Last Friday in the local student newspaper, the Kentucky Kernel, there was a comic that has sparked all kinds of protest. I didn’t even see the comic, but boy have I heard about it since. Here’s a description of the comic from yesterday’s Kernel:

The cartoon, which ran on Friday and was drawn by staff cartoonist Brad Fletcher, depicts a black man in chains on an auction block being bid on by three fraternities, “Aryan Omega,” “Alpha Caucasian,” and “Kappa Kappa Kappa.” The caption reads, “UK Greeks lead the way on integration with this year’s new bids.”

The opinions editor of the Kernel resigned, the president of the university sent out a campus-wide email saying that the comic didn’t reflect the university’s views, there were protests at the journalism building, etc. Everyone’s all in a tizzy, and I just can’t see why. Or rather, I could understand being upset, but I think they’re upset for the wrong reason.

When you look at sororities and fraternities on campus, I always see a group of white kids. I hear tell of historically black fraternities and sororities, but I never see their members, or at least I’m not aware of it; maybe they’re not required to carry around bags with Greek symbols on them like Chi Omega or Delta Delta Delta. *shrugs* These black Greek communities are kind of like the Easter bunny and Santa Claus to me. Nevertheless, the comic was poking fun at how everyone’s trying to become all tolerant of racial differences by allowing those of other races into their fraternities. Accepting those of a different race into your fraternity doesn’t necessarily mean you aren’t racist, it just means you’re trying to cover up your prejudices.

If it were me getting all upset, I wouldn’t be angry at the messenger for pointing out that our Greek communities are very segregated, I would be angry about the Greek communities being very segregated—don’t shoot the messenger. Hell, I barely see sorority girls that don’t have blonde hair, let alone dark skin. *rolls eyes*

Here are some links to articles about the controversy:

• UK Freshman Caught In Cartoon Uproar – MSNBC
• Hundreds Of UK Students Protest Cartoon – WKYT
• UK newspaper apologizes for cartoon – Courier Journal

Something Jess just pointed out is that the cartoon was meant to be satirical. People are getting all worked up over the cartoon’s offensiveness. I think the cartoon is offensive, too, but because it shoves in our faces the truth of the segregation of Greek communities on UK’s campus. I take the comic in a sarcastic light: “ha, the fraternities all want to be seen as racially tolerant, so they’re trying to get this black guy to rush their particular frat house by bidding on him at an auction.” There have been all kinds of articles recently in the Kernel about how UK is trying to diversify, yadda yadda, and I believe that’s what sparked the comic.

The opinions pages of the past few Kernels since Friday have been filled with all kinds of reader comments, the majority along the lines of, “This was horrible, I was really offended, it should have never been published, you should be fired,” and blah blah blah. I just want to tell them all to suck it up, you pansies! Everyone’s going to get offended by something, and you can’t pander to it all or no one will be able to say anything! One idiot went so far as to say:

I have come to learn of the freedom the American press enjoys, but to see that freedom being violated to such an extent makes me wonder if freedom of press really is justifiable.

Honestly! Because someone makes a damn racist comic, we shouldn’t have freedom of press because, ooh, your delicate sensitivities got offended? Get over yourself. Now here’s an opinion article I can agree with:

As a member of the Class of 1968, I feel I am entitled to see the “offensive cartoon.” Where can I view it? I will make my own decision about whether it was right or wrong and whether or not it should have been published.
…
Also, I know I cannot do anything about it either way, but it seems every time someone’s “feelings” are hurt, everyone has a mental breakdown. The breakdown usually results in a further loss of free speech.

I am sick and tired of this fascist politically correct movement that is threatening free expression everywhere—especially on the college campus. I am not a liberal or a conservative; I simply believe that “if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”

Roy Lee Lawrence Jr., UK alumnus

Thank you, Mr. Lawrence! He brings up a great point in his first paragraph about viewing the comic. I tried looking on the Kernel’s web site but couldn’t find it. The Kentucky Herald Leader asked to republish it, but the Kernel turned them down, saying something about not allowing something that shouldn’t have been published in the first place to be republished. Not being able to find it on the Kernel’s site stinks of 1984 by George Orwell to me: rewrite the parts of the past that you dislike. We’ve always been at war with Eastasia!