If you have no idea what my title means then dare I say you have not been paying close enough attention.
This week, The New Yorker published a cover cartoon that depicted Obama in Muslim garb and Michelle with a machine gun. Yes–it really did. I have to be honest and say that I can’t quite wrap my brain around that editorial decision.
A Picture Really Is Worth a Thousand Words
Imagery is far more valuable in communicating a message than what you actually say thus the expression, a picture is worth a thousand words. It’s why propaganda always has a visual element and I’m pretty sure it’s why my speech teacher in college insisted that we have visual aids to go with our speeches.
In any case, why The New Yorker, would choose to undo everything positive they’ve ever said about Obama is beyond me. Maybe they have a very politically conservative cartoonist? But this almost puts the Obama campaign back at square one with regards to denying rumors.
One Sided Tolerance
What I really can’t figure out though in all honesty is why we care so much whether or not Obama is Muslim. (Just in case I have not been clear on the matter–he claims Christianity, not Islam, as his religion. I repeat: Barack Obama is not a Muslim.) Did I miss something in history class when they said that a President has to be a natural born citizen, 35 and a Christian? Yet I can’t tell you how many people I’ve heard comment on how we probably shouldn’t have a Muslim in the White House.
Why not? Because the reality is that we don’t always stand for tolerance–we stand for tolerance of those beliefs that are not too different than ours. So, high on our list of priorities is a president who either is a Christian or at least espouses some of those values in some form.
In case you’re not following; in case you too happen to feel like electing a Muslim to the White House would be akin to inviting the enemy into your bed, let me remind you that we once said the same thing about JFK–the Irish Catholic.
And once again, Barack Obama is not a Muslim.
I wonder what, if anything, the New Yorker will do to clean up the mess? I am not even going to delve into the cover in terms of what is says about Muslims except to say that it’s offensive.
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Valorie Delp shares recipes and kitchen tips in the food blog, and also writes about politics and the occassional movie review. To read more articles by Valorie Delp, click here.