My President is Not a Chimpanzee

February 18th's NY Post features a cartoon of a chimp that has been shot dead by two police officers. The comment above the cartoon references the author of the stimulus bill. This cartoon is not only insensitive, but it is racist.

As I have moved through the motions of my day leading up to this moment, I have grown increasingly angry about the response about the cartoon. The lines have clearly been drawn once again. Once again, racism has been brought to the front line like an unwilling child asked to perform " I'm a Little Teapot" for his parents' friends.

President Barack Obama chose to take ownership of the stimulus bill. He has accepted, pass or fail, the ramifications of the bill. He has said in no uncertain terms, I am responsible for what happens with this bill. There has not been one news organization that has laid the blame of the bill anywhere else. In essense, he is the author and the publisher of the bill.

By drawing a cartoon depicting a dead chimpanzee that allegedly wrote the stimulus bill, the NY Post is allowing a horrific implication to fester with the President in the dead chimpanzee's place. This far surpasses the statements made by comedian Rush Limbaugh.

As a black woman, I am disgusted. I am hurt that this kind of racism is put on display once again. I am hurt that once again, despite the accomplishments of my people, we are the subject of such unwarranted hate. I am saddened that my children will never be afforded the opportunity to stand on their merits, and not what someone perceives them to be based on the color of their skin.

As a citizen who pays taxes, votes, volunteers, cries for the hurts of others, prays for those I read about in the news every day, and reach out to those who are hurting daily to try and ease their pain just a little, I am mortified. Barack Obama is our president. Regardless of the personal opinions of those who did not vote for him, he is our president. He deserves our respect. I did not care for President George W. Bush, but I did not wish him ill. I did not allow others around me to do so. President Obama should be afforded the same respect.

I cannot believe that there are those people who do not see the racial undertones in the cartoon. It is that kind of ignorance that lets those who are bullies think it is okay to ridicule and beat up on those that are not the same. It is that same kind of ignorance that has made this country what it is. I am sick of those who know playing dumb. I am sick of those who don't know refusing to open their eyes and see the world as it really is. Finally, I am sick of those who saw the racism, were angry, and did not stand up for what was right.

The bottom line is that the cartoon was offensive.