What Does The Chimpanzee Have To Do With The Stimulus Bill

Approximately two weeks ago, an editorial cartoonist for a New York publication depicted a full illustration of a chimpanzee being shot by police officers and the officers stating that basically that was the end of the stimulus bill. If you haven't seen the cartoon, check it out! While you are reviewing this cartoon, just take 10 minutes and write down everything that you see or how does it make you feel when you look at this cartoon illustration. When I first reviewed it, I definitely had mixed feelings, the first being racist. Secondly insensitive and third...stupid! For the past week I have listened to the different cable news media networks talk about this cartoon editorial. One evening I was listening to Lou Dobbs with CNN interviewing Al Sharpton. Al Sharpton gave his views about how this editorial wasn't good and how he felt that the news organization should do a better job as it relates to it's obligation to the community. You could easily tell that they had different viewpoints in how they depicted the cartoon and how to handle the situation as it relates to the news organization. But it was definitely known from both that this wasn't done in "good taste". When an artist creates something, you have to understand his mindset at the time. I would have loved to had the opportunity to ask this artist, "What were you thinking about"? Another question, "What does the chimpanzee have anything to do with the "Stimulus Bill "and "Why did you use police officers in this cartoon"? If you happen to be an african american, you are probably used to the several stereotypes that have been depicted in this illustration. If you happen to be an animal lover, this is definitely not a laughing matter. If you are a police officer, this definitely doesn't show your profession in a good way. I guess that since so many news print organizations are either filing for bankruptcy protection or closing it's doors for good those that are left will every now and then do something to get that "spike" in news stand sales. Should we hold these artists more accountable who happen to be employed by these news organizations or these news organizations as a whole, that allow these types of editorial depictions? Oh, I almost forgot...Freedom of Speech and Freedom Of The Press, these news organizations do have their rights. But I have always truly believed that there is always a price of some sort for freedom. An artists work lives forever, a writers work live forever. That is why it is always important to think about what you are doing before you do it and understand the consequences of the decisions that you make...because it could impact you for a lifetime!