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March 25, 2004

MORE CRUCIFIXIONS AND ISRAEL

Another cartoon on the site is generating hate mail for us, so I thought I would post it with some comments. In the USA you won't often see a cartoon that infers that Jews are responsible for a crucifixion, but around the world this is a common image. This recent cartoon by Brazilian cartoonist Osmani Simanca was printed in a number of newspapers, and we've been hearing from angry readers. Simanca tells me that the point of the cartoon was simply to condemn Israel for what he views as the unjust assassination of Hamas' Sheikh Yassin. Sound familiar? This is not unlike an earlier episode on our blog with another Palestinian crucifixion cartoon. Read comments from cartoonist Jimmy Margulies, and read earlier blog comments about another, similar Latin American cartoon. Today it is not the Jewish reference, but the fact that a terrorist is depicted in a Christ-like pose that seems to anger our readers the most.

Some comments are below. You can email your own comments to Simanca at: simanca@terra.com.br and you can post on the Cagle Fray for everyone to see by clicking here. And click here to see our collection of cartoons about the assassination of Sheikh Yassin.

From: Maria Weiss
Sent: Thursday, December 31, 1903 4:27 PM
Subject: Comment on Ahmad Yassin cartoon
I hope my local newspaper never prints any of his cartoons! I am a Christian and think it was down right offensive to portray Jesus who is beloved by millions in a parody cartoon like that. Simmocca or whatever his name is defines ignorance.

Sent: Thursday, March 25, 2004 12:35 PM
Subject: Sheik Ahmed Yessen
i was look at your cartoon of Sheik Ahmed Yessen. How you were comparing him to Christ. With the Israel missiles begin like the Cross. Mr Cagel you are a sick evil Man. To compare this Butcher to Christ you are sick. Yessen was a Satanic Evil Murdering B_____D.. I am happy he got what he deserved. For all of the Murders sign off on. And now he well Be Punked by Satan forever.
Randy Moseley
United States.

Dear sir,
I grieve for you that you choose to make a living by mocking and making a laughingstock of people, but mostly I am grieved about your mockery of the Crucifixion. I pray you will come to know Jesus as Savior and Lord.
joy wilson
"In God we Trust "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls. Prosperity within your palaces." Psalm 122:6-7

From: Dan Belin
Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2004 6:55 PM
Subject: Simanca cartoon on 3/24/04
As a subscriber to the Middletown Press, in Middletown, CT, I am writing to express my great dismay at the cartoon by Simanca regarding the targeted killing of Sheik Yassin. 

From: asrs
Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2004 12:48 PM
Subject: Simanca Osmani
I saw your latest cartoon with a sheik Yassin depicted as Christ. It is outrageous to compare that degenerate terrorist with a human-like DNA to the Christ. It is stupid and insulting, your horrific anti Israeli and anti Jewish bias speaks for itself with the garbage you produced.
Mr. Davis.
Richmond. VA.
USA

"I believe the cartoon to be well within the bounds of fair comment and that these Democratic leaders need to toughen up their skins a little bit. I'm getting letters from Kerry voters who are embarrassed by their reaction, or should I say overreaction."

Here's an article about the flap that ran in the Augusta Chronicle, posted with permission.

Chronicle Defends Editorial Cartoon
By Tom Corwin, Augusta Chronicle Staff Writer

The Augusta Chronicle refused demands Friday that it apologize for an editorial page cartoon by staff cartoonist, Rick McKee.

Georgia and Richmond County Democratic leaders called a news conference asking for the apology for the cartoon that they said implies Osama bin Laden supports presumptive Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry.

"Thursday's editorial cartoon in The Augusta Chronicle was a disgrace," Georgia Democratic Party Chairman Bobby Kahn said in a statement. "We are embarrassed for The Chronicle."

The cartoon shows a news anchorman reading a script who says: "Sen. Kerry claimed he has spoken to several foreign leaders who privately support him, but he refused the White House's request to identify them citing confidentiality reasons. ... In other news, Osama bin Ladin has released another videotape ..." Pictured on the screen next to the anchorman is a bearded man with a turban and an automatic rifle holding a sign that reads, "Vote Kerry! (Call me, John. We need to talk.)"

In demanding the apology, Richmond County Democratic Party Chairman Lowell Greenbaum said Friday, "Either you take the high road or you'll hear from us."

Editorial Page Editor Michael Ryan said he would "no sooner apologize for an opinion than we would ask Mr. Greenbaum to apologize for his. To me, this cartoon is merely saying that terrorists would rather have John Kerry to deal with than George W. Bush. And I think that's not only a legitimate opinion but one that is borne out by the facts."

From the Saturday, March 20, 2004 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle, posted with permission.

Do you share the rage of the Georgia Democrats? Click here to vent your rage to cartoonist, Rick McKee, and click here to spout your anger on the Cagle Fray.

The most interesting responses came from French cartoonist Jiho, who sent us some of his America bashing cartoons, with burger-headed, church going, cowboy Americans. Most of Jiho's cartoons are too raunchy to post on our site. Jiho explains that this is because people in France get so many sex-spam-e-mails from America (which makes sense to me). Below we have a selection of responses to the Spanish election cartoons, along with the view of America, as seen from Jiho's France. Click here to e-mail Jiho and tell him what you think --Jiho likes to post angry responses from Americans on his web site (and we do too, click here to leave a comment on the Cagle Fray).

Subject: The Times they are a-changin'
From: HenrySblaza
Date:Mar 20 2004 4:13PM
Lately, it seems the world is headed into dangerous times. A new world order is emerging, and there seem to be two camps: The U.S. and everyone else. It seems that both sides wish to yell "he started it" and not focus on the issue at hand: The world is becoming dangerously divided. Europe is scared of what it views as unilateralism and cowboy diplomacy on the part of the U.S. America thinks all of Europe is a bunch of wine-sipping sissies who don't like to fight. Nobody can take the time out and look at the situation and ask themselves, "Is this what we want to be working towards?" The Americans call Spain "appeasers" for voting out Aznar, a pro-American prime minister. In France, many believe the WTC attacks were orchestrated by the Bush administration. There is lunacy on both sides of the ocean. We need to slow down and take a long, hard look at ourselves and act logically and responsibly.

Subject: Spain vs. the Mafia
From:Rubynecklace
Date: Mar 20 2004 8:45AM
This whole situation just keeps bringing to mind, over and over, parallels to the Mafia. They will beat the crap out of you the first time to make it seem worthwhile to go along with them, but once you do, bam. No more problems on that front.
So Spain may have "legitimately" voted in their new gov't, and hired the Al-Qaeda Mafia at the same time, but hey. When you're not getting blown up every couple of days, a little self-loathing can be overlooked. This is not to say I agree with their actions, but I do think it's funny in an odd sort of way.

---

Subject: RE: Spain vs. the Mafia
From: everlong
Date: Mar 20 2004 8:59AM
What's really funny is the fact that Al Qaeda called a truce with Spain after the elections. Even more funny, they gave Spain stipulations!! They said you have three days to begin the process of removing your troops from Iraq. How can anyone in their right mind not see that AQ is horrified by seeing a possible democracy in Iraq? How can anyone say that the bombings were not a direct attempt to change an election? How can anyone say that us being in Iraq is not related to the war on terror?

Seriously, if what happened in Spain doesn't enlighten people to the fact that Iraq is an intrugal part of the big picture on the war on terror, I really don't know what will.

Subject: Spanish support for terror
From:tiredtexan59
Date:Mar 20 2004 7:28AM
Of course the Spanish elections were a victory for the terrorists. I've been in Europe for 11 months and the unspoken attitude is that the US got what it deserved in the WTC attacks. Screw Europe. I'd like to tell the Russians to take Germany, France, Spain and who ever else they want on the continent. That's what Europe deserves.

---

Subject:RE: Spanish support for terror
From:andiprice
Date:Mar 20 2004 7:40AM
...they hate us. And who do they run to when they get a hangnail? Since they have chosen to telegraph their impotence and apathy to AQ, we will probably have the opportunity to bail their useless butts again. Maybe Russia WILL pick up the next round.

---

Subject:RE: Spanish support for terror
From:everlong
Date:Mar 20 2004 8:43AM
What I find ridiculous is that all these people are saying that Europe and the rest of the world hates us because of Bush. They've NEVER liked us! I'm so sick and tired of being expected to bow, yield, and kneel to the concerns of of these other countries. It's like we can't do anything in our best interest, it has to have their best interest in mind too.

Can someone tell me what these other nations do for the rest of the world that we don't?

Subject:They Never Hated Us With Passion Before bush
From:nwmxco
Date:Mar 20 2004 1:40PM
No, they never did like us - why should they, we are always right, aren't we? No they never liked us but they also never hated us with the passion they do now. bush had the sympathy of the world, even the French said "We are all Americans" after 9/11, but bush flushed all that sympathy down the toilet by being the liar and deceiver we all know he is

---

Subject: RE: Spanish support for terror
From: peacelover
Date: Mar 20 2004 1:57PM
The reason why they don't like us is because we don't respect their rights.

We are the school bully and think we are beyond the law.

We support tyrants around the world -included and The Taliban-, we sponsor coup d'etats in small countries that don't show servilism toward us. We support terrorism, like Israel, Saudi Arabia - even Osama- and what we have done in Cuba. We impose commercial penalties to imported goods to "protect" our producers, while at the same time demand free trade for our goods everywhere.

See? We don't play fair.

We have not forgotten the past. That's why we say it's all Bush's fault. We would like the USA to re-think its strategies. Don't you see that we can't be your allies if your strategy is unilatiralism? How would you like to be someone's minion?

I hope that, just like our friends in Spain, our good citizens do what is best for them and vote that murderous bastard Dubya out of office. Now that would really be stopping Terrorism!

March 18, 2004

AL QAEDA AND SPAIN'S ELECTION

It is interesting to see which cartoons make our readers angry. On Monday I drew a cartoon with Al Qaeda types doing high fives and celebrating the victory of the Socialist party in Spain's national election last Sunday. Oh! The mail!

Last week's Al Qaeda train bombing was clearly timed to precede Spain's national election. Before the bombing, polls gave the ruling party of Spain's Prime Minister Aznar a slight lead over the Socialists. After the bombing shook Spain's electorate, the Socialists won and immediately announced that they would withdraw Spanish troops from Iraq; the Spanish government also announced the unusual step of excluding the FBI from the investigation of the bombing, instead inviting other European countries to step in, leading to speculation that Spain will be less cooperative with American covert efforts to thwart terrorism. That all looks to me like a resounding victory for Al Qaeda --which is why I drew a cartoon that seems to have annoyed so many Spanish readers.

Here is a sampling of the most thoughtful e-mails from our outraged Spanish readers, along with a few cartoons that likely reflect the point of view of most Americans. Want to respond? Click here to add your own comment to the Cagle Fray.

From: Duss
Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 2004 11:46 PM
Subject: Spain's Election: Win for the terrorists?

The American media made it seem like the terrorist attack that hit Spain influenced the people's vote and that somehow a win for the Socialist Party was a win (for) terrorists.

I'm sure the attack had an influence on the people's vote, but since before the Iraq war, the people of Spain have had strong opposition to the war and their involvement in it. Spain had some of the largest protests against attacking Iraq. It is safe to say that Spain was ready for new leadership before the attack occurred. And to say that the election of a new president is a touchdown for the terrorists is ludicrous. If John Kerry is elected is that a win for bin Laden?

I have seen several other artists with the same concept and I wonder if comic artists think for themselves anymore or do you base all your cartoons on how the American media is spinning the story?

From: Dirk-A. Simonsz
Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2004 2:30 PM
Subject: Cartoon Spain

Your cartoon depicting the PSOE marginal victory over Aznar as a triumph for the terrorists, is typically a product of someone who has been exposed to the 'For us or Against us' doctrine for a bit too long. In this country, the adventure in Iraq was never popular, and seen to be illegitimate. More then 80% of the Spanish people was against Aznar's support for Bush on this. Madrid has just shown to Europe that the world is not safer, and obviously voted for the opposition, the same party by the way, as Blairs. The PSOE is equally tough on terror, during Gonzalez's reign this party successfully prevented a terror outrage against the king, and against the then opposition leader Aznar. Furthermore, it shows that this population at least will not be lied to.

Dirk

---

From: Bolin-M04, Tim
Sent: Thursday, March 18, 2004 12:18 AM
Subject: About your "Celebrating Socialist Victory" cartoon

Mr. Cagle,

An American, I lived and worked in Spain through 9/11 and much of the Iraq war. Aznar joined Bush and Blair in an invasion of Iraq, despite 87% of Spanish citizens being against that war. During that time, only the Socialist party echoed the Spanish people's view. You might just as well depict 9 of 10 of your figures in this cartoon as Spaniards celebrating their voice being finally heard.

Furthermore, your depiction of the one party you depict in this cartoon is ill advised, for it communicates that Muslims/Arabs are a bunch of raving fanatics who rejoice at the destruction of democracy. This is a view both Westernized and limited. It's also not a particularly compelling cartoon, about anything.

Tim Bolin
MBA 2004
Graduate School of Management
University of California, Irvine

From: Lluís Bertra
Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2004 3:52 AM
Subject: Spain

Dear Daryl,
I'm a 29 year old Spanish and first of all I'd like to say thank you for your great job at cagle.com, I've been an almost-every-day visitor for the last 3 years more or less, and hope you and all cartoonists around the world the best luck in your difficult profession.

I'd like to say something about the elections in Spain which brought the socialist party to victory on Sunday. You have to know that our government hid information to the public opinion and told the whole world that ETA was responsible of the Madrid massacre, and even forced the UN to say so, which just few days after was proven not to be true. Even in that very moment, terrorist specialized units of the Spanish police one of the best in the world in that commitment, since they've been fighting it for 30 years on) were clearly speaking about other possibilities related to Islamic terrorism, which at least should had been taken in consideration.

The thing is that, being ETA the responsible of the massacre, that would have given reasons to Aznar's government to go on with their radical internal policy in the Basque country, and without doubt, would have given them a wide victory on Sunday election. And the other way round, the Al-Qaeda responsibility, would have punished them in that election, (but believe me, not so seriously as finally happened) so facing this situation, they decided to hide the Al-quad connection, speaking about ETA as the only real possibility. At the same time, most of the Spanish population were getting connected between us via cell phones or internet to try to get some information about the whole thing, (you've also been through it, when you're still crying the tragedy but you need to know) and we could easily see how any other European country had more information about it than us. It would be too long to explain for my poor English and you can read it on most European newspapers, but just be sure that we, the Spanish country, have voted freely to say no to terrorism, but specially to lies and manipulation from our government. We felt so betrayed by the ones who were supposed to serve and protect us, that decided to give our confidence to a man who talks like most of the Spanish people want, talks about talking. Believe me, we are more like Zapatero, not like Aznar. We are a little bit more human and sensitive, and we have suffered terrorism years enough to go to an election and vote with cold head. I'm sure that never before had the Spanish people thought so much about their vote. Please respect it.

Thank you
Lluís Bertran

Jobs for editorial cartoonists are disappearing fast, but an interesting exception is the San Francisco Chronicle, which employs three full time editorial cartoonists, one of whom is Don Asmussen, who readers of our site know best as the creator of the popular Al Qaeda Recruitment Video. Don draws a cool, three times a week feature called, "BAD Reporter." I think Don's work is great, and it is exciting to see a newspaper break the mold of traditional editorial cartoons, as the Chronicle is doing. We have a big new collection of BAD Reporter here. E-mail Don Asmussen.



I like to feature cartoons when an editorial cartoonist "breaks out of the box" to do a more ambitious cartoon, in another format. Here is a great local cartoon by Seattle's Pulitzer Prize winner, David Horsey. E-mail David.

March 12, 2004

I found it interesting to learn that cartoonists in Iran must first submit cartoons about Iran's president, to the president for his personal approval. Iranian cartoonist, Nik Kowsar, sent me the note below. Click here to e-mail Nik.

President Khatami is a nice guy, but unfortunately he turned to out to be a politician -and not a good one!

A few weeks ago, I drew him in one of my cartoons based on a famous persian verse, showing that he is giving an end to his power and legacy through the parliamentary elections. I first sent the cartoon to the president's deputy, Mohammad Ali Abtahi, and he was supposed to hand the cartoon to Khatami, so I wouldn't have any problems with posting the cartoon on my website.

A few days later I was chatting with Abtahi, asking about Khatami's opinion on my cartoon. Abtahi told me that he had not received any answers from the president. And Abtahi also added that it was OK for me to post the cartoon, I didn't need to wait for Khatami's permission.

Question: Does a cartoonist in Iran have to get the president's permission for drawing or publishing a cartoon?
Answer:Although it's not against the law for cartoonists to draw clerics, if you do so, and they believe that you have offended them (offending the clergy means offending the religion) that's how you could just end up dead!

Question:When you are not in Iran, who could possibly harm you?
Answer:Ask Salman Rushdie!

The cartoon was on my web-site for two days, and after a while I noticed that my wife was scared to death, because she still remains in Iran, and she had received bad messages on that cartoon, so I had to remove it.

Yesterday, I got a message from Abtahi:" Khatami has defended the drawing of him, and written a note on that special cartoon. Of course he has indicated that he hadn't seen the work before being published on the web". Wow! First of all it's cool! Second, wasn't Abtahi supposed to give the cartoon to Khatami? Abtahi was going to show it, but he had not done it!
I'm going to draw the president, more and more!

The nice part of the story is that in Iran, the president is the nice guy. It is the judiciary chief who will send you to prison if you draw Khatami! Although the nice guy doesn't have anything to do with your cartoon and probably loves to be drawn by cartoonists!

March 11, 2004

Here's a strange Yahtzee that turned up with Disney Chairman, Michael Eisner's woes. Click to see all the Eisner Under Siege cartoons. Click here to comment on the half hat Yahtzee. The cartoons are by Gary Brookins, Vic Harville, Mark Streeter and Scott Stantis.

---

March 10, 2004

CONGRATULATIONS TO MATT DAVIES FOR WINNING THE HERBLOCK AWARD!

Matt Davies has won the first annual Herblock Award! Congratulations, Matt!

The Herblock Award is run by the Herblock Foundation, an organization that was founded by the estate of "Herblock" (aka Herbert Block) the late, great, editorial cartoonist for the Washington Post.

One of the roles of the Herblock Foundation is to promote the editorial cartooning profession, which they do through their annual award, that comes with a whopping $10,000 prize and a flashy, silver trophy. The jury that picked Matt for the award included Doonesbury cartoonist, Garry Trudeau, Chicago Tribune columnist Clarence Page and David Remnick, editor of the New Yorker Magazine.

Matt is a happy man today! And we're happy to have Matt as a regular on our site! Click here to see the cartoons that won the prize for Matt. Click here to see Matt's cartoon archive. Click here to e-mail your congratulations to Matt!

Subject:
There is such a thing as TOO sensitive.
From:
NYUstudent
Date:
Mar 9 2004 8:26AM
Maybe it's because kids of my generation are more open minded about CARTOONS, or maybe it's just me, but I thought the ketchup/passion cartoon was pretty funny. I don't see what the big deal is about criticizing others beliefs. It's not like anything is going to come from these types of cartoons, other than overdramatic people thinking their beliefs have now been compromised. Give me a break. People need to loosen up. If you can't take criticism about your faith, or your political beliefs, should you really be representing them to others? Maybe the overly sensitive ones should not be representatives for their affiliations

From: "Anna Knight"
Subject: ketchup cartoon
Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2004 12:23:55 -0500 Boy, there sure are a lot of people who want to tell us what isn't comedy.
I laughed at your cartoon. It doesn't matter in what "taste" the theme was; taste by definition is subjective.
You ought to make a follow-up cartoon of you on a cross behind Jesus.
Centurion 1: "Hey, what happened to the thief behind Jesus?"
Centurion 2: "Oh, they took him down to make room for a political cartoonist."
Centurion 3: "Right, right. I suppose Jesus will forgive him, too, then?"

You'd think the Internet would usher in a new age of classical liberalism (which is quite separate from today's political liberalism), where ideas and viewpoints would be cherished as noninvasive benchmarks for our own. Sadly, instead of a widened perspective, many folks seem to take the ease with which the information age enables worldwide communication as a license to whine about their own narrow self-righteousness.
Please continue to express your thoughts, and hold fast against dismay during barrages of Puritanical reactionism as you're currently experiencing. I know this isn't the first time you've withstood controversy; just don't lose heart.
-Anna

Subject:Ketchup
From:1RED
Date:Mar 9 2004 7:05AM
I think the cartoon did what the cartoonist intended. It made people stop and think. THINK. Converse...LISTEN...HEAR the other side... discuss...do not become offended...listen and think.

Finally, someone who gets what it is all about!!! Mel Gibson's movie I have not seen, and will not due to what has been descibed to me as gratuitous violence in the name of God. I am a religious person, yet I am also of the opinion that the old saying "minds are like parachutes,they only function when OPEN" is the most observant catchphrase in society. People who cannot see the humor in this are really in a fragile state, that they would get so worked up over a CARTOON tells me that they are to too sensitive to be watching the news on a regular basis, let alone seeing movies of this magnitude and expressing their opinion, and they should certainly not be getting involved in anything like politics, or government, or education of our youth population! God has a sense of humor too!!!! If you think for a second that he hasn't laughed at you then you are too self absorbent to be the christian that you call yourself!!! I believe in God, and I have all the faith I need, and God has also blessed me with the sense of humor that every human needs to get through this life!!!!

Remember, the movie The Passion of the Christ is NOT historically accurate according to Biblical scholars and is only the Mel Gibson version of the New Testament. It is NOT the Bible itself.

I wonder how many of those who are upset over the criticism of the movie find nothing offensive in the movies' depiction of Jews?

Meanwhile, enjoy cartoons. They are one man's-- or woman's--opinion, that is all.

"Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ has been roundly criticized for obsessive violence. The advertising, the product licensing and the affect of movie violence on kids makes the movie an appropriate subject of criticism in a cartoon. I don't want that ugliness served up to my kids in the name of religion."

I cannot believe you would use the depiction of how Christ suffered for you and use it in such a distastful manner. If you have read the bible then you know how accurate the movie is. Yes, what happened to Christ was beyond violent, beyond Mel Gibson's imagination, beyond what any of us could imagine. The intention of the movie was to show what really happened and if you don't want your children to know how Christ suffered to pay for our sins so that we could have everlasting life... then guard them from reading the bible - it's in there. Age appropriate is a whole different issue. There was an advisement for no children younger than 16 to see that film, which I believe is a good idea, depending on the maturity of the teenager and how much they already know about Christ's brutal crucifiction. But to slam what happened to our Lord suggesting that The Passion of Christ is nothing but a bloody Hollywood horror film that young kids shouldn't see is a complete travesty.

Otherwise to the people getting all bent out of shape over critique of the Passion, uh, boys & girls, IT'S A MOVIE, get over yourselves. It is one person's view of what might have happened. You either believe in such a thing or you don't. If the critique of the film didn't change your beliefs then why would you worry about someone else's. It most likely didn't change their beleifs either.

I don't like the idea of glorifying an execution of any kind. I suppose people would be wearing little bloody axes around their neck if the man Jesus had been beheaded by the Romans. So I decided to spend my money elsewhere.

I still remember all the controversy over Jesus Christ Superstar. Old hat now, isn't it? The Passion will be, too. It will be in rental in a few months and there will be another BIG controversy to distract us from the real problems on this planet. Try feeding the hungry, healing the sick, clothing the naked, giving drink to the thristy, visiting the political prisoners, oh, wait, that means getting up and DOING something, sorry.

Delfine

1. It's a movie, for goodness sake!!! Can you say
"entertainment"....or "controversy is free
publicity"?

2. Kerry is a politician...that's know as "fair
game"

3. Mrs. Kerry is a ketchup heiress...an
all-American condiment queen

It's a funny cartoon....why analyze it to death?

Think about Cinderella's stepsisters who chopped off their toes and heels to try to fit their feet into the glass slipper, now there is childhood violence!!

And speaking of violence, read some of that good old Old Testament gore. Now THERE was some violence. The prophet Ilijah was being teased by some kids about his baldness so the mighty prophet calls up to god and gets a she bear to tear the tot to bits. Now that's some good ol' time religion.

It's got movie script written all over it. ;-)

By the way, the cartoons about Martha REALLY made me laugh, but my wife was horribly offended by them. Go figure. That's why cartoon, like ice cream, come in different flavors. Ease up on these hard-working cartoonists. They do us a favor by bringing humor into our lives. It doesn't always work, but they keep on trying. Laugh, or turn the page. Get over yourselves. It's just a funny

Why are you threatened by Christ, what did he do to you? There are hypocrites in all walks of life, theists of all presuiasions including and as well as atheists....

Shalom

Besides the fact that people are treating TPotC as a sort of lighthouse to reignite hypocritical religious beliefs that they will lose in six months, they also want to find ways to support the censoring of editorial cartoons because of it (even though it has been done time and time again). Passion is probably the most violent movie of this short millienium, and yet parents are letting small children see this flick? Am I the only person who thinks that is one of the reason this nation is becoming (or currently is) as currupt as it is regardless of the message I know TPotC holds.

I applaud Cagle and cartoonist like him for taking a different perpective of the news stories that are talked about around the country, and I hate how these cartoonist are getting hacked at the knees because of it.

The cartoon, for example, got people talking and thinking. Cagle didn't make fun of a personal sacrifice, he made fun of a gory, over the top movie that is making millions of bucks for somebody by spewing about gallons of fake blood. The movie is what is in poor taste and truely tactless. Why not show that good that one person can accomplish in a life time rather than the fake gore that 50 people can splash on a movie set for a few hours "entertainment?"

Kerry with Heinz was a good idea, but bringing Jesus into it makes no sense whatso ever. It serves as a good idea gone wrong!

I don't think it's sacrilige, and I'm a minister (UCC). to tell you the truth I think the gratuitous violence in the movie is more sacreligious than the cartoon.

Keep up the good work!

I thought the satire was a bit pointed and blunt. It did come across as more sacriligeous than fine tuned criticism.

The reference to Kerry was obscure. And so what ? Perhaps I could be her next husband.

Product placement. Did Pontius Pilate wear Nikes and drive a Toyota to the forum ? I think Christ was sucking down a Mountain Dew while dragging the cross.

It was a tad funny.

Let's face facts. Slate must be paying Cagle by the number of posters, or paying him just to bait the savage beast mentality of the public, cause he really seems to love this.

Incidently, for the guy who cancelled his newspaper subscription because he doesn't agree with their publications...who cares!!!

I, for one, was able to see what you were talking about. Children imitate the things they see on TV all the time. They don't see the right or the wrong of it, they figure if it's being shown on TV, it mst be okay. While I applaud Mel Gibson's movie...and all that it stands for, the trailers were very graphic. They should have saved any of the scenes that actually depicted Jesus within the throes of crucifixtion for the people who went to see the film. I can see the parallel between what I saw on some of the trailers for the movie and what children might have seen in their child's mind. What children saw is what you depicted in your cartoon.

Sadly, you can't please all of the people all of the time. So keep up the good work.

RYE, Houston

AHJ

March 8, 2004

ANOTHER CONTROVERSY
This time the controversy involves ME. Last week I drew a cartoon about ketchup, Kerry and the Passion of the Christ. The cartoon only drew a handful of responses when I posted it on the web site --typical of any cartoon I draw. Today I heard from an editor at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, who ran my ketchup cartoon and was getting complaints. He plans to run a couple of angry letters about my cartoon in tomorrow's paper, and he asked me for a statement. I gave him this:

Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ has been roundly criticized for obsessive violence. The advertising, the product licensing and the effect of movie violence on kids makes the movie an appropriate subject of criticism in a cartoon. I don't want that ugliness served up to my kids in the name of religion. Beyond that, John Kerry and ketchup just makes me laugh.
--Daryl Cagle

Of-couse, John Kerry is married to Heinz ketchup heiress, Teresa Heinz (a big name in Pittsburgh). In case the cartoon came and went too fast for our readers to vent their anger over my insensitivity to a Hollywood blockbuster, I'll put my cartoon in tonight's newsletter and invite comment. I'll post the best of the comments here in the blog. Here are a couple to start with ...

Gentlemen:
... I have to tell you that cartoon hit me like a brick! I thought it was in poor taste. Now I don't claim to be a supporter of John Kerry, but I AM, a supporter of the Passion of The Christ, and to compare the two of them together, side by side, was an insult to both parties concerned. I thought I got away from the nasty, vengeful and in poor taste cartoons when I canceled my Post-Gazette subscription a year ago after 20 yrs. of subscription with them. There is no reason to be this nasty. I think the Post-Gazette is losing money because people like me are fed up with their biased and nastiness of reporting the news. Do you want to go down the same path as them? I think not. You are a quality paper, and you should continue that mission.

From: M. B. Baker [mailto:mbcc1@verizon.net]
Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2004 4:47 PM
Subject: "I'm PLaying the Passion of the Christ"
The Son of God goes to His death for individuals like you and me and you render Him a sacrilege. Whether you subscribe to Christianity or not does not give you the right to degrade this Theological belief.  Everyone has the right to be heard (or viewed), but no one has the right to be irresponsible. Christians will 'turn the other cheek' on something like this, but I doubt you have the stones to to mock and depict Allah in the same light. The Islamic community is not so forgiving and you would be counting the days of your departure to another planet to live should you live. So, share with us all, your comical depiction of Allah or Jehovah God
(and your idiocy).

PULITZER FINALISTS
Every year, just after the Pulizer Prize juries meet, the Pulitzer finalists are leaked to the press. This year's leaked finaliast for editorial cartoons are reported in Editor and Publisher today, they are Steve Sack of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Matt Davies of the Journal News in Westchester, NY, and Garry Trudeau who draws Doonesbury. The finalists now move on to the Pulitzer committee which may choose a winner from the finalists, or may choose someone completely different.

Last week it was announced that Clay Bennett of the Christian Science Monitor has won the National Headliners Club award for editorial cartooning. That's Clay's Martha Stewart cartoon on the right. Our own Jimmy Margulies was one of the runners up, congratulations to Jimmy too!