Going beyond offensiveness
By Joel Kantor
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Editorial cartoons are one of the best venues to express opinion, with a minimum of words. I’ve always appreciated the sharp-edged, cutting message hidden in a drawing and its few bits of text.
However, sometimes what is presented as a politically oriented cartoon commentary can be blatantly offensive and needs to be examined in a broader perspective.
Travis Kelly’s editorial cartoon in last month’s Free Press went beyond offensiveness.
When I first saw it, I was shocked, but that shock quickly turned into outrage. My anger was directed not only at Mr. Kelly, but also at the Press, which I have, since its inception, not only enjoyed, but also promoted. I expect (and hope) that Travis Kelly’s opinions and attitudes are merely his and not only don’t reflect those of the newspaper, but are completely out of sync with the Free Press.
Mr. Kelly may have his own views, as is his right, but I would be remiss if I chose to ignore him, because sometimes political commentary disguised as satire needs to be seen as an agenda. I initially felt that to respond, would only bring additional, undesirable attention to the distortions that I see as humor veiled expressions of deeper feelings he harbors, but, what I saw as a slur filled attack, forces me to answer.
Without going any further, yes, I am a JEW. I’m not an Israeli and I’m certainly not one of the chosen people. I don’t support Israeli government policies or actions unconditionally any more than I unconditionally support those of our country, so I speak as a free thinker who just happens to be Jewish.
The depictions in that small editorial cartoon were uncomfortably reminiscent of the caricatures and rhetoric seen in pre-WWII German publications and after trying to see a failed attempt at satirical humor, I can only see it as a poorly disguised cover for anti-Jewish attitudes.
Travis Kelly, do you really see, “we JEWS” as a dangerous media-controlling, money-controlling, conspiratorial group, determined to force our “Israel lobby” views on a sleepy, naïve American majority? Do you actually believe that CNN, MSNBC and all the non-FOX media are all mere rubber stamps catering to JEW-powered money?
I must have missed out, because none of my family or friends, or anyone I’ve ever known, has had that kind of influence and I hail from New York, where so many of the rich and powerful Jews are supposed to be concentrated. Or is that Hollywood?
And how did Nancy Pelosi, an Italian-American Catholic, come into your warped rifle sight? Is she guilty of anything other than being a liberal?
You have the right to express your political views in a valid open forum, but that forum, the Free Press shouldn’t provide you with a venue to derogate Jews or any other ethnic group.
I guess we think differently, because I could never see myself using stereotypes or vernacular to denigrate Black people, Italians, Irish, Asians, Muslims, etc.
If you would like to learn more about Jews, give me a buzz. Perhaps if you leave your prejudices home, we can talk.
Joel Kantor writes from Dolores, Colo.
