Are these political cartoons offensive?

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by MrFun
Just as you tired of the Monica/Clinton jokes, right?

It's not the same. Officials in a democracy are here to be made fun of. And I don't think TMM ever criticized us for laughing at Bush in the past 4 years, no matter how harsh we were.

But now, many Apolytoners spew pure crap about 51% of the Americans (and the cartoon we both find offensive is only the archetype of this crap - it brings nothing new). And this indirectly insults him.

There was a time where many Apolytoners insulted the French people at large, meanng they were indirectly insulting me. I was a dirty, stinky, weasely, stinky, snobbish, arrogant, snotty, backstabbing, cowardly cheese-eating surrender monkey. It grew old really quick, and I think that's the main reason why most of our (admittedly few) French OTers left the OT during this period, despite Ming's best efforts to limit this kind of behaviour.

These days, the Greeks are suffering from a nearly-unanimous barrage from the Americans everytime they show up. Maybe that explains why we don't see Paiktis, and barely see MarkG and Axi anymore...

I can understand very well that TMM is tired with the crap he sees about people like him, i.e. people who voted for Bush.

[notyoueither]

Careful, Spiff, they'll revoke your membership.

Oh, and well said.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by notyoueither
Careful, Spiff, they'll revoke your membership.

I fortunately don't belong to the Apolyton liberals

[notyoueither]

I thought it was the communists leading the hanging from the ceiling, biting off limbs, reaction to the election.

Maybe it's just that they stoke the fire once Ted and Sava get burning.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by notyoueither
I thought it was the communists leading the hanging from the ceiling, biting off limbs, reaction to the election.

I can't remember any member of the CPA who depicted the Bush voters basically as ignorant hicks, bar Agathon.

The CPA's candidate(s?) lost. Unlike the liberals, we didn't support Kerry, so we're not really sore about the outcome. At least that's how I see it.

[notyoueither]

You should listen more closely to Che and Thebun. And kid, and...

[Spiffor]

Are you sure?

In the "liberals stop sneering at people" thread, here is Theben's most substantial post:

The polarization of the dems came about due to the prior polarization of the Republicans and their submission to the Religious Right in the early 90's- the main reason you find strong distrust amongst liberals wrt religion + politics. And many attempts at compromise with the right has ended in betrayal. And in 2001 when things weren't looking so good and the repubs were whining that the center/left was attacking them, and should rise above 'their character' , they whined some more when the center/left relished in the right-wings misery?

Yes, the center/left was energized this election (or radical, if you will). The right was no better or worse. But if you want any chance at reconciliation, you'll on the right will have to take the 1st steps, cuz if history's a guide you can't be trusted. Look at it this way, you can brag about being the 1st to offer the olive branch.

It's not impossible. Che and myself have met with Ming, rah, and -JRabbit and gotten along just fine. I met with Lancer, and we're about as far apart ideologically as anyone here, and we got along great.
I told him that "People all want the same things, we just disagree on how to get there." He agreed. What do you think?

Here are the most "sneering" comments made by Che:

Not in my personal experience. more of the ignorant people I meet tend to be right-wing. This was both North and South. This isn't to say I don't know many very intelligent right-wingers, especially on Apolyton. But let's face it, even here, you have more Fez, ML, Bob Dornan types than left-wing dumbasses like me.

You, DanS, Adam Smith, etc. are not people I'd consider ignorant. The part of the right-wing which I consider ignorant is that section which thinks the world was created 5800 years ago, who think that no innocent person has ever been accidentally put on death row, thinks the US found WMDs in Iraq, thinks that Iraq was involved in 9/11, etc.

Not really agressive or sneering IMHO. Much better than what the liberals spew IMO

[Harovan]

So a rightie gets offended when reading a political cartoon? Big deal. Satire is offensive by definition, get over it, and if people get stung, this means it is good satire. Also, satire is exaggerating by definition, all it needs to contain is a grain of truth. Who can't understand this, takes everything dead serious and gets pissed over it, shrug!

If I would get pissed like this every time the left gets depicted as terrorist appeasers and Saddam lovers, I would have posted my "leaving forever" thread long ago.

[notyoueither]

The 'cartoon' under question could hardly be considered a 'political' cartoon, unless you consider cartoons that depict all Germans as Nazis to be 'political cartoons.' Myself, I would consider them bigotry, but maybe that's just me.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Spiffor
Are you sure?

I'll have to get back to you tomorrow.The search function seizes everytime I feed 'Red State' into it.

[Harovan]

Originally posted by notyoueither
The 'cartoon' under question could hardly be considered a 'political' cartoon, unless you consider cartoons that depict all Germans as Nazis to be 'political cartoons.' Myself, I would consider them bigotry, but maybe that's just me.

Where do you get the impression, that the cartoon wants to depict all Bush voters like this?

As for cartoons depicting Germans as Nazis, there is a plethora of them all around Europe, you would be surprised (or maybe not). I have seen plenty of them in UK, Belgian, Dutch and Polish media and websites so far, but I am very sure they exist elsewhere as well. Does this mean I consider these countries as enemies? No, because this would mean I am just as much a generalizing idiot as the authors of the cartoons are.

[notyoueither]

Well, as Spiff already said the depiction struck a chord in him from when French people were 'cheese eating surrender monkeys'. Argue it with him.

[Harovan]

I have neither desire nor time to argue with anyone (because at work). I do not deny that the picture is dumb and tasteless. So what? If I see a picture I don't like (and trust me, I have seen a lot of them), I shrug and think my part of it. There's no need to get offended or whiney over it. Same goes for forum trolls or flames.

[notyoueither]

As Spiff agreed with TMM, the caricature was 'tasteless'. I agree and you agree. Why are we arguing about it?

[Harovan]

I'm not arguing about the picture. I'm questioning the "I'm tired of this crap and thus barely post anymore" attitude.