Negotiating life as ministers in Christ’s service presents is with wonderful rewards and the ability to calmly handle challenging situations.  Paul’s admonition to us is not to get into a “tit-for-tat” spat with anyone, rather opting to engage the other with kindness (Romans 12:17-18).  Yet I still find myself having to temper the reactionary Scrappy-Doo (“let me at ‘em”) character that wants to fight for justice when I encounter things such as Sean Delonas’ cartoon that ran in the New York Post yesterday (February 18, 2009). Portrayed in the sketch are 2 white policemen who have just shot and killed a chimpanzee.   The caption reads “They’ll have to find someone else to write another stimulus bill.”  The editors of the New York Post have claimed that the artist was trying to capture 2 stories that had recently been in the news.  The first was the passing of President Barack Obama’s Stimulus Bill, and the second was that of a 200 lb chimpanzee that attacked and gravely injured a woman who was visiting its owner.  The chimpanzee was shot by police who responded to the call.

The unfortunate choice of the cartoon as appropriate political criticism should instead be placed in the category of blatant racism. The Stimulus Bill may draw critique, but it is preposterous that it necessitates the employ of racist caricature that depicts African Americans as monkeys and chimpanzees.

Why is it so difficult for some to evaluate without resorting to such base tactics? Come on, it’s 2009…yes, even here in the United States!  People of all backgrounds have expressed outrage at Sean Delonas and the New York Post editors, Bob McManus and Col Allan. Reverend Al Sharpton has called for folk to join in the protest rallies to remove the New York Post from circulation, and for all clergy to address this issue from their respective pulpits.  It is appalling that one should come across such invective that is passed off as political satire, but I find it particularly disturbing that it occurred during Black History Month.

La lucha continua, on with the fight and may we all rally together calling out our uniting “charge” that we will no longer tolerate racism because “there is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)

Cheers and blessings.