Chester M. Bonobo, Chairman
Association for Primate Esteem (A.P.E.)
Dearest bloggers
Please allow me to draw attention to a matter that has been the source of great excitation among the members of my association. While we understand that no harm was intended to us, and that we were never the objects of derision in these so-called humorous visual comparisons, I think you'll agree that perhaps in your gleeful lampooning of one party, the other party in the comparison has suffered unintentionally for your efforts.
I'm referring, of course, to the plethora of photographic analogies between the 43rd President of the United States and a variety of the world's primates. I have included a sampling of these images in my letter, and I'm confident that with even a cursory examination of these photos, you will understand the discomfort and embarrassment we endure when these images are circulated through email and the blogosphere.
We read the comments left on these blogs, mocking President Bush's intelligence based on his supposedly primitive facial expressions, but I am compelled to point out that these illustrations are crude and inaccurate: Obviously, the facial expressions of the selected primates include significantly more nuance and variety than do the photos of Bush. Most primates are capable of expressing a wide array of emotions through the contortion of their facial features, displaying complexities of delight, frustration, shame, jubilation, regret, concern, and empathy to name a few; Mr. Bush is like a four-trick pony, his face forming a cartoon caricature of a few basic expressions that he uses to telegraph his apparently few basic emotions.
I'm sure you had no expectation of the backlash that has resulted in our community as a result of these comparisons. It is now common to hear, when one of our kind gets excited, dismissive comments like "Easy, Mister President", a hurtful phrase that no ape deserves to hear. (To put this in perspective, image a circumstance that causes your agitation to rise visibly, only to have that ire brushed off with, "settle down, Don Knotts.")
I understand, disrespect and discourtesy within our ranks is an issue that we must address internally. But it would be considerably easier for us to eliminate put-downs such as "Bush face" and "Curious George" and "Where's your flight jacket?" if these photographs were not regularly reprinted and redistributed.
While these thoughtless comparisons are a bell that cannot be unrung, it is a bell that will eventually fall silent if we stop striking it with a hammer. We appreciate your help in putting that hammer to rest.
Thank you for your consideration,
Chester M. Bonobo, A.P.E. chairman
