on life & other inconveniences

In an editorial cartoon, the New York Post inferred President Obama is a chimpanzee.

That, according to those who took offense, which can be seen here, here and here.

I was on my way to pick up Brian yesterday, listening to the Ron Smith show dissect this cartoon and every conceivable opinion of it. There was the guy who doesn’t trust the government so he believes it was a government plant to keep people from focusing on the bills being announced. The caller who felt the Post was a terrorist paper, sanctioning the assassination of the president. And there were the people who are deeply offended. But what I couldn’t wrap my head around was Smith’s own comment, “If I was black I’d agree with you.”

Isn’t right… right? I mean, I can’t say I understand exactly how anyone else feels when they’re discriminated against because of the colour of their skin. In my dealings at the immigration office, I’m the one who draws long stares. You look like an American. What are you doing here? But it’s a fleeting thing. I can’t say I know what it is to feel the same level of offense personally at this cartoon, but I am offended. Who in their right mind couldn’t see the inferences?

Frankly, I think it makes a damning statement about the police and racial profiling as well.

What Al Sharpton thinks about the cartoon is irrelevant in terms of assessing the inferences of the cartoon. It goes beyond poor taste and strikes a wedge into the racial divide in this country, which is still a very real thing, Obama’s presidency aside.

Now, while the internet and talk shows are centered on the racist cartoon, I’ve found myself wondering if a very popular show is sexist. Last night, the first three contestants to make it to the top 12 on American Idol were announced. And I did a little head count of the first 12 of 36 to compete.

Six girls, six guys.

So, I went to the website, which confirmed there were 18 men and 18 women who’d made it to the top 36.

I think this explains the subpar performances of some contestants in the first group. It explains the baffling decision of the judges to send Jamar home.

I realize that if the top 36 were dominated by either gender, there would be allegations of sexism, but it’s supposed to be a singing/performing competition. The best should go through, and if that means 35 men and 1 woman, or 28 women and 8 guys or any breakdown imaginable, that’s what they should go with. Putting people ahead of others simply because of their gender is what results in disastrous performances, and we saw those train wrecks on Tuesday night.

Unless, of course, the real point of the show is to watch Simon reduce little girls to the point of tears.

On that note, if you’ve been watching, then no doubt you saw Tatiana bawl when she didn’t make the cut. And I finally put my finger on my big issue with her. Way back, when she auditioned and the judges tried to make a comment she just started singing something else. The girl doesn’t listen, and if you don’t listen you can’t grow as an artist.

And I have to say one thing about the people who felt the judges were being contradictory when they’d told performers to be their own age more with their choices, and then slammed them for failing to pull off a youthful performance. You don’t just say, “Oh they want something younger from me so I’ll do Taylor Swift.” The question will always be can you do Taylor Swift? There are reasons you don’t try to perform certain songs or works by certain artists - because you’ll show off how much you don’t measure up. They said the same thing about the Michael Jackson song, so it isn’t just an age thing.

There are a lot of younger artists to choose from, and in the history of billboard nobody should have had trouble finding a song that really showcased what they could do best and what they wanted to do as an artist. Don’t pick Taylor Swift. Don’t pick Carrie Underwood. Dear God - those women have strong, powerful voices and if you can’t measure up you’ll look so bad.

And don’t do Sting songs either. Just… don’t. Having heard the man sing live I’m keenly aware of just how well he can sing. Whatever else you can say about him, he doesn’t need to hide his vocals behind loud instruments - his voice is strong. Same with Annie Lennox.

You’d be far better off picking something less popular, lesser known and putting your own stamp on it than showing the world just how much you aren’t the next Taylor Swift.

And youthful isn’t just about age. It’s also about attitude. Plenty of Shania Twain songs that would work just fine.

On that note, off to call Brian, who is sexy, but not sexist.

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 19th, 2009 at 11:03 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.