I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at the absurd accusation that the expression “to monkey this up” is somehow racist.

“Monkey remark leads to heated exchange in Fla. governor’s race,” (August 30). Anyone with an ounce of intelligence knows it means “to mess up” or “to screw up” and has nothing to do with race. That people would choose to interpret it as such for political gain only makes them look petty and foolish. What would these same people say about the following expressions?

“Monkey see, monkey do; monkey business; to monkey around; more fun than a barrel of monkeys; a monkey on one’s back; well, I’ll be a monkey’s uncle!"

Would they freak out over that? The insanity continues. 

Eugenie Rocherolle

Old Lyme