links for 2011-05-14

"Greece's Pakistani community says more than 100 Asian and African immigrants were attacked Thursday by rampaging youths protesting the mugging, in a march organised by residents of the center that was quickly taken over by ultranationalists."

"I’m not sure if this is a trend or not, but lately, conservatives have taken to presenting traditionally liberal institutions as sinister threats to the well-being of African Americans. Earlier this year, to use one example, conservative activists seized on the high abortion rate among African American women in order to accuse Planned Parenthood of “planned genocide” against black people. As for unions, Williams isn’t the first conservative to bring up racism as a way to discredit the modern labor movement; last month, Andrew Breitbart’s 'Big Government' blog did the same, highlighting a few instances of discrimination in order to present unions as opposed to the interests of black people."

In the words of tipster molecularshyness, "SERIOUSLY?"–AJP

"Ham-handed plays for the votes of large minority populations in urban areas are as American as large minority populations in urban areas, but this might be pitched less at Asian-American voters than at, say, people on the internet? In which case, very nice work with making sure no one is an embarrassing caricature."

"Furthermore, Mr. Armato's attempts to equate the Shape-ups for Girls product with the First Lady's Let's Move campaign are both insulting and ill-fitting. Michelle Obama's predominant focus is on educating children about nutrition and promoting exercise, whereas the Skechers Shape-ups for Girls neither promote exercise, burn extra calories, or educate children on the necessity of proper nutrition. Even more disturbing is that Shape-ups for Girls are not marketed as Shape-ups for Children, but only for girls. The Let's Move campaign does not solely target girls. And unless Skechers has new information that suggests young boys are immune to obesity, this product and marketing campaign are simply the latest and youngest in an age-old technique of building an industry off of insecurity and exaggerated claims to endow the consumer with conventional beauty and acceptance."