Thursday, March 12, 2009

Dichotomy of the day

The short version: a Florida book store customer puts a book on chimpanzees in the middle of a display featuring President Obama, and snaps a picture. Predictable outrage ensues.

http://www.inquisitr.com/19550/barnes-and-noble-obama-display/

OK, folks, I will acknowledge a few things here. First, I voted for John McCain in 2008 and am not a big fan of the current occupant of the White House. Second, even as non-PC and insensitive as I am, I know putting primates in something like that is generally in very poor taste.

Two thoughts:
1. Between 2001 and 2009, it was perfectly acceptable, and encouraged by the mass media, to call President Bush every name in the book, simian labels included. The President changes, through a peaceful democratic process that is the envy of the world, and suddenly it's heresy?
2. When the misguided B&N founder caterwauls about charging the prankster with a federal hate crime, exactly which one is he referring to? I find it hugely ironic that a company that literally makes its money on the First Amendment would suddenly desire to persecute someone for exercising that same protected right.

Lighten up and get over yourselves. Books-A-Million it is.

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