Hey New Yorker: A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Wordsby Valorie Delp | More from this Blogger 16 Jul 2008 06:06 AM
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. Recent Articles: McCain Talks About the Economy Mr. Gramm, the Economy and the Sensible Response
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. Learn more about Valorie Delp  Hello everybody! My name is Valorie and I am one busy lady! When I'm not writing or editing for families, I am busy trying to get my brood of 5 in line. Relevantpolitics tags taxes | Obama | Clinton | economy | republican primary | politics | delegates | democratic primary | Barack Obama | delegate votes User Comments havefaith (5) 16 Jul 2008 07:33 AMI believe that the New Yorker accomplished exactly what it intended! SELL Magazines! Controversy sells and this cover is selling... everybody is talking about it. I think it is TERRIBLE that our media continues to perpetuate hate and intolerance! Hopefully this cover can be used to clear the air on Senator Obama and make the nation see how truly the accusations against him and his family are! ccmalandrinos (108) 16 Jul 2008 07:59 AMThe "New Yorker" has come out saying that it's not supposed to be derogatory, but satirical, and that readers of the article realize that; but as Mike Huckabee pointed out on Hannity & Colmes the other night, how many people are going to read the article? For someone who is into politics and reads magazines like the New Yorker, it is all clear, but for the average man or woman spying that cover at a magazine stand it paints a different picture. Now, Rush Limbaugh came out yesterday (I believe) and said on his radio show that what this cover actually depicts is the conservatives' view of Obama, but once again, I don't know that the average American would think that much into it, so the cover remains not in good taste and it will be interesting to see how this plays out. Cheryl  Valorie Delp (49340) 16 Jul 2008 08:00 AMYep--you're right. I just like to believe sometimes that there's a higher motive! ;-) Valorie Delp (49340) 16 Jul 2008 08:09 AMSorry ccmalandrinos--we were posting at the same time so i didn't see your comment. I agree--Huckabee absolutely points it out correctly--most people aren't going to read that article. Frankly, I didn't read the article--I don't subscribe to the New Yorker. But I do follow politics. . .and it is likely that I'll read it now too. I'm not so sure about what Rush says though--I'm extremely conservative but am educated enough to know better. I would like to think that there are many more like me. . .people who are conservative but know better. What it does paint a picture of is how the conservative, racist, uneducated and probably white people may view him--but I'd like to think that those folks are a minority. I'd like to think anyways. . .  deedee1231 (4030) 16 Jul 2008 11:20 AMI think that cover is in such disgustingly poor taste. I have no intention of voting for Obama, I simply do not agree with anything he stands for...but with this cover The New Yorker seems to be telling me, and people like me, "You won't vote for Obama because this is what you really think of him." Not true at all. It is a clear tactic to put conservatives on the defensive and it isn't going to work, I am not the one that should defend my statements, The New Yorker, on the other hand has some explaining to do! In my opinion, it is The New Yorker, and other left leaning publications that are perpetuating stereotypes against Obama and not conservatives like myself. Sherry Holetzky (11404) 25 Jul 2008 12:42 PMI've said for some time that the media has too much influence on our elections (but I also fault people who don't dig deeper). However, this particular cover is just... beyond... Unbelievable. Discuss this article
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