One of Merriam-Websters definitions for satire is:

trenchant wit, irony, or sarcasm used to expose and discredit vice or folly

As such the often talked about Obama New Yorker cover is a perfect example of satire. It is using sarcasm to expose and discredit the folly of the Republican smear campaign to convince people that Obama is a Muslim and his wife hates America. I was surprised to hear the uproar over the cover.

It is hilarious, because it is so ludicrous to see what the Republicans are saying actually put down in art. To hear someone claim that Obama is a Muslim could be believable. To hear someone claim his wife is militantly anti-American could be believable. To see him fist bumping, oh sorry “terrorist fist jabbing”, his Black Panther wife while dressed in African garb as the American flag burns in the fireplace below the portrait of Osama bin Laden is just too far out. It should be obvious that when taken to this extreme the Republican claims are ridiculous and unbelievable.

Unfortunately there are apparently many many people who just don’t get it. It is inappropriate. It is not politically correct. It is racist. And so on these people claim. But there is also the real fear that somewhere someone is going to look at that and say “Yup, there’s that Muslim fella that wants to be runnin’ our fine Nation. Just look at that, can you believe he had a flag burning while they took his picture?”

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July 22, 2008 · Posted in Politics/Activism  
    

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