July 21, 2008
The media were consumed last week by a cartoon on the cover of The New Yorker magazine. Most people don’t read The New Yorker, which does have some funny cartoons, but is mostly an elitist, liberal and trendy publication read by elitist, liberal and self-absorbed trendy people.
Real Americans – which is to say most people living outside of New York or Los Angeles – don’t care what The New Yorker editors and writers think. The cartoon depicted Barack Obama in Muslim clothing and his wife with an afro and carrying an AK-47 rifle and looking like Angela Davis. The American flag burns in the fireplace over which is a picture of Osama bin Laden. The Obamas are doing the fist bump.
It was meant to take a swipe at conservatives who supposedly think in stereotype. But it backfired and the image swept around the world on the Internet. Instead of making conservatives look foolish, it reinforced some of those same stereotypes The New Yorker decried.
Besides, it’s only a cartoon and who gets upset by cartoons? Oh, I know – radical Muslims.
Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.
