The cartoon that didn't shock America
It's been interesting trying to follow US politics here on holiday in the USA, in Chicago to be precise. It's easy to let it all pass you by, as both the TV and the newspapers are by and large pretty dreadful. Politics is reduced to slogans, which helps me to understand the appeal of Barack Obama - all you need to know is that he's for change, and then carry on with the rest of your life.
But this week's New Yorker cartoon penetrated this indifference to some extent. Think of a UK equivalent - say, in 1996, Cherie Blair waving a balaclava and an AK-47 while Tony sits around in a Celtic shirt. The New Yorker's defence has been that they are satirising the idea that Obama is unpatriotic. Hmm. Many are not impressed - including his opponent Senator McCain.
The event made me realise that I'm in a different culture. At home, the idea is that you don't publish things that might offend. Here, a trip to Chicago's Freedom Museum explained that in the USA, as a result of the First Amendment, the balance is much more towards expressing yourself and then fighting your corner if someone disagrees. The museum does a great job of presenting the argument that this is more democratic but, of course, more difficult when 'freedoms' contradict each other.
Could it ever catch on in Northern Ireland, I wonder?
P.S. The New Yorker redeems itself with this article.
4 comments:
Maybe I have been living in NI for too long, but this horrified me. I literally gasped out loud when I saw it yesterday on the news.
The thing that scares me about it is the way it will be used. As you said, too many people just pick up on the quick slogans and images without taking time to look beneath them. I worry what a picture like this does to someone who doesn't understand the "satire" behind it.
Have you been watching the news? It is horrifying. Each day I watch with mouth agape, feeling more and more sad about the state of my country.
I'm back after some careful reflection on the cartoon.
Maybe I need to give my fellow Americans more credit and hope that they will see this for the political comment that it is.
This cartoon appeared in the Irish News yesterday. Thought you might like it.
http://www.irishnews.com/appnews/5834/5756/2008/7/18/593045_351702371026TheIanKn.html
(For context, Iris has been shooting her mouth off again, 'Prodiban' style.)
Sorry for delay in replying to these comments, didn't have internet access in NYC.
FG - I was more torn than I expected to be about this cartoon, as it did inspire a debate - my initial reaction was the same as yours.
Anon - this one is fab too! We really do need some new politicians in NI, don't we?
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