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On Tuesday the Columbus Dispatch published the above cartoon depicting Iran as a sewer with cockroaches crawling out of it.
This has prompted letters in protest from:
The National Iranian American Council (letter here pdf)
And
CAIR The Council on American-Islamic Relations
Glenn Sheller, Editorial Page Editor at The Dispatch, responds to one reader HERE, as reprinted below:
Dear sir or madame:
Thank you for writing to The Dispatch.
You apparently are responding to a call from the Council of American-Islamic relations to write to me and to cartoonist Michael Ramirez to complain about a cartoon about the Iraqi regime’s support of violent extremists and terrorists throughout the Middle East.
CAIR claims the cartoon demeans all Iranians as cockroaches. But since the drain cover depicted in the cartoon is clearly labeled with “Iran” and “extremism” it is clear that the cartoon refers only to those elements of the Iranian regime who support extremism. In other words, it doesn’t come close to labeling all Iranians as cockroaches.
CAIR also likens the cartoon to Nazi propaganda. This is a remarkable display of intellectual gymnastics. Iranian President Ahmadinejad has called for the destruction of the Jewish state and questions the Holocaust, while his regime tries to develop nuclear weapons. If CAIR is truly concerned about the promotion of Nazi ideas and the use of Nazi methods, it should direct its attention to Tehran.
CAIR’s claims that its mission is to promote understanding of Islam and combat anti-Islamic information and anti-Islamic attitudes. That’s an honorable mission when it is directed at legitimate grievances.
In this case, CAIR has misrepresented this cartoon and missed the mark by fabricating a false grievance.
All the best,
Glenn Sheller
Editorial Page Editor
The Columbus Dispatch
614-461-5072
I don't see the word "extremism" in the cartoon (am I just missing it?), nor do I think Mr. Sheller meant to say "cartoon about the Iraqi regime’s support of violent extremists and terrorists throughout the Middle East", but my question for the readers is, do you find this cartoon inappropriate?
What action (if any) should the Dispatch take?
That's right, it didn't show the rest of the Iranians ... who were, presumably, also in the "roach motel".
That's it. Nothing more to see here. Move along. Move along.
Mr. Ramirez is a favorite of the Columbus Rightists. Always pointing fingers. Always generating anger.
From wikipedia: Link
"On November 12, 2005, the [Los Angeles] Times announced that his cartoon would be discontinued at the end of the year. Ramirez expressed disappointment about the discontinuation. Ramirez joined Investor's Business Daily as a senior editor/editorial cartoonist, and his cartoon is syndicated in more than 400 newspapers by Copley News Service. He has been syndicated by Copley News Service since 1988."
"Investors Business Daily". I understand why they would pick up Ramirez.
So maybe the Dispatch could find a more responsible conservative cartoonist???
Don't know if this smacks of Nazi tactics, but it does remind me of the kind of editorial cartoons and propaganda ads the USA ran during WWII, depicting the enemy (especially the Japanese) as insects, monsters, rapists, etc. The way to raise the public temperature for war is always depict your opponent as something less (and usually a lot less) than human.
I was very disturbed to see this happening again (with an assist from the Dispatch) in relation to Iran. It clearly indicates Iran is a population of disgusting insects which need to be killed off as quickly as possible.
Is the magnifying glass supposed to suggest a bombsight??
It shouldn't be surprising that Iran has interest in what's happening in Iraq. How would the U.S. react if China invaded and occupied Mexico for four or five years?
The Dispatch editorials are facsimiles of what's found in the National Review. 98% of the Neocons avoided serving in the military but are gun-ho to start another war.
Iranian young population is earnestly looking for reform and liberty and is not fanatic at all. Why should people be punished? Because the dictator regime has taken them hostage?