Daryl Cagle invited readers to email him with their opinions regarding Steve Benson’s Marine Corps cartoon. He received over 300 responses.
We asked for it, and we got it – more than three hundred responses to the Benson cartoon below. The letters ran 3 to 1 against the cartoon. Here is a representative selection from our burning email bag.
Dear Sir.
Mr. Benson?s cartoon portraying the emblem of HIS Marine Corps (remember we protect everyone?s freedom not just those we like) is with out a doubt one of the worst and most offensive cartoons I have ever seen. However, it is his right to draw whatever he wants and it is the right of the publisher?s of the newspapers that printed this cartoon to publish what they think is in the interest of their readers. I am sure his cartoon has increased the daily circulation of the Arizona Republic in Haditha, Tikrit and the home delivery service to the caves in Tora Bora (less one due to the early and unscheduled cancellation by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, al-Qaeda’s leader in Iraq).
Dear Sir.
Mr. Benson?s cartoon portraying the emblem of HIS Marine Corps (remember we protect everyone?s freedom not just those we like) is with out a doubt one of the worst and most offensive cartoons I have ever seen. However, it is his right to draw whatever he wants and it is the right of the publisher?s of the newspapers that printed this cartoon to publish what they think is in the interest of their readers. I am sure his cartoon has increased the daily circulation of the Arizona Republic in Haditha, Tikrit and the home delivery service to the caves in Tora Bora (less one due to the early and unscheduled cancellation by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, al-Qaeda’s leader in Iraq).
Ha! Ha! I think nothing is too offensive to put in cartoon form unless it involves children or is
pornographic.
Ha! Ha! I think nothing is too offensive to put in cartoon form unless it involves children or is
pornographic.
And if Sgt. Burns is offended by the cartoon, I’ll mention that I’m offended by the military’s torture of prisoners and its slaughter of innocent people. I’m also offended he thinks himself above criticism and satire.
Just because you’re “protecting America” doesn’t mean you’re perfect.
Along that line of thought, cartoonists are protecting America too by courageously exercising free speech in a time when cartoons like this bring torrents of criticism, and it’s vital to America to get people to think carefully about the policies that are getting people like Sgt. Burns killed every day.
I’d like to believe that thinking critically about those policies is our daily duty to those whose lives we put on the line, like Sgt. Burns.
And if Sgt. Burns is offended by the cartoon, I’ll mention that I’m offended by the military’s torture of prisoners and its slaughter of innocent people. I’m also offended he thinks himself above criticism and satire.
Just because you’re “protecting America” doesn’t mean you’re perfect.
Along that line of thought, cartoonists are protecting America too by courageously exercising free speech in a time when cartoons like this bring torrents of criticism, and it’s vital to America to get people to think carefully about the policies that are getting people like Sgt. Burns killed every day.
I’d like to believe that thinking critically about those policies is our daily duty to those whose lives we put on the line, like Sgt. Burns.
Dear Art.
I am in full agreement with your views on torture of prisoners, as it is I and my brothers in arms that will ultimately pay the price for these mistakes. For those in the military that have chosen this path, it is my sincere hope that the last word on their use of torture will come from the UCMJ.
It was neither my intent nor my wish for you to have taken my offence of this cartoon as a sign that I or the other 178,000 Untied Sates Marines are perfect. We are humans, with feelings toward our Marine Corps and all of its symbols that transcend the understanding of those who are not Marines.
But I can assure you that I will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of these United States (Yes that included the 1st amendment) till my time has come to an end.
Semper Fidelis
Dear Art.
I am in full agreement with your views on torture of prisoners, as it is I and my brothers in arms that will ultimately pay the price for these mistakes. For those in the military that have chosen this path, it is my sincere hope that the last word on their use of torture will come from the UCMJ.
It was neither my intent nor my wish for you to have taken my offence of this cartoon as a sign that I or the other 178,000 Untied Sates Marines are perfect. We are humans, with feelings toward our Marine Corps and all of its symbols that transcend the understanding of those who are not Marines.
But I can assure you that I will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of these United States (Yes that included the 1st amendment) till my time has come to an end.
Semper Fidelis