I saw this meme tonight that shocked me. It’s from Conan O’Brien:
I also found it on his “Team Coco” official Twitter account:
There is nothing funny at all. I was mortified to see how many people liked it, retweeted, shared and left a positive comment on this meme.
Why was I horrified?
I’m not a fan of Trump but the Gambian president he is talking about is Yahya Jammeh, a dictator who was a part of a military coup in which he seized power in 1994. Jammeh is a dictator that took over his country illegitmately. This is in contrast to Adama Barrow who is the incoming Gambian president who won the election for the next term of office in 2016.
I don’t think it is right for Conan to say we should mimic something unlawful and follow the example of a tyrant. What is it about some quarters on the Left that has a fanboy attitude towards tyrants (think Castro, Che, Ho Chi Minh, etc)?
What a frightening statement Conan rhetorically asked: “Why can’t we be more like Gambia?” Does he even know what he’s asking for? Jammeh is staunchly anti-homosexual, anti-freedom of speech and engages in human rights abuses. That’s the kind of character that would stay in power even after losing an election. “Why can’t we be more like Gambia?” How horrifying, but we know how liberals are with looking the other way concerning violence against LGBT when its in a country with Islamic leaders don’t we? The silence is telling.
The countries surrounding Gambia has even threatened a military invasion since it has been ongoing for months now with Jammeh shows no sign of stepping down. The ultimatum from other Western African countries is that if Jammeh doesn’t step down by January 20th at noon, then they will invade. Already Washington Post has reported “Senegal sends troops into Gambia to force longtime leader to step down.” I think its interesting it falls on the same day as the inauguration for the incoming President of the United States. Does Conan really want the US to follow the paths of Gambia in which there is a risk of a war with neighboring countries?
And does Conan and his ilk want a civil war if the Constitutional Republic breaks down when someone doesn’t step down from the presidency? Does Conan really like tryanny more than anything else?
It is dangerous and I think we must be careful to use this kind of talk and threat of breaking the law that I’m sure Conan and others like him wouldn’t want their opponents to employ. Four years from now if Trump were to lose, can you imagine the outrage if pro-Trump comedians were to joke about Trump not stepping down just like Gambia? Can you imagine how many Social Justice Warriors would protests? I wouldn’t find it funny, they wouldn’t find it funny…the double standards.
How is this even a funny joke that could be made into a meme? At a minimum the joke is lame. But I think its is worst than lame. So don’t tell me I can’t take a joke. It’s a lame joke and I’m calling it out too. Conan and his followers who support the memes are making America’s liberal comedians lame again.
Dear Lord, please have mercy on the United States.
is this then not more in the lines of what may be considered “deplorable”??
I had to fish your comment out of my spam box, which it somehow ended up in by the way. But to your original comment: yeah, It would be truly an example of something “deplorable!” There’s no shame…it’s a terrible thing to say.
I seem to fall in spam all over the place, I really need to watch where I step 😉
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
Thanks for the reblog Vincent
You’re very welcome Pastor Jim
Some people let their hatred of one person override a complete set of beliefs. They don’t even know what the other guy stands for, but by gosh they hate Trump
Look, I’m NOT a Trump supporter. Didn’t vote for either of the two major party candidates.
However, a peaceful transition of power from one President to another has always been one thing that separates this country from the two bit dictatorships elsewhere all over the world. If we allow that to slip away, we are on a path to become just like them.
To your comment, ” a peaceful transition of power from one President to another has always been one thing that separates this country from the two bit dictatorships elsewhere all over the world. If we allow that to slip away, we are on a path to become just like them.” I say Amen. I think it is very disappointing to see people joke about the US following in the examples of tyrant “two bit dictatorships.” That’s disheartening! I googled around and I don’t see any mainstream media calling out Conan…I think they should.
Eh…they won’t
Well, I hope that this is not the first time that you have been horrified. I have been horrified during these past 8 years on hate demonstrated mostly on the republican side to lend support to even the good. America seems to choose its times to be horrified when it should have been horrified at the obvious hatred much of which found deep support from pulpits across the country. On behalf of Life Step Baptist Ministries. https://lifestepbaptistministries.wordpress.com/2017/01/20/how-deep-is-your-love/
Hey brother,
I don’t think my horror of O’Brien’s statement should be taken to mean that I have not horrified of Republicans in the past. For instance I for one am horrified at John McCain’s hawkish stance on many issues. I’m genuinely curious if you too might find anything wrong with others being horrified at a celebrity asking why we shouldn’t be a tyrant country in an unlawful manner? I don’t think calling Conan O’Brien out on it is unloving. Its for the love of others that I want a peaceful transition of government via the already agreed upon means provided by the constitution. Let me know what you think.
I cannot deny that O’Brien’s statement, as it reads, is dangerous. I also think it was careless, flippant, and not induced by any deep thought. People might give him too much credit as a political commentator when all he wants for his words is a chuckle or a laugh. J.
Yeah. I thought it was made even more terrible the fact that they made a meme about it. Its one thing to accidently say it on the spur of the moment but to make a meme of it? Shameful.
Well said.
I often pray that we take a good look at our memes, that we begin to think critically, that we take responsibility for the words we are saying.
Yes we must be very careful with all memes, even those offering support for our side. To minimize the risks, I actually prefer making my own memes so that I don’t get caught up with someone’s elses meme emotionally and later realize its fallacious. Of course making one’s own doesn’t mean there’s not a risk of thinking critically but I feel it minimizes it for me personally…thanks for reading and commenting.
Thank the good Lord He is the ONE in control!
Amen
Of course he’s paid to say flippant things to get a lot of immediate attention. It’s possible that he is embarrassed at all the attention that quip is garnering while his other attempted jokes are ignored. J.