The Jeers of a Clown

So, did you hear about the Missouri State Fair clown who mocked and ridiculed the President of the United States?  One of the rodeo clowns was wearing a mask of Obama and the other clown tried to play with his lips.  The announcers helped promote and encourage the humor and silliness, except for one very important thing...the humor was racist. It was a dog whistle, seemingly innocent, yet fully racist.  Many in the crowd seemed to find it hilarious.  One brave man took the video and made it public.  This happened last weekend and almost a week later there is still much discussion about this event.  Peggy Noonan, former speechwriter for Ronald Reagan didn't see the harm and thought Obama should have put out a statement as if it's no big deal. Really, Peggy?  Would it be so simple to roll off the back if it was anti-Semitic?  Anti-Christian? Homophobic?  Can you imagine what the Right would have done if the clowns mocked Christ?  Heads would have rolled, but to mock the African-American President of the United States...get over it.  It's just good clean fun!  So not true.  It was pointed. Offensive. Indefensible.  

Sometimes, I think that the people who are so vehemently on the Right should tape their conversations and play them back.  Can they really believe the things they say?  Do they really understand how it sounds to others?  I have bemoaned racism multiple times since Obama was elected.  The rise of racism is palpable though still trying to disguise it for the believers/racists/ignorants, but so clear.  Was racism always here all these years?  Yes, of course, but it was dormant, in hibernation. Now, it's everywhere. It's on television news talkers, newspapers, rallies, town halls, everywhere.  For those of us sensitive to it, it's incredibly prevalent.  Now that the genie's out of the bottle, will it be different once Obama is out of office?  Doubt it.  So what's the lesson here?  I really don't know.  There are so many uneducated people in this country that don't have the opportunity to travel outside their small radius.  So how do things change?  How do we fight the people that are promoting ignorance and misinformation?  I don't know.  I don't have answers, just tons of questions.

Sidebars:  The battle between ARod and MLB/New York Yankees is getting uglier day by day.  ARod got pummeled by a pitch last night during the Red Sox game.  He didn't charge the pitcher, he let his game speak for itself.  He helped raise the New York Yankees to a win against their nemesis. :-)   Lindsey Lohan's interview with Oprah covered all the things that she needed to cover, but will her sobriety stick this time?  It will be incredible if she can make it back.  It's been so long since she did any quality work.  Basically, she was still a minor.  So much water under the bridge, but hope that she makes it.  I didn't think she would 6 months ago.  

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