HEY, I don't have a problem with this, do you? (sarcasum)
Posted on 02/02/2006 1:26:34 AM PST by madconserv
NEW YORK A Tom Toles editorial cartoon published in The Washington Post on Monday and on its Web site has drawn a very rare and very strong protest letter to the editors from all six members of The Joint Chiefs of Staff, E&P has learned.
The letter, written on Tuesday, charges that the six military leaders "believe you and Mr. Toles have done a disservice to your readers and your paper's reputation by using such a callous depiction of those who have volunteered to defend this nation, and as a result, have suffered traumatic and life-altering wounds. ... As the Joint Chiefs, it is rare that we all put our hand to one letter, but we cannot let this reprehensible cartoon go unanswered."
A Pentagon spokeswoman confirmed the contents of the letter to E&P late this afternoon. That the newspaper had received such a letter was reported on the popular AmericaBlog site, which is run by John Aravosis, this morning.Download a copy of the letter (PDF)
The spokeswoman said a letter from all six joint chiefs to anyone, let alone a newspaper, is rare, but the cartoon so offended them, they wanted to let their feelings be known. "It was expressing their disappointment with the paper and outrage at using that image to make a political point," said Lt. Col. Diane Battaglia. "That is a rare occurrence, but the level of inappropriateness prompted a response of unanimous support."
Battaglia said Post editors told her office that the letter would be published in Thursday's paper. Editorial Page Editor Fred Hiatt declined to comment on the letter. "My policy is I can't talk about letters until we publish them," he told E&P. "If and when a letter runs, I'd be happy to talk about it."
Reached by E&P, Tom Toles said, "no comment."
For more GOTOhttp://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001955937
HEY, I don't have a problem with this, do you? (sarcasum)
Certainly a worthwhile topic but this is the 4th thread on the subject.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1569660/posts
How to post a thread and other interesting facts. (Welcome Newbies)
I went through 2 pages of threads and didn't see it.
Just pick a relatively unique word in the title like "joint" or "chiefs" and punch it into the search panel.
Live and learn FRiend.
Thanks for the tip. I will check keywords in search from now on. And yes I am a newb
first time ive seen it and we should hang the person who made it from the nearest tree
Thanks for not being too pissed. Proud to be FReepin.
Had you searched with the complete title you would have gotten this:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/search?m=any;o=score;s=Joint%20Chiefs%20Send%20Rare%20Protest%20Letter%20to%20%27Wash%20Post%27%20Over%20%27Reprehensible%27%20Toles%20Cartoon
Wow, heavy responses, tons!
Be sure and read the Lexicon
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I'm really not a posting policeman (although I sometimes play one on FR), but it is nice, once in a while, to have all comments on a topic on one thread. It's a messy world and I usually do well dealing with it. Usually.
I mailed this letter this morning. I urge everyone to write a letter via snail mail and send it.
Mr. Philip Bennett
Managing Editor, The Washington Post
1150 15th Street NW
Washington, DC 20071
To The Editor of the Washington Post:
I saw cartoon drawn by Tom Toles portraying a wounded, amputee in a hospital bed. I am completely outraged. I understand this is First Amendment material. People are free to say what they like as long as it does not endanger others. But this is indicative of a total lack of decency.
This person (and I use the phrase so loosely to describe someone who would pen such an unthinking, hurtful, inconsiderate, malicious "cartoon") who authored this “cartoon” obviously detests the military. His distaste for them and everything they stand for is evident in this work.
The military, in general, tries to inculcate loyalty, dedication, maturity, work ethic, respect, honor, pride, consideration and thoughtfulness. (Having been in the military, and grown up as the son of a 30-year Naval veteran who now rests in Arlington, I know that this is what the military tries to do. It doesn't always produce the desired result or level of result, but the effort is there)
The person that drew this cartoon, protected by THE LIBERTIES THAT OUR MILITARY FIGHTS, BLEEDS AND DIES FOR, has taken this opportunity to use a horribly wounded military person as a PROP to make a petty partisan political point.
A man, in a bed, with NO ARMS AND LEGS, who, at that stage, cannot feed himself, relieve himself, bathe himself, dress himself, walk, read a book on his own, change a television channel, pick up a phone, use a computer, hug his loved ones or any other number of things the rest of us, including this despicable excuse for a human being who authored this cartoon, take for granted. He has taken the liberty to shower disrespect on the sacrifice that many of our military personnel have suffered, using them as a tool in order to take a passing swipe at political policy he disagrees with.
As a condition for maintaining a continued relationship with your newspaper, I would like to suggest two things that would satisfy me as a reader:
First, require Tom Toles to spend a weekend at Walter Reed Hospital, helping care for the wounded men, particularly those in the Amputee Ward. He should be tasked with feeding them, helping them relieve themselves, and doing any small task they are unable to do for themselves.
Secondly, I ask you to request a sincere, public apology from Tom Toles, which if obtained, should be published prominently in your paper. Barring a public apology, any relationship with this person should be severed.
If the patient had been other than white we would have heard the howls all the way to Teddy and John, but as long as it's only a white man, what the hey, its freedon of speech.
FYI.the letter is supposed to be published in today's WP..
Welcome to FR, hope you have a thick skin! We can get rather prickly at times!!
But then that would give the military too much of a voice I suppose!
How I hate the America hating elites in our media!
You mean the JCS letter I presume? I won't hold my breath for any letter of apology, but one never knows...
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