We erred in publishing cartoon

[hoosierlib]

Source: Indianapolis Star

On Friday, we posted a Gary Varvel cartoon at indystar.com that offended a wide group of readers.

Many of them labeled it as racist. Gary did not intend to be racially insensitive in his attempt to express his strong views about President Barack Obama's decision to temporarily prevent the deportation of millions of immigrants living and working illegally in the United States.

But we erred in publishing it.

The cartoon depicted an immigrant family climbing through a window of a white family's home as Thanksgiving dinner was served. I was uncomfortable with the depiction when I saw it after it was posted. We initially decided to leave the cartoon posted to allow readers to comment and because material can never truly be eliminated once it is circulating on the web. But we are removing the cartoon from the opinion section of our website, as well as an earlier version posted on Facebook that showed one character with a mustache.

This action is not a comment on the issue of illegal immigration or a statement about Gary's right to express his opinions strongly. We encourage and support diverse opinion. But the depictions in this case were inappropriate; his point could have been expressed in other ways.



Read more: http://www.indystar.com/story/opinion/columnists/2014/11/22/jeff-taylor-gary-varvel-thanksgiving-cartoon-immigration-opinion/19408509/

---

To see the obviously racist cartoon, check out this link...http://advanceindiana.blogspot.com/2014/11/varvel-taken-to-woodshed-over-extra.html?m=1

Credit to advanceindiana for saving this for everyone to see.

[arcane1]

1. "Depicting Mexicans climbing through a window and terrifying a blonde girl was not meant as racist"

Ok

[indivisibleman]

27. Exactly! n/t

[indie9197]

2. Wow. Is it now inappropriate to express your opposition to lawbreakers?

I could see another cartoon- a young man or woman comes back from a job interview and says "no, I didn't get the job. An illegal (now legal) immigrant got the job." I don't see how Obama's actions on immigration is helping the USA or the Democratic party. In fact, this could be the nail in the coffin of the Democratic party. Why is this so important to Obama? I really do not understand.

[Kali]

3. lawbreakers?

my standard reply to ignorant xenophobes who insist coming to the US without papers is some huge CRIME -

8 U.S. Code § 1325 - Improper entry by alien

(a) Improper time or place; avoidance of examination or inspection; misrepresentation and concealment of facts
Any alien who
(1) enters or attempts to enter the United States at any time or place other than as designated by immigration officers, or
(2) eludes examination or inspection by immigration officers, or
(3) attempts to enter or obtains entry to the United States by a willfully false or misleading representation or the willful concealment of a material fact, shall, for the first commission of any such offense, be fined under title 18 or imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both, and, for a subsequent commission of any such offense, be fined under title 18, or imprisoned not more than 2 years, or both.

(b) Improper time or place; civil penalties
Any alien who is apprehended while entering (or attempting to enter) the United States at a time or place other than as designated by immigration officers shall be subject to a civil penalty of—
(1) at least $50 and not more than $250 for each such entry (or attempted entry); or
(2) twice the amount specified in paragraph (1) in the case of an alien who has been previously subject to a civil penalty under this subsection.

[Kali]

15. first of all, human beings are not illegal

secondly, the big CRIME of crossing the border without papers is actually a minor civil offense - hence the quoted statute and remedies in my first reply.

[indie9197]

16. So what are the penalties of violating code 1325?

I don't know. The whole situation is FUBAR. All I know is that when I was a young man you could graduate from high school and support your family by building houses or doing simliar jobs. Now you can't because illegal immigrants have pushed down the wages.

[FSogol]

17. You have that backward. Contractors are exploiting people to lower wages.

You are blaming the victims in the process.

[Kali]

18. that is what the people who have benefited from lower wages want you to believe

if we continue to fight amongst ourselves we don't notice who is actually fucking us over. wake up, it isn't poor Mexicans.

[Rozlee]

19. No, supply side economics has made wages stagnate.

I don't see many undocumented workers at McDonald's or other fast food franchises, but those employees have minimum wage jobs. So do people who work at Walmart. When my parents first arrived in the US as illegal aliens in the 50s, they worked in 100+ weather picking crops that no one else would. Americans scoff and say that there is no such thing as jobs that Americans won't do. Try getting them to pluck chickens in hot, dry slaughterhouses filled with dust, feathers and dander flying everywhere. Wages have stagnated since 'trickle down' economics came on the scene in 1980 and the gap between the rich and the rest of Americans started becoming a chasm.

[spooky3]

21. There are plenty of applicants for any job if the wages are high

Enough, benefits good enough, etc.

[Rozlee]

28. Wages won't ever be high enough for certain jobs.

If the cost of employment is more than the cost of overhead and operations, it won't happen. We've all seen stories and pictures of fruit and vegetables rotting in fields and orchards because workers can't be found to harvest them. You're right. If plucking chickens paid $80,000 a year, people would do it. Or even $40,000. But, it wouldn't be worth it to many employers. They'll close shop and find something more profitable.

[daleanime]

30. And yet Capitalism.....

is the answer to all our problems.





just in case.

[spooky3]

45. My point is that it is incorrect to say that "Americans won't do" certain jobs.

They absolutely will but in many cases cannot afford to support families on the ever lowering real wages. This is why capitalist systems with powerful institutions as corporations are today also need unions.

[Lulu KC]

29. Yes

[Xipe Totec]

22. Wow, talk about an entitled attitude. nt

[daleanime]

31. Wow, how hard did you work.....

to reach that level of knowledge?




I would suggest asking for a refund.

[sybylla]

37. Undocumented immigrants don't push down wages. Law-breaking employers do.

I live in an area where factories and corporate farms send delegations to Mexico where they promise poor young men and women the moon, get them across the border promising them work visas that never materialize, make them work slavish hours for slave wages while they live in factory/farm housing that all goes away the minute they don't do exactly what the boss says. And all while continually facing the threat of being reported to ICE for not being here and working here under proper documentation.

And then there is the disgusting abuse of the H1B visa system, which doesn't only apply to STEM jobs, but that's where the most abuse happens.

The penalties for an employer who gets caught? A fine totaling no more than 4 digits, which they more than recover by violating the law in the first place.

[heaven05]

48. ???

[marble falls]

52. Seriously? The businesses pushed down wages anyway they could including hiring....

undocumented workers and busting unions and keeping minimum wages low.

Your use of "illegal immigrants" is highly insulting and your views highly inaccurate.

[stone space]

41. No human being is "illegal".

Are you saying that illegal immigrants are not illegal? Serious question.

Serious answer.

[stone space]

44. asdf

AUTOMATED MESSAGE: Results of your alert

Mail Message



On Sun Nov 23, 2014, 10:47 AM you sent an alert on the following post:

I really do not understand your post
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=950471

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

YOUR COMMENTS

No human being is illegal.

Drop the I-WORD.

JURY RESULTS

A randomly-selected Jury of DU members completed their review of this alert at Sun Nov 23, 2014, 10:53 AM, and voted 7-0 to HIDE IT.

Juror #1 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #2 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: Someone seems to be trolling.
Juror #4 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: poster is trolling with the best of 'em. put this on the record.
Juror #5 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: While I don't think what's in this particular post is hideworthy, scanning through the rest of the subthread, it's pretty clear what the alerted poster's intent is.


Juror #6 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #7 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given

Thank you.

[rock]

56. 'No human being is "illegal"'

Of course a female, pregnant for the first time is referred to as an "expectant mother" and we all know what is meant. A person acting as though he has a medical license when he does not could be referred to an "illegal doctor". And you're right, no human being is "illegal" for 'human' is not an activity. I do understand why they (the immigrants that are here illegally) do not want to be referred to as "illegal immigrants" but that's the clearest expression in English; everyone knows what it means.

[FSogol]

5. Disgusting response. Go buy an f'ing clue.

[Cha]

6. +1!!!!!!

[shenmue]

20. Yeah

[Fred Sanders]

9. "I really do not understand". Then you are at the wrong website, everyone here understands.

[jtuck004]

12. You are saying this from atop the bones of millions of indigenous people who were killed by your

folks to give white people a place to be free in.

Do you see the irony in what you are saying? Or is your head made of iron?

[jtuck004]

13. Speaking of lawbreakers, do you rail against racists police forces as well? Or just beat on families

trying to escape poverty like your lazy-boy-sitting-Internet-remarking-cable-watching-ass can never imagine?

[BlueJazz]

23. I apologize for some of the rude and disrespectful posts in answer to your questions.

You need to understand that we are all immigrants here. We (probably) all came from Africa and it's really not fair to deny people, under ordinary circumstances, the right to exist in a certain place, just because WE got here first.

There's a host of other reasons but please just think about the obvious reasons why we are merging together on this planet.

[mac56]

26. ^ THIS ^

[jmowreader]

24. It worked for Jesse Helms

[Hekate]

70. That old "racial quota" ad instantly came to my mind, too. It was a lie then and now.

Thanks for posting it.

[Hissyspit]

25. Thanks for your concern.

[stone space]

40. Is there something wrong with my wife getting the job?

I could see another cartoon- a young man or woman comes back from a job interview and says "no, I didn't get the job. An illegal (now legal) immigrant got the job."

I'd be quite offended at the suggestion that there is.

She's a good employee, and an asset to any business that hires her.

The suggestion that she is somehow not qualified simply because of who she is truly obscene.

In fact, this could be the nail in the coffin of the Democratic party.

My wife is a human being, not a nail.

[tenderfoot]

43. Why do so many right wingers claim that they're "independent"?

[azmom]

55. This might help.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/transcript-obamas-immigration-speech/2014/11/20/14ba8042-7117-11e4-893f-86bd390a3340_story.html

[freeplessinseattle]

4. Besides which the irony of it being about Thanksgiving! n/t

[Cha]

8. Really. Swooshed right above Varvel's head.

[freshwest]

35. Yes the tale of natives feeding immigrants... And who do they think got the turkey to supermarket?

[A Simple Game]

38. That's exactly how I saw the cartoon, as portraying the irony of Americans whose ancestors were

welcomed, and probably saved, by the Native Americans not too happy about having to welcome immigrants themselves.

But not knowing the cartoonist, maybe his portrayal was not meant to be so noble? It seems many here know, or think they know, the cartoonist better than I do. Or as my more cynical side likes to think, "why do so many people always look for the dark spot in a silver cloud?"

[Enrique]

60. amazing irony

on Twitter, the cartoonist called it "An Immigration Thanksgiving"

As opposed to what? At the First Thanksgiving, the Pilgrims had been in this country ONE YEAR.

[Cha]

7. Not Only is it Racist.. it's fucking Stupid. Gary Varvel's got some fucking issues.

Mahalo hoosierlib

[deurbano]

14. He's a hack.

[MADem]

34. Yeah, it's racist, stupid and wrong. No one is climbing through anyone's window.

That family coming through the damn window in that picture has been washing those windows, cleaning that house, mowing that lawn, cooking that turkey, and taking care of those kids for that "shocked" family at slave wages.

About the only thing they're "shocked" about is that they might not be able to exploit those workers for much longer....

[world wide wally]

10. Yep.

Pretty racist

[Spitfire of ATJ]

32. Here it is....

The message: They're moochers coming in and there's nothing you can do about it except share what you have.

How'd they "fix" this toon?

They removed the mustache.

[blackcrowflies]

33. a lot of hatred there from Varvel, but not necessarily racist.

[C Moon]

36. Is there a double-take smilie? Racism is hatred! WTF?

[blackcrowflies]

49. Let me introduce you to the concept of subsets.

Not all hatred is racism.

[SCVDem]

39. It goes to education.

People are intentionally re-educated to believe stereotypes and false information.

If they spout bigotry and hate, the re-education worked.

Nobody is born to hate another race.

The lie here is that this Presidential Action applies to newcomers and is being used as another weapon against our President. For that reason I have no forgivness for this cartoonist. He framed his point in negative racial stereotypes and lies.

[stone space]

42. For Thanksgiving, perhaps a cartoon of somebody inviting Jesus Manuel Cordova for dinner...

...might be more appropriate?

[Boomer]

46. "Myopic racism" for $200, Alex

Ah, the irony of celebrating Thanksgiving with uninvited guests. Kinda like those pilgrims who crashed in on Native American Indians and then stole the land out from under their hosts.

If Anglo Americans are terrified of the brown hordes (many of whom have been living in the Americas for over 20,000 years) it's because they are projecting their own aggression onto them.

[WhoWoodaKnew]

47. Am I the only one here who thinks people should obey our laws?

I don't care if it's campaign contribution laws, immigration laws, drinking and driving, gun laws, or returning a book to the library on time. And, yes, I understand illegal immigration is a problem without a good solution.

[demwing]

50. is that an absolute rule? Always Obey the law?

Is that what you would say to this woman?

[WhoWoodaKnew]

58. Are you saying that asking people to come to our country according to our rules is an unjust law?

[demwing]

65. Forget what you think I'm saying, focus on what I'm asking

Would you have told Rosa Parks to give up her seat because it was "the law"?

[WhoWoodaKnew]

66. Of course not. I would have fought right along side her. And I will fight for equal rights for gay..

people. And I would have fought for women's right to vote. And interracial marriage.

None of that is comparable to filling out the proper paperwork to come into a country. That's where you guys lose me on this argument. The law isn't crazy. I would bet that most civilized countries have a procedure for citizenship into their countries. Trying to compare that to equal rights for minorities makes us lose credibility.

[demwing]

68. So we've established that some laws should NOT be followed

the rest is just a matter of perspective.

Q. Should immigrants sneak into America?
A. No

Q. Should we round up and deport those who broke that rule 5 years ago, and have since put down roots, had children, and contributed to our country?
A. Again, no.

Why you can't see that, I can't say...

[WhoWoodaKnew]

69. Heck, let's establish a few more things while we're at it...

1) I never once said that we should "round up and deport". I even went as far as to say "I understand illegal immigration is a problem without a good solution".

2) Comparing people who don't file the proper paperwork to apply for citizenship are not in any way like Rosa Parks. She was protesting an unfair law (and I would support her if it happened today). People who don't fill out the proper paperwork are simply cutting in line in front of others who are obeying a fair law.

3) If it was skinheads and Sarah Palin clones coming across the border I, and many people here, would be up in arms. That's where we're losing this battle in the public's perception. It appears that we're FOR obeying "just" laws (like not damaging our environment, etc) 99.9% of the time. Why in the world would we pick this battle. There is nothing unjust about asking people to ask for citizenship in the proper manner.

[demwing]

71. And a few more things:

1) I never once said that we should "round up and deport"

You don' have to say it, just be vocally critical of the alternatives.

2) Comparing people who don't file the proper paperwork to apply for citizenship are not in any way like Rosa Parks.

First, I'm not convinced you're correct. These people are not really 100% immigrants. Many would qualify as indigenous people displaced by a successful conquest.

Pretend China successfully invaded the US, and forced all inhabitants into Texas. Would Floridians who wanted to return to their homes accept being labeled immigrants?

Second, I was comparing Rosa Park's act to Obama's OE.

3 part 1...) If it was skinheads and Sarah Palin clones coming across the border I, and many people here, would be up in arms.

You assume all immigrants are Dem friendly.

3 part 2...) That's where we're losing this battle in the public's perception

Again, I challenge that assumption, but I have to catch a bus, so I'll come back to answer later...

[WhoWoodaKnew]

72. Okay, I'm done. #2 proves to me that you really don't know what it was like back then.

[marble falls]

53. Really? No civil protests? Any and every law?

[WhoWoodaKnew]

59. I'm all for protesting unjust laws. Are you saying that asking people to come to our country

according to the rules that we have in place is unfair to them?

[marble falls]

62. Are you saying rules are always fair? That new citizens should have less freedomthan old citizens?

[WhoWoodaKnew]

64. No, I'm not saying that rules are always fair or that laws are always just.

And I think it's our duty to protest those rules and laws when we think they're wrong. I just don't see unjust laws regarding applying for citizenship into our country. Everybody gets a shot and those rules and laws have been followed by millions of people since the beginning of our country. Not sure why we're making an exception in this case. It makes no sense to me.

[treestar]

61. Of course they should

all people should obey all laws.

They don't. Some cases of that are worse than others.

[demwing]

51. The irony of being possessive about Thanksgiving is so thick

After all, what do immigrants know about Thanksgiving?

[UTUSN]

57. R#38 & K n/t

[AngryOldDem]

63. I call absolute bullshit on this:

"I was uncomfortable with the depiction when I saw it after it was posted."

The editor did not see this before it was posted? The editor does not sign off on content before it hits the press/Web/whatever?

If this IS true, and the Star gives Gary Varvel free reign to post whatever he wants under its banner, then the Star deserves whatever blowback it gets. And make no mistake: The Star didn't take it down because it knew that a majority of its readership would approve, and it wasn't counting on this going viral. It just didn't all of a sudden develop scruples.

This, sadly, is pretty typical around these parts. Every week we get a free shopper type newspaper foisted upon us in the Indy 'burbs that consistently depicts Obama as a monkey in its editorial cartoons.

[workinclasszero]

67. BS eom