American media's new past time - say or print nasty racist, gender bashing things about Obama and Hiliary - or anyone else for that matter. Then come back and state you really didn't mean to hurt anyone. Ask for forgiveness, then say you were sooooo wrong in saying or printing what you did. But the whole point is getting these ugly messages out.
Have the wealthy gotten so rich off the subprime mortgage, insider stock market trading, and betting the euro against the dollar - they have nothing better to do than bash race and gender? And this was the week I was trying to devote to blogging about diversity and respect of other cultures *smch* . . . just a traveler
The Hampton's is a wealthy community located on the Eastern seaboard. Just like the nasty article in Investor's Business Daily, these uppity cowards don't even have the nerve to pin their names to their racists articles . . . just a traveler
LOW TIDINGS - The Independent
Why I Should Be Our Next President - By Yo Mama Bin Barack
My name is YoMama Bin Barack, and I want to be your next president so together we can begin in earnest the work of making sure that the world we leave our children is just a little bit better than the one we inhabit today.
My opponents say I live in a dream world. That may well be true, for I believe in the dream of Doctor Martin Luther King, the dream that all men are created equal.
His words resonate in my very being: "Some day, you too can be a black man who makes a difference in this country, and you too can be called 'Doctor' even though you are not a doctor of any kind." I believe that, and someday I hope people will call me Doctor YoMama. In fact, I hope someday people will call me President Doctor YoMama (but please don't call me Luther, I hate that name).
I was telling this very thing to my wife AliBama the other night while we were in bed, umm, praying. I said, "AliBama, I want to be your next president so together we can begin in earnest the work of making sure that the world we leave our children is just a little bit better than the one we inhabit today."
And she said, "YoMama, then why don't you cut out the president shit and get a real job and make some freakin' money?" But I explained I have plenty of money, because bleeding heart liberal Democrats from all across this vast country of ours have felt it in their hearts to send a contribution to my campaign so I can begin in earnest the work of making sure that the world we leave our children is just a little bit better than the one we inhabit today and also because I need to buy my little daughter Bama Slamma a PlayStation so she will get off my back.
Why do I think I am the best candidate for the job? Look at my resume – it speaks for itself.
Educational background: Doctorate
Military background: I was the first black troop leader of the Boy Scouts Troop 43 in my home state of Illinois. Well, that's not quite true, because they didn't let black kids in the Boy Scouts, so I lied and said I was Hawaiian, which I kind of am, sort of. You see, part of my strategy of becoming our first black president is to deny I am black unless I am campaigning in Harlem. The truth is, I don't know many black people, but my advisors have drafted a strategy to reel in the black vote:
1) Call everyone "Brother." Blacks, I am told, do this, even if their real brothers are mostly in jail.
2) Talk Jive. Brothers want to hear jive. During my speech I told the crowd "We be, you know, sick of whitey supressin' and congestin' so, you know, we won't denigrate or sophisticate but emulate and populate, you know, the system is, like, broken, y'all!"
I have no idea what that means. The black folk loved it, though, so they all vowed to vote for me. The New York Times covered it, but they are so afraid of saying something racist they twisted my words around and reported:
"Yesterday in Harlem YoMama articulated his vision of a new America, an America with less congestion, a country free of drug use, a world without segregation or racism where citizens emulate the lives of great Americans like YoMama, John F. Kennedy and Doctor Martin Luther King."
So you see, there is my strategy. I get the black vote, I get the white vote, and then I go after the female vote by attacking that bitch Hillary for being the Nasty Witch from Hell.
Anyhow, girls think I'm cute. I'm kind of like Will Smith, except he's got those Dumbo ears and mine are normal. So, for the next six months, I am going to fly all over the country, and every place I speak I am going to tell the people:
"As Americans, we can take enormous pride in the fact that courage has been inspired by our own struggle for freedom, by the tradition of democratic law secured by our forefathers and enshrined in our Constitution. It is a tradition that says all men are created equal under the law and that no one is above it."
To be honest, I have no idea what that means. If you analyze it carefully, it really doesn't mean anything. But it sounds like something a president or a doctor would say. I can make that speech every day and no matter how many times I do the stupid newspapers will report it differently. They will make me sound like the smart, young, new voice of America, because most editors out there figure anything is better than having a cow like Hillary Clinton snorking around the White House making weasel deals again.
Ultimately, if she gets too close, one of my New York advisors has advised me to, "Bitch slap that ho." White women, I am told, like that. (Black women, on the other hand, do not. I tried that once on AliBama and she beat the living shit out of me.)
Of course, I also have to contend with John Edwards. My strategy is to ignore him until he actually manages to win a primary. Since he's, like, zero for 43 so far, that should be the end of him. You see, Mr. Edwards hasn't figured out that to win an election some people have to actually vote for you. (If he does make a run at me, I might consider bitch slapping him, as he is somewhat of a Pretty Boy if you get my jist.)
In closing, I humbly ask for your vote on Election Day, even if I did hang around the school yard and smoke pot when I was getting my Doctorate in Blackstuff. And, oh, by the way, I am in the process of finding out how I can also call myself "Reverend." I have a call in to Al Sharpton.
Thanks Thanks for visiting The Independent
The above link is still "live" as of this posting, and I copied every world. Now the Got Cha - I'm Soooo Sorry game begins. Co-owner Rick Murphy has offered an apology after receiving soooooo many e-mails and calls. *smch*
"Apology" - By Rick Murphy
Our Low Tidings "humor" column that appeared in last week's issue of The Independent that was supposed to satirically address the increasing hostility between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama was ill conceived and offensive. The Independent, a multicultural employer with a 13-year history of diversity, apologizes for this lapse of judgment. The column has been removed from our website and a complete apology will be printed in next week's issue.
Actually, the apology he sent to those who sent e-mails critical of the article sound soooooooo much more heartfelt. *smch*
I wanted to personally respond to you as co-publisher and co-owner of The Independent. Our "Low Tidings" humor column was way off the mark and we sincerely apologize for this shoddy attempt at satire. I hope you will find it in your heart to forgive us -- we are a multicultural employer (our highest paid employee happens to be a man of color) and this crude attempt at humor was obviously offensive and in retrospect should never have been printed. We have pulled it from the Internet and an apology will be posted.
Rick Murphy
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Yo Mama Bin Barack
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11 comments:
he majority owner of The Independent newspaper is Jerry Della Femina, whose run the advertising company Della Femina Rothschild Jeary and Partners. Their client list includes New York Long Island Honda Dealers, Purdue Products L.P., Sirius Satellite Radio, Standard & Poor’s, St. Francis Hospital Heart Center, Toshiba America Consumer Products, and WNYC radio. Della Femina wrote in April in the New York Post that Don Imus had been wronged.
As soon as the self-righteous critics: gays, black, women, who are soooo offended by the Obama parody (parody - social commentary in high relief -- exaggeration) can provide this writer with evidence that they have applied the very same standards to Redd Fox, Dave Chappelle, Richard Pryor, Damon Wayans, Eddie Murphy, and Chris Rock -- all of whom have potentially offended others not of their race -- I'll accept their criticism.
Many of the comedians I mention above have given performances far more offensive to various groups, including whites, than Rick Murphy's "LOW TIDINGS" column which, in its very title, makes it clear what is to follow.
Where would YOU draw the line?
At what point do you impose on others where to STOP 1. being funny, 2. being tasteless, 3. being mindful of others "feelings"? and 4. making political commentary?
Are blacks' or gays' "feelings" more deserving of the velvet glove treatment than the feelings of other groups who were at one time or another persecuted -- AND RIDICULED? Why do these two groups deserve more protection under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment than the other groups within the body politic?
What gives ANY politician immunity from being the target of satire because of his alliances, history, belief systems, or religion, AND yes, RACE -- AND SEX -- WHEN THAT POLITICIAN USES HIS RACE AND HER SEX TO GET ELECTED?
Some people with thin skins CHOOSE to get offended because effective satire PILLORIES one of their gods with the similarly effective circuitous mechanism of humor. One need not apologize to people who claim tolerance as their birthright and who are in fact consistently intolerant of those who do not conform to their partisan and provincial world views.
The issue is NOT whether Rick Murphy's writing is "award-winning" in each case, or even funny, or the best parody ever written. Or if it's racist (of course not! Murphy allows similar treatment to other candidates and is mostly liberal in his political sentiments as anyone who has read the paper knows.)
The issue is the corrosive, obsessive-repulsive, demeaning, illogical and anti-democratic attitude that we call Politically Correct. The issue is not if better satirists exist or that my examples may not "fit" your standards for good satire. Again, the issue is that some people MAKE THE CHOICE to become offended -- and there are ALWAYS people who get offended no matter what -- and would MUZZLE the free speech of others with whom they don't agree with, not because of what the satirist said, but because of what the former FEELS about what the satirist said.
In other words, I repeat the observation of the greatest satirist of all time, Samuel Clemens, otherwise known as Mark Twain, who must have had the people I speak of in mind:
"They make much of "feeling" and mistake it for thinking."
Andrew G. Benjamin
agbenjamin@gmail.com
Redd Fox, Dave Chappelle, Richard Pryor, Damon Wayans, Eddie Murphy, and Chris Rock are comedians - not editors of newspapers, politicians,etc.
If Murphy felt the article was not racist, or in very poor taste, then why is he admitting it is? Why the apology? Why not just stand behind the article like a real man?
As for women and minorities using their gender or race to get elected - I guess White men have been doing the same - but it's not so obvious to people like you.
How has Obama tried to use race to get elected? Is it because he just happens to wake up Black each day, and others ONLY see him that way? Can Hiliary change her gender? It's this narrow minded thinking that has the rest of the globe continually looking at this country with some amusement and a lot of distaste as America attempts to be the corner stone of diversity.
"One day our descendants will think it incredible that we paid so much attention to things like the amount of melanin in our skin or the shape of our eyes or our gender instead of the unique identities of each of us as complex human beings" ~Franklin Thomas
"People like me?" Before we go there, let's remind ourselves of Hillary's "I found my voice." Did she mean she didn't have a voice before she found it and has been lecturing the American people for decades in someone else's voice?
The fact is people are NOT color blind, even though being color blind is an ideal. The people of Iowa, 93% white, voted for Obama. Is that good enough for you? Were they color blind?
I hate to bust your bubbles, but because I travel widely I don't find the world looking at America with amusement or disdain, no matter what the MoveOn-ers tell you. Not only is America a beacon widely respected, but "The World" is quite aware of the crime problems in our inner cities, the dysfunctional minority youth and the gangs. Any of that funny to you? The world is quite aware of the welfare problems, drug culture, the violence in RAP, and the issues with fatherless children in minority families. I don't find any of that funny myself, nor does Bill Cosby, but perhaps we can come up with a laugh.
While Murphy apologized, true, and I'm sure he meant it, I would have thought a little more about apologizing. Like I said: Where do YOU draw the line to humor and whose political opinions do you want to censor?
Murphy is not a politician. He is a humorist, a writer. He does not need to apologize for writing humor, even if the humor is unappreciated or hurtful.
For if he needed to apologize, then ALL of the comedians I listed will need to do the same.
Are YOU holding your breath? Should I?
Perhaps we don't travel to the same places, or meet up with the same type people. I do not get my "travel" information from the internet.
My mother has been a travel agent for over 13 years, and as a family we have traveled around the globe - so you are not bursting my bubble by any means.
People across Europe, as well as the Caribbean do have a disdain for our country, as well as its politics. They are sick and tired of America always trying to be the "policeman" of the world, and thinking that the world wants our culture in their countries.
So do not think that the world only looks at America's minority communities as being the only problem with this country.
My final word on the "satire" is that it was racists, so we obviously have a different of opinion - and neither one of us will change our mind about that.
I am not holding my breath waiting for comedians to apologize for anything. I didn't even expect an apology from Murphy, but he gave it - didn't he? I am simply voicing my opinion in MY blog, and you are doing the same as a visitor.
While I appreciate you taking the time to voice your opinion, we obviously are not in agreement.
Obviously "Traveler," while we don't travel in the same circles, and don't have the same world-view, from what I can gather people who have a "disdain" for the United States in the Caribbean seem to like to immigrate INTO the United States in large numbers, and Caribbeans who are LIVING in the United States seem NOT TO emigrate BACK to the Caribbean while maintaining their lack of gratefulness and disdain for the United States.
It has been observed by a famed Greek philosopher that the greatest characteristic of man is gratefulness. And the worst is the lack of.
In areas other than the Caribbean the US is widely respected, honored and desired as the place to live, and also respected for the system of economics that have demonstrably provided the best quality of life for MOST of the people MOST of the time.
I invite those who think otherwise to take advantage of their freedom and the rest of America's best wishes to leave for those places which they think are better.
Why do you continually come back to my blog?
"respected system of economics" - ha!
$414 billion from foreign investors in 2007 buying stakes in American companies, factories, purchasing stock, and properties through private deals. In the first two weeks of this year, another $22.6 billion from foreign investors.
There is talk in Washington of undue foreign influence over U.S. financial systems, and sensitive military technology - but America badly needs the money.
Since the dollar is tanking on the world market, America is up for cheap sale - more "respected economics" from Wall Street, and bankers.
The trade deficit is totally out of control - more "respected economics", as you would say.
America does not manufacture products anymore, and depend on the world for its products and resources - more good economics.
America hardly makes the top ten among industrial countries in education. The dumbing down of America has been ongoing, while many think a dumb nation can produce generations that will continue to lead the world.
But rather than raise their voices, and demand better - some say "love it, or leave it" - all the while letting their freedom, and constitutional rights continue to be eroded.
"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety"
Benjamin Franklin
So you keep on believing what America used to be, while the foundation continues to crumble.
Hey Sue!
As you and many other know there are actually "two different" America's.
America does not want to deal with the issues of poverty, or race for that matter.
There are Americans who benefit from those in poverty, as well as those who don't wish to give it much thought because it goes against what they feel America is about.
All right thinking, sensible people know that this country is in big trouble financially, and we have become dependent on foreign entities to bail us out of this mess. As to whether our best interests will be at the heart of these foreign deals is up for discussion.
Speaking out against what is wrong with this country has somehow become unpatriotic, versus a thinking of wishing bad things away, or not even recognizing them.
So, your conversation with this gentleman who promotes neo-con type thinking is a waste of time. But as a blogger myself, you and I know there are those who wish to argue a point over and over. At some point you have to hit that delete comment button, and continue on with your interesting and informative posts.
Hmm, interesting.
Name-calling: "Neo-Con."
Tolerance: Hit the delete button.
Censorship: Hit the delete button.
The "neo-con's" argument has merit?
Naaaah. Not if it doesn't agree with OUR scripts.
i'm glad that you, along with others are reading my current posts, think they are interesting, and not just "stuck" into coming back again and again to this particular posting to argue their agenda.
AN APOLOGY
By Rick Murphy
INDY EDITOR, RICK MURPHY, DEEPLY REGRETS TWO MOST RECENT INDEPENDENT COLUMNS.
IN OUR LAST TWO ISSUES OF THE INDEPENDENT, TWO COLUMNS OSTENSIBLY "WRITTEN" BY HILLARY CLINTON AND BARACK OBAMA WERE PUBLISHED. THEY WERE IN INCREDIBLY BAD TASTE AND OFFENSIVE TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.
I WROTE THEM. NO ONE ELSE AT THIS NEWSPAPER IS TO BLAME. IT'S EASY TO VILIFY EVERYONE INVOLVED WITH THIS NEWSPAPER, TO PLACE SOME BLAME ON EVERYONE. THAT'S NOT THE CASE. JERRY DELLA FEMINA, OUR MAJORITY OWNER, RUNS AN ADVERTISING FIRM IN MANHATTAN. HE NEVER SEES OUR PAPER BEFORE IT COMES OUT. HE HAS NO IDEA WHAT WILL BE IN IT. HE OWNS IT. I'M THE EDITOR.
THE BUCK STOPS HERE.
POURING OVER ALL THE REASONS WHY I THOUGHT THE ATTEMPTS AT PARODIES I WROTE WERE APPROPRIATE FOR PUBLICATION IS A MEANINGLESS EXERCISE. THEY WEREN'T APPROPRIATE. THEY WEREN'T FOR THE SIMPLE REASON THEY HURT PEOPLE, AND IF A HUMOR COLUMN IS HURTING A READER THAN THE ENTIRE CONCEPT OF ELICITING LAUGHTER HAS GONE HORRIBLY AWRY.
AN EXTREMELY ERUDITE WRITER, DR. JOSEPH GRAVES JR., WROTE A VERY THOUGHTFUL LETTER. HE SAID, IN PART, "I HOPE BARACK OBAMA OR HILLARY CLINTON WIN THIS ELECTION . . . BECAUSE IF EITHER OF THEM WERE TO WIN IT COULD SYMBOLIZE THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF THE LONG NIGHTMARE OF HATRED AND INTOLERANCE THIS NATION HAS ENDURED. WHEN WE SATIRE THESE CANDIDATES, JUST LIKE ANY OTHERS, WE SHOULD DO SO ON THE BASIS OF THINGS THAT MATTER."
WE HAVE HAD A SLEW OF LETTER WRITERS (THEY ARE PUBLISHED WITHIN STARTING ON PAGE 15) AND A LOT OF PHONE CALLERS. SOME LOCAL PEOPLE CALLED TO SUPPORT ME, TO SAY THIS IS A FREE COUNTRY, AND THAT WRITERS SHOULD BE FREE TO WRITE WHAT THEY WISH. HILLARY AND BARACK, AS PUBLIC FIGURES, ARE FAIR GAME. WHILE I AGREE WITH THAT I ALSO UNDERSTAND MY MISTAKE WAS NOT WRITING A SATIRICAL PIECE ABOUT THEM; IT WAS WRITING ONE THAT WASN'T FUNNY AND USED THE RACE AND GENDER CARDS IN AN ATTEMPT TO GARNER LAUGHS INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON THE ISSUES AND PERSONALITIES.
THE BOTTOM LINE, AS PEOPLE WHO KNOW ME CAN ATTEST, IS THAT I'M NOT A RACIST. I'M SORRY I LET OUR READERS DOWN.
I DO NOT APOLOGIZE TO PLACATE OUR CRITICS OR APPEASE OUR INVESTORS. I WILL NOT BACK DOWN FROM MY QUEST TO EXPOSE WRONGDOERS WHO CHEAT THE PUBLIC. AS EDITOR OF THE INDEPENDENT I HAVE CARVED OUT A PLACE BY DIGGING DEEP AND EXPOSING FRAUD AND TAXPAYER ABUSE IN THE SYSTEM. THIS WILL CONTINUE. I DO APOLIGIZE FOR THE HURT I'VE CAUSED.
I'VE SPOKEN TO MANY READERS WHO WERE GENUINELY HURT BY MY WORDS, PEOPLE WHO HAVE FELT THE STING OF RACISM AND WHO KNOW A PAIN I WILL NEVER KNOW. HURTING THEM WAS A CRIME I CANNOT TAKE BACK. ALL I CAN DO IS ASK YOU TO BE BIGGER THAN ME AND FIND A WAY TO FORGIVE ME.
http://www.indyeastend.com/Articles-i-2008-01-30-72716.113117_AN_APOLOGY.html
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