political critique. One might even argue that the cartoon promotes assassination as the appropriate response to voice political opposition.

Regardless, the Post is treading on very thin ice with multiple issues.


While I think that Delonas' cartoon is offensive in the extreme, the ultimate responsibility does not lie with him. Rather, it lies with the editors and managers of the New York Post. It is the their responsibility to decide what is (and is not) published. Further, it is their responsibility to determine the context, as well as the content, of what they publish. According to someone reading the Post, the cartoon was placed directly on the facing page of an article (and picture) of President Obama signing the stimulus bill.

Despite attacks on Al Sharpton for bringing national attention to the cartoon, Sharpton was exactly right in doing so.

While it is unlikely that the Post is going to issue an apology (at the very least) for publishing the extremely offensive cartoon, perhaps their advertisers might take a different view. Therefore, here is a partial list of the companies advertising in the New York Post. If you have the time, you might want to contact them with your opinion.
By Rowan Wolf

We all learn that the message depends on what is received and not just what is sent. Our intent does not take away the harm of the message. This is the case with the Delonas cartoon in the 2/18/2009 New York Post. The cartoon depicts to police having just shot dead a chimpanzee (lying in blood on the sidewalk). The bubble reads "They'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill." The article is unabashedly racist - protests to the contrary aside.
Verizon 1-888-591-0875 8AM - 12AM(ET) seven days a week.
Ford
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Jet Blue
Dunkin Donut
Advertising Educational Foundation: Paula Alex CEO pa@aef.com

 

www/uncommonthought.com/mtblog/

Rowan Wolf is an activist and sociologist living in Oregon. She is the founder and principle author of Uncommon Thought Journal, and a Senior Editor for more...)
 

The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author
and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.

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Silence is a statement by Rowan Wolf on Wednesday, Feb 18, 2009 at 10:32:21 PM
Excellent article Rowan by E. Nelson on Wednesday, Feb 18, 2009 at 11:27:32 PM
I agree by Rowan Wolf on Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 at 8:49:33 AM
Give me a break. by p henson on Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 at 9:13:13 AM
Congress writes the bills? by Old Uncle Dave on Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 at 4:23:23 PM
Yes, obviously racist by steve scheetz on Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 at 9:25:17 AM
Stimulus Bill Written By Chairwoman Pelosi by JohnLloydScharf on Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 at 11:44:05 AM
Gee Thanks by Rowan Wolf on Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 at 1:54:17 PM
Whose Really in Charge: Speaker of the House. by JohnLloydScharf on Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 at 2:44:21 PM
A Tempest by William Whitten on Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 at 1:55:43 PM
Well Rowan; by William Whitten on Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 at 1:59:43 PM
If it wasn't racist by Laudyms on Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 at 2:12:11 PM
Why? by William Whitten on Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 at 2:50:03 PM
NO DOUBT! by steve scheetz on Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 at 9:48:31 PM
Comic strip by Simple Truth on Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 at 8:41:56 PM
I like the way the post apologized.... by steve scheetz on Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 at 10:10:52 PM
Sheetz, Whitten, Scharf: take a vacation by Jerry McIntire on Sunday, Feb 22, 2009 at 3:08:56 PM

 
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