I am not amused at the cover of THE NEW YORKER, July 21, 2008 issue (photo of cover below). This so called 'humor' is devisive and furthermore supports misinformation that runs rampant today. It portrays Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, as winning the presidential election. They are in the Oval Office and Barack is wearing a turban and dressed in tribal Muslim attire. Michelle has her hair in an afro and is touting a militant look complete with a semi-automatic rifle. They celebrate by giving each other a 'fist pump.' In the backdrop is a painting of Osama bin Laden hanging above the fireplace. This magazine has clearly stepped over the line with this so called 'satrical cover'.
The New Yorker's Editor-in-Chief, David Remnick was asked about his decision to run the cover, and had this to say (via HuffPo):"The idea that we would publish a cover saying these things literally, I think, is just not in the vocabulary of what we do and who we are... We've run many many satirical political covers. " Isn't it interesting that he said, "I think" . . .
Mr. Remnick, I am not laughing. It's wrong to think that our filter is equal to another. Everyone filters things differently. No one see's everything alike . . . Your cover projects new thoughts for some and it support the misinformed beliefs of others. Mr. Remnick, your comment showcases your self-absorbed belief that all of us know and feel exactly as you do. WRONG, and even more wrong is the fact that this so call piece of 'satrical humor' won't breed further misinformation. Besides the laughs we get from humor, we forget about the ones that get hurt at our expense. A lot of humor is seriously damaging. THE NEW YORKER went too far this time . . . it has lost me.
Hope you guys elect him!