The editors of the Indianapolis Star came under a lot of heat the last several days for publishing the following cartoon, an effort of staff cartoonist Gary Varvel. What's wrong with it? Why, it makes use of ethnic stereotypes! Have a look.
In defense of the Indy Star's 'racist' immigration cartoon
The Star's handling of the cartoon suggests that we're in a world where no one really knows quite what to do with humor. First they published the cartoon as you see it above. Then, when some people started complaining, they tried to mollify the critics by removing the moustache of the guy climbing into the window.
That, apparently, would make the Mexican stereotype less offensive or something. And when that predictably didn't work, they just groveled:
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.
Let me ask a question. Why are ethnic stereotypes off limits in cartoons?
Cartoonists use humor laced with absurdity to make a point. They exaggerate. They mock. They poke fun. They use generalizations about political parties, occupations and all kinds of other things to both entertain and provoke thought. No one thinks the cartoonist intends the generalizations to be a truly accurate depiction of life. We all understand that they are offered in a satirical spirit.
But the whole idea of cartoons is that anyone can get poked fun at. No one takes it seriously, but no one is off limits either. Or at least, no one should be. Are Mexicans harmed in any way because a cartoonist portrays the climbing in a window, and puts a moustache on one of them?
Seriously? People are going to look at this cartoon and get the shockingly wrong idea that all Mexicans climb in unsuspecting families' windows for the purpose of inviting themselves to Thanksgiving dinner? (Perhaps looking for turkey tacos?)
Given the nature of the immigration issue, how exactly would a cartoonist explore the issue without treading on some sort of stereotype?
Yes, Varvel could have expressed it in a different way, but he wanted to express it in this way. And if it's true that he "didn't intend to be racially insensitive," then what's wrong with running the cartoon? Nothing at all.
Let's be really honest here. Ethnic stereotypes can be pretty funny. They were funny when Archie Bunker was tossing them around 40 years ago, and they can be funny today too. The only real problem they present is that hypersensitive pressure groups will descend on you if you publish them - demanding that you take it back, apologize, grovel, etc. The Indy Star certainly played to type here.
It's time to free humor. Stereotypes deployed satirically do no harm to anyone. By contrast, a lot of harm is done when a supposedly free press can't freely express biting but harmless offerings of humor. If you're offended by Gary Varvel's cartoon, you're the problem.
Besides, over my dead body are you going to arrest Genesis:
