President Obama Tombstone Halloween decoration offends neighbor

[Mitch Henessey]

An Oklahoma man doesn't think he'll remove a mock-bloody gravestone for President Obama from his Halloween lawn exhibit despite an offended neighbor and online anger.

The uproar over Dwayne Dockens' Obama tombstone went public after Jamilla Phillips, a neighbor who moved to Edmond, Oklahoma, less than a year ago, complained to a local TV station, ABC News affiliate KOCO in Oklahoma City.

"Regardless of your political views, Democrat or Republican, he is the president of the United States," Phillips told ABC News, while declining to provide her political affiliation. "I just think it was disrespectful not just to me, but [Obama]."

"It's disrespectful and completely unpatriotic in a time of worldwide conflict," Dana Orwig, vice-chairwoman of the Oklahoma Democratic Party, said in a prepared statement. "We need to stand behind our country and president. But it's also typical of the intolerant and the hypocrisy that we see so often."

Dockens told ABC News that he apologizes if anyone was upset, but that he now is less inclined to take down the front-lawn exhibit because Phillips did not confront him directly about it. He said he learned about the complaint when KOCO News asked to interview him.

"This could have been settled over an afternoon talk," Dockens said. "It's ridiculous what this has evolved into."

Dockens said he set out his tombstone decorations, featuring silly phrases such as "Ima Gonner," on his front lawn as he has for the past three years without receiving any complaints. The Obama stone features Obama's name with lines of painted blood dripping over it and a question mark where his birth date should be, referencing a past controversy surrounding the president's date and origin of birth.

Dockens said the signs were meant as a joke, not to disrespect anyone.

"Just kind of something we thought was humorous for the time," he said.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/man-obama-tombstone/story?id=26186918 (a short video is inside the link)

A picture of the tombstone:

Spoiler

Obviously, the tombstone was supposed to be a joke, and you get the sense Dwayne Dockens is not someone, who's malicious or racist, but Jamilla Phillips doesn't feel the same way. According to Phillips, it's about "respect" for a man, who's still alive. On top of that, Phillips refuses to reveal her political affiliation, but she's a black woman, and from watching the interview, you can sense she's bothered by perceived racial undertones.

At the same time, real or fake, you can't put a tombstone with the current President's name on it in your front yard and expect it to go unnoticed, especially when you throw in the jab about the birth certificate controversy.

Dockens brings up an interesting point about the afternoon talk. Maybe if Jamilla Phillips chose to talk to Dockens directly, without involving the media, he would've been more open to a discussion about removing the tombstone. Now, you get the feeling Dockens is taking a hardline and defiant stance for removing the tombstone, because he refuses to crack under the pressure. You can easily see why others would take offense to Dockens and his Halloween decorations, but if he wanted to take things further, Dockens could've put "?-2014" on the tombstone.

Although, Dockens backstory for the tombstone raises some curious questions. Dockens admits his family created the tombstone, when the birth certificate story was a hot topic, so why wait until now to use the tombstone? Is there a chance he waited for all the heat to die down before using the tombstone as a decoration? When you look at the big picture, the timing for unveiling the tombstone feels suspicious.

The big question is, should Dockens remove the tombstone? Yes, you could say the joke is in poor taste, the timing is suspicious, and you could say Dockens deserves criticism, but he shouldn't remove the tombstone. When it's all said and done, I'm of the belief the tombstone is a Halloween gag and nothing more. As I said before, if Dockens wanted to send some kind of message or make a subliminal threat, he could've taken things further with this year's date for the death part of the tombstone.

Any thoughts on this? Did Dockens cross the line? Should he remove the tombstone?

 

[Nate DaMac]

He should leave it if he wants to. If he wants to take it down, well that's just fine. He hasn't broken any laws as far as I can tell. That lady can be upset all she wants, there is nothing in the constitution that protects you from being offended. She has every right to complain but she isn't owed a solution.

 

[Starkist]

Peopl are so quick to complain over everything. Simply butt hurt over Halloween decorations that has the presidents name on it. Really? She just must either be old and bored or young and miserable. No laws are broken but the only thing that can be done is taking it down. I hope they don't as I find it funny, personally.

 

[Slash-LN]

I don't see it as crossing the line. It's not like he put 2014 for the death year or even a death year at all.

The neighbor woman sounds like a total bitch and she went to the media before even talking to the guy? What kind of bullshit is that? She seems like an attention ****e.

It's offensive to Obama? Really? If the neighbor lady hadn't gone to the media about it I'm sure Obama wouldn't have even known about it. And this is speculation but I highly doubt he gives a fuck about some random Halloween decoration in some dude's yard.

This stupid ass neighbor lady just caused tension with her neighbors that doesn't even need to be there.

I'd keep it in my yard if I was that guy.

 

[Akhilleus]

Only thing to me is that Barrack Obama is an actual human being you know? I do kind of agree in that regard that it's disrespectful. If he put the neighbor's name on it wouldn't you all agree that there's a line that is crossed? So what's the difference with Obama? Just because he's the chief of state? I'm surprised that the secret service didn't check the guy out. A tombstone is a symbol of death, and to associate that with the president could probably raise some red flags.

On the other side of things, people like that lady are who annoy me more than anyone. Old freaking hags who just love to get into other people's business. Mind your own lady. The uptight pretentious woman who give you dirty looks in groceries stores when you yell at your kids, or call the cops on middle eastern men who are buying tools to fix their kitchen sink. They judge everyone else around them as if they're perfect in every way because they go to church every Sunday. Well I hate to be the one to break it to them but I thought God was the only person that was supposed to judge in your religion?

That's one of the biggest problems today. People just love sticking their fat noses where they don't belong, instead of worrying about themselves, and often being hypocrites about it too. On the reality tv show Survivor a couple weeks ago, they had John Rocker on. You know the Braves pitcher from the 90s who made some controversial comments about New Yorkers and people on the Subway? Well everyone on the show kept making all these comments about Rocker. How he's a racist, how he's a bigot. All of this stuff, because of some comments he made fifteen years ago. Are you telling me not one of those people has never made a racist comment in their entire life? Not one? I'm one of the most passive and open minded guys there is, and I don't hate people for their race, religion, color of their skin, any of that stuff. But I'm not going to lie...I've made my fair share of racist jokes.

I'm getting off topic here now. But to just rebound on what I was saying...people just need to mind their own damn business.

 

[nightmare]

The guy has displayed these tombstones for a while & no-one has said anything. It clearly isnt malicious, so I dont see an issue. Now if he would have had a picture of Obama's severed head or his corpse swinging from a tree, there may be something to consider & that would be a much different story.

So now this lady moves in to town & instead of her asking her neighbor (a quick simple conversation)- she goes complaining to a news station about this 'horrific & disrespectful insult'. She is a bit of a chickenshit who possibly wanted a bit of time in the spotlight & is using this as a way to get that. Anyone who sees that & their first instinct is to jump right to calling the news, may have other things on their mind. A normal person that gets offended over something displayed will usually ask the proper people about having the item removed & if those attempts fail, then steps are taken further. This lady jumped right into getting the media involved.


If I had a silly joke decoration displayed & it pissed off someone, I would take it down. That is only if the person was neighborly about it & asked instead of demanded while cursing & screaming. I bet this guy is the same way. Now he is doing what I would & that is keeping it up to prove a point. I had a neighbor once who would call the cops on us for being noisy. This was numerous times & when he moved in we even made a point of telling him we have guests frequently & if we are too loud- just let us know. Instead he chose to call the cops almost every time & peek out his window until they left. It got to the point we would be loud on purpose. The officer would not even come out anymore because the guy was clearly just being a pest & wasting his time.


All in all, the lady needs to get some thicker skin & try peaceful resolutions before overreacting. Her time in the neighborhood will likely go much smoother if she learns this.

 

[Mustang Sally]

.... but if he wanted to take things further, Dockens could've put "?-2014" on the tombstone.

Yes, he could have, and that would have raised all kinds of alerts, in that it could be considered a threat to the President's life.....and given all the paranoia the media throws at things today, some dire consequences could have arisen for Mr. Dockens.

Is the tombstone.... as is.... disrespectful to the President? Sure it is, but what else is new? I've read and been told that the office of President of the United States used to be a respected, dignified position. Honors paid the man were borne of that respect. Any personal shenanigans the person holding the office might be up to weren't revealed by the media, although those closest to the White House were surely aware of them.

But that was then, and this is now. Now, someone puts up a tombstone with Obama's name on it and many of us will say: "What's the big deal?"

Even I'm saying: "It could have been worse."

In any event, times sure have changed, and not always for the better. The media is the driving force behind a lot of it......which often shames me, as I work for the media.

I think Dockens should remove the stupid thing as a gesture of respect, but I'll agree that Ms. Phillips could have talked to him before going to the media with her gripe. If he didn't comply, then she should take it public, if that's her wish.

 

[#tamale]

If this guy had George Bush written on the tombstone, would there be an uproar?

If he wants to leave it there, leave it. It's not hurting anyone. It reminds me of The Simpsons Treehouse gag. It's harmless.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

As with so many other things, this is yet another example of someone taking to the internet and social media to complain about something and making it into some sort of big deal. It's just got Obama's name and a question mark on it for God's sake. If there'd been an actual "death date" or some sort of derisive or hateful message printed, then there MIGHT, and I stress the term MIGHT, be something to complain or worry about.

This man clearly isn't malicious, no harm was intended, so I think people need to get a life and stop making everything a big deal. There are genuine things to be pissed off about such the threats posed by Isis and Ebola.

 

[HBKistheHOF]

If I was Obama & this came up, I would come out & publicly state that I thought the gravestone was hilarious & that anyone making a fuss over it is just wasting their time & resources.

Seriously!? It's a freakin' Halloween decoration lol

When they guy starts making actual death threats or putting up real tombstones in his front yard, then that crazy lady can call all the news stations she wants & cause a commotion. Until then she should just mind her own business.

I bet she is the kind of lady who sent in complaints when The Simpsons used the tombstone jokes in their Halloween specials back in the 90's.

 

[ServantofTwilight]

Although, Dockens backstory for the tombstone raises some curious questions. Dockens admits his family created the tombstone, when the birth certificate story was a hot topic, so why wait until now to use the tombstone? Is there a chance he waited for all the heat to die down before using the tombstone as a decoration? When you look at the big picture, the timing for unveiling the tombstone feels suspicious.

Any thoughts on this? Did Dockens cross the line? Should he remove the tombstone?

He didn't wait for the heat to die down. He has been using it for three years.

Dockens said he set out his tombstone decorations, featuring silly phrases such as "Ima Gonner," on his front lawn as he has for the past three years without receiving any complaints. The Obama stone features Obama's name with lines of painted blood dripping over it and a question mark where his birth date should be, referencing a past controversy surrounding the president's date and origin of birth.

The woman who has a problem with it has only been in the neighborhood less then a year. It was her first chance to see it.

I don't think it is a big deal. Had he put an end date on it then maybe.

We mock celebrities and politicians all the time. From Halloween masks to Saturday Night Live parodies to greeting cards comparing George W to a chimp. I think we need to lighten up.

Of course it is not my name on a gravestone so...what do I know.

 

[Good Golly It's Ollie]

Eh ... if it happened over here, with say, David Cameron's name on it, I think a lot of people would laugh once and then forget about it. It says a lot, I think there are loads of cultural differences between US & UK like this.

Personally don't care. I'm of the school of thought that generally, I will try to avoid hurting people's feelings, but if you take offence to something I've done or said, ultimately I don't care. It's up to you to consider if it's a trivial matter or not.

“It's now very common to hear people say, 'I'm rather offended by that.' As if that gives them certain rights. It's actually nothing more... than a whine. 'I find that offensive.' It has no meaning; it has no purpose; it has no reason to be respected as a phrase. 'I am offended by that.' Well, so fucking what."

[I saw hate in a graveyard -- Stephen Fry, The Guardian, 5 June 2005]”

And this Dockens fella is completely right - this lady should have come to him personally. Now he's all over the freaking news and it's only made him feel more stubborn about it all.

It's funny though, you've got your panel shows and comedians ripping into politicians all the time just like us right? They live under such scrutiny, but that's the price they pay for being leaders. This guy is in no such similar situation. He's having a laugh. The neighbour needs to get the f over it.

Ultimately I get the feeling that politically and culturally, you're a really divisive society over there, much more than what our media makes out. I am no expert on US politics mind.

 

[Navi]

Oh what a load of shit over nothing. It's a Halloween decoration nothing more. Now if the date of death had been on it, or he erected it on the White House lawn, then hey maybe there is more to the story.

As it is, you have a nosey old bitch living next door, who obviously can't keep her mouth shut. If it offends you then honey don't look at it. She's the type to call the police if she hears a squirrel outside. People like that just bug me. Sometimes minding your own business is a good thing, and doesn't make you look like a total douchebag.

I say to the guy, keep it if you want, don't bow to peer pressure. If the secret service shows up then different story, but until they do, no pain no gain.

 

[Daggdag]

If this guy had George Bush written on the tombstone, would there be an uproar?

If he wants to leave it there, leave it. It's not hurting anyone. It reminds me of The Simpsons Treehouse gag. It's harmless.

There would be an uproar on the far right if it had Bush, Palin, Bachman, Romney, Ryan,. or any other Republican on it.

And the far lefters who are in an uproar now would be saying it was no big deal.