US: Washington Post scolded for political cartoon
The letter recognized that the cartoonist, Pulitzer Prize winner Tom Toles, may disagree with the War in Iraq but that he should not use "such a callous depiction of those who have volunteered to defend this nation."
Toles understood the Joint Chiefs of Staff's position, but expressed no regret for drawing the cartoon, stating that his commentary was not meant as a "derogatory comment on the service or sacrifice of American soldiers."
Reflecting on his craft, Toles said, "It is the nature of cartooning that someone can read an analogy a cartoon uses to mean things other than what was intended. The only way to avoid that problem is to draw cartoons that have no impact."
Source: The Washington Post
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No, that was a letter of protest. Only an editor at the WaPo can write the cartoonist a letter of reprimand.
arrogant and tasteless
Excuse me but I thaught we had freedom of speach in this country. Since when do we have to answer to the Joint Chiefs of Staff for our news and entertainment.
lOOK this is double standards.
America preach "freedom of expression" right to speech ,democracy world wide.
Back home ....media is being reprimanded by army.Very undemocartic behaviour on the part of US goverment.
I really respect and admire american society for its free press,free people but such actions are beyond my understanding.
This has reference to recent Prophet carcature contoversy also,
Regards
Typical liberals, you tout yourselves as the party of peace and love, but you have nothing but hatred for those who give you the rights to say these things. If you had your social communist way, you would NOT be able to anything about anything. WE WOULD BE IRAQ AND YOU WOULD HAVE YOUR HEAD CHOPPED OFF! But I guess you think that's funny too. SHAME ON YOU!
There's a big difference between how you ought to act and the minimum legal behavior. If a person wants to do something tasteless and hurtful, it's still legal according to the first amendment.
That was the most tasteless cartoon ive ever seen. As a 20+ year vet im not surprised by this as im sure you have never served.
The cartoon was directed at Rumsfeld. It isn't a jab at our military. It is mearly showing how words used by our government come across to us. "battle hardend" how else could you take that?
This is an attack on Rumsfeld and the current administration, NOT on the army. It's stating how they do not care about our soldiers fighting in Iraq.
I have a problem with Tom Toles editorial because it punishes the wrong person to make a very hostile political statement. The idea is to attack Donald Rumsfeld ok, that's part of his job but the attack uses a person who life has been so wounded he is defenseless. So he uses the defenseless to attack the indefensable.
I losing patience with this current "take no prisoners" attitude between political factions. It's not high minded it's gutter politics and if he can't figure it out try using a journalist image with no arms or legs instead. It dosn't work for the same reasons.
Jim Boyle
1-9aircav
The cartoon was an attack on Rumsfeld and the spin the administration that he belongs to put on the operations in Iraq. Simple as that.
This just shows the hypocrisy of the scumbag Repugnicans. Anyone with a brain knows that the cartoon was a dig at Rumsfeld. It's just that POS Repugnicans look for any phony-baloney excuse to bash those who disagree with the policies of our current administration.
Nice to know about HT's news initiatives.