On Friday, he Indianapolis Star featured a Gary Varvel cartoon that offended a wide group of readers, and many viewed it as racist. I do — it’s offensive beyond belief.
The Star said this in a non-apology piece by Executive Editor Jeff Taylor titled “We erred in publishing cartoon.”
?Many of them [readers who complained] labeled it as racist. Gary did not intend to be racially insensitive in his attempt to express his strong views about President Barack Obama’s decision to temporarily prevent the deportation of millions of immigrants living and working illegally in the United States.?
Taylor continued:
The cartoon depicted an immigrant family climbing through a window of a white family’s home as Thanksgiving dinner was served. I was uncomfortable with the depiction when I saw it after it was posted. We initially decided to leave the cartoon posted to allow readers to comment and because material can never truly be eliminated once it is circulating on the web. But we are removing the cartoon from the opinion section of our website, as well as an earlier version posted on Facebook that showed one character with a mustache.
This action is not a comment on the issue of illegal immigration or a statement about Gary’s right to express his opinions strongly. We encourage and support diverse opinion. But the depictions in this case were inappropriate; his point could have been expressed in other ways.
But hey, it’s just a cartoon, right? Come on, you spoilsports! Taylor pointed out:
Cartoons are seldom intended to be read literally. And Gary did not intend this one to be viewed that way. He intended to illustrate the view of many conservatives and others that the president’s order will encourage more people to pour into the country illegally.
Well, duh, we get that, Jeff. Everyone gets that. You’re proving our point and confusing us as to what YOUR point is.
This cartoon was simply a scare-mongering tactic, as noted by Raju Narisetti, senior vice president of strategy at NewsCorp.
Wow @indystar edit page. Way to scaremonger & falsely stereotype http://t.co/rOqpIPbxaW
pic.twitter.com/r05MFyfDb4 h/t @margarita #Immigration
— Raju Narisetti (@raju) November 22, 2014
The cartoon is gone now, but the image can never be deleted from the Internet.
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Tiffany Willis is a fifth-generation Texan and the founder and editor-in-chief of Liberal America. An unapologetic member of the Christian Left, she has spent most of her career actively working with ?the least of these? and disadvantaged and oppressed populations. She’s passionate about their struggles. To stay on top of topics she discusses,?like her?Facebook page,?follow her on Twitter, or?connect with her via LinkedIn. She also has?a?grossly neglected personal blog?and a?literary quotes blog that is a labor of love. Find her somewhere and join the discussion.
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