Comments on: Censored by the New York Times: The Story Behind a Political Cartoon the Publisher didn’t want you to see

By: Steve Seymour

Steve Seymour — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 11:59:11 +0000

Cartoons attempt to say it with a degree of humour, hoping that people “get it” in a picture that sums up the situation. Cartoons can be more powerful than whole articles because the viewer is the interpreter and the conveyed message bypasses language. However, a cartoon is – “just a cartoon”. These pictures bypass language at tell you exactly how it is – you the viewer can’t do anything else but “get it”. PICTURES

By: B. Janik

B. Janik — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 18:56:05 +0000

Last January, while Israel banned international media from viewing and reporting on their barbaric attack in Gaza, Israeli officials did obligingly provide any and all journalists tours of a Palestinian rocket carcass in a field near a Jewish settlement/colony. These images appeared on our evening news.

By: Viewtifuljoe

Viewtifuljoe — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:25:55 +0000

Badly drawn, yes. Bad cartoon, no.

By: Barbara

Barbara — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:11:39 +0000

The content/message of the cartoon is good, but the artwork amateurish. Hiring a professional draftsperson would have gotten a greater impact.

By: Dianne Foster

Dianne Foster — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:46:54 +0000

It gladdens my heart to imagine that USAToday accepted this. There has been such a to-do about the Muslims trying to suppress critique, as though they are the only ones making threats. Imagine how the Soviet Union and Castro were portrayed in their heyday, not to speak of China. Last time I looked, Israel was a foreign country, like France. It is not a sacred cow to satire. It is not “the Jewish people”, even though the name is often invoked in traditional prayers which might create some confusion about that. Israeli politicians were not put there by God. In fact, the cartoonist is simply telling us who made them.

But perhaps there is something un-kosher about that suckling voter.

By: Juan

Juan — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:57:36 +0000

I liked the Jefferson quote. In the context of censorship. there’s another by Lord Northcliffe– “News is what somebody somewhere is trying to suppress. The rest is advertising.” I’m surprised but not surprised by the NY Times.

By: Ian

Ian — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:14:37 +0000

The cartoon might be even more spot on if it replaced the “Press” waiter with a subservient US congressman. The way senators and congressmen fall over themselves to voice support and taxpayer money to Israel is shameful. Have you ever noticed when there is a UN Resolution condemning Israeli aggression, the vote is 143 to 3? The entire world supporting— Israel,USA, and the Solomon Islands opposing

By: sally

sally — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:27:41 +0000

I noted the arrogance reflected in the face of the Israeli (Sharon?) and how it captures the self- righteous disregard the Israeli government has toward human rights and world opinion.

By: Tish in Amsterdam

Tish in Amsterdam — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:57:28 +0000

The pun/drawing somehow reminds of that Thomas Nast cartoon about the predatory practices of Boss Tweed: “Now let us prey”

By: John M.

John M. — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:18:18 +0000

Another case in point: Jimmy Carrter’s recent book about how Israel’s treatment of Palestinians is akin to apartheid. The news media effectively ignored the book (thereby discouraging public discourse on his thesis). What they did publish/braodcast was Jewish spokesmen who tersely dismissed Mr. Carter as “disappointingly naive.”