Well is this offensive? Selling shirts with Curious George on them eating a banana . . . under which is the caption Obama in '08.
Now the argument is that it's offensive and the counter argument is that one has to rise above such nonsense and expect it if they're going to be a President.
Also offended, as it happens, is publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, which owns Curious George. The company didn't authorize the use of the character's image, but hasn't been in touch with anybody selling or manufacturing the shirts. They have indicated through a spokesperson that the shirts are not the Curious George style, are offensive, and are hurting the image of their character. They are planning on taking legal action too.
So . . . your thoughts on this? Offensive . . . or yet another sideshow to distract people from the issues?
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Comments: 50
Good glad their suing, bad - it draws more attention to it.
Ahhhh . . . you'll get to know me better! :)
"People will be people, and some people are childish. "
Says you! Nyah!
"bad - it draws more attention to it. "
Agreed - but it's likely to find it's way to the mainstream media in no time.
On another note, I went to an Obama rally Monday evening. There were hoards of people walking the five-block-line with "unofficial" tee shirts, buttons, and bumper stickers. It was uncomfortable, even though I saw a few that I really liked and would enjoy wearing. Still, the campaign had to send people out to announce that official gear would be sold inside.
Oh hell that was hard.
There that's all of them on that theme.
May the burn in hell.
OK, our COUNTRY is not racist, but the number of racists still in existence in our country is astounding.
Yes, it is offensive.
"OK, our COUNTRY is not racist, but the number of racists still in existence in our country is astounding. "
I'm not even sure about the number. I think it's the vocal ones that get the media play. But I wonder if one can be smart enough to know when to keep your rascist mouth shut if you're not smart enough not to be a racist in the first place.
Actually, I think (Monkey) that it would be insulting to anyone, regardless of color. That said, it's probably much more offensive, for the reasons Sharon listed, to any people of color. Even the filthy corrupt little sneerer-in-chief has been call Chimpy McFlightsuit on occassion.
Cobb County, Georgia.
Same here. It's a way of thinking and a way of life that just sticks to dumb like balogna sticks to walls. The self-satisfied smugness of the neanderthals that live that way is what's most offensive.
No! Do your parents know? LoL!
Actually I quite agree . . . that's one of the many benefits of freedom . . . it makes it easy to spot the morons who have not yet decorated their trailer hitches with bull testicles. :)
Which? The Shirt, the distraction, the discussion . . .
I know. It's really like slowing down to look at a train wreck . . . I have trouble wrapping my mind around the utter absurdity and complete lack of mental acuity that seem to be required for such attitudes in today's day and age.
I agree, and this is why I wish people would not remove comments or flag articles for hate speech. I would much rather see these things and know who/what I'm dealing with.
When I saw the monkey, I thought of Bush and couldn't figure out what it meant.
Actually, I have seen that once. A young, black officer worked for me who had been trained back when the Marines were segregated and racism was used as a tool. He was VERY bitter about the experience. He got into an argument with a very much older, very much wiser man who grew up during the depression. He was also black and had, naturally seen a lot of racism in his time. The older guy would shake his head and tell me that the young hothead (as he called him) hated white people and was consumed with what had been done to black people. He also mentioned that these kids today have NO conception what it WAS like and no ception of how good they have it now. It was fascinating to work with these two, but the silver-haired older black man was a favorite.
That's funny. That was my FIRST thought too. Chimpy McFlightsuit comments I guess. That said . . . Bush could hardly be called Curious George in the context that the character uses it . . . but he could be considered curious.........
Hmmmmm.
The tee shirt is a sideshow.
Curious George doesn't always use good judgment but his heart is in the right place and his adventures always work out for the best. I think it would be easy to give the tee shirts a pro-Obama spin.
One thing to note, in the world I work in, where technology and knowledge are the key ingredients, I have generally noticed color and gender mattering little or nothing to most of my colleagues. Here, it's what you know and what you can do with it. I'm hoping that's a trend that can spread. By the way, that's also in Texas.
Now, head out the doors into the "real world" and the picture changes a bit.
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
THIS JUST IN: Popeye endorses Obama too. There goes the cartoon navy block!
The thing is, most racism was an accepted thing and very out front in a lot of the white community. Now a lot of it whispers to you "You know how they are".
Ad nauseum.
LoL!
Funny how these people forget the additional names, eh? Of course you're right!
You too C.A. & Chive!
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~