It was bad enough I had to relinquish my morning swims in L.A. and return to an overheated apartment in Brooklyn where bills were amok. But to make matters worse I read a Facebook update from the writer Toure claiming the New Yorker was depicting Obama in Muslim attire and Michelle in Angela Davis' revolutionary fro and toting an oozie and oh yeh, I had to do some snooping.
Toure was right. The New Yorker's July 21 issue dons a sandal-wearing Obama and a camouflage-angry Michelle fist-bumping under the watchful gaze of Osama Bin Ladin while an American flag burns in the fireplace. The cover is strangely titled the Politics of Fear. The New Yorker has already released a statement that admits the Obama depiction is tasteless, but their defense is the New Yorker is a satirical magazine. They prefer tastelessness. Which is fine. I love satire and hey, the Obamas are fair game. Right?
But what's more interesting is this license many liberal folks are taking lately. The Obamas appear to be prime pickings for lefty intellectuals to go the extra mile when it comes to addressing the fear of the so-called straw chewing, bible-friendly media. From Yazmany Arboleda's The Assassination of Obama exhibition [depicting a forty inch black penis] to this, lefties are working overtime trying to show us how horrible the media has been to the Obamas. And yes, political figures have been depicted in much scarier ways, but it's usually done to exploit the obvious crazy of those folks [i.e. Falwell, Bush, Reagon, Madonna], however, this newer attempt by liberals to express their glorious liberalism borderlines on cockiness. With all their harmless claims, it feels a bit like they're having more fun seeing how far they can push the button than being responsible in their so-called social commentary.
Obama in Muslim attire is fine. There's nothing wrong with worshipping Allah and taking the trek to Mecca [one of my great friends is a Muslim], but to associate Obama as a Muslim honoring Bin Ladin is old news. There's nothing wrong with Angela Davis and her fro either. I know Angela and I have rested my head in her home in the Hills a few times, and yes she donned a fro back the day, but never has she worn military gear [she was NOT a Black Panther], and in most enlightened circles Angela represents female-empowerment, the love of music and the outdoors, and hightened social consciousness.
I guess my bigger point is most of the converted [those who read The New Yorker] are well aware of the media's attempt to demonize, racialize, and un-Americanize the Obamas. That's why the depiction feels cocky and self-congratulatory. The New Yorker is basically preaching to the choir. Now if they depicted Obama in some meditative prayer and Michelle hiking through Mendocino and listening to Bessie Smith, well, that would have been some good satire.
Politics of Fear, my foot. More like, Politics of Gloating Self-Righteousness.
