Letter: Malicious cartoon distorts history

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

According to the Oxford Dictionary (and other sources) a cartoon is a humorous drawing, showing the features of its subject in a humorously exaggerated way; the emphasis being on humorous.

The Salt Lake Tribune cartoonists need to be reminded of the humorous nature of their art. Almost every day I cringe when I see the malice and political intent behind the so-called cartoons published in the Salt Lake Tribune.

This Sunday's edition on the Opinion page took the prize, trying to "educate" the readers about the history of Gaza. Not only were this drawing and the accompanying story historically incorrect, it was counting on readers' emotional reaction. The cartoonist must think we are all stupid enough not to see through its malicious intent.

I understand that we don't all have to like the rest of the world. However, in this case, when dislike is expressed through distortion of history and reality, it is no different than the racial cartoons published through Nazi anti-Semitic propaganda, and we all know the tragedy that followed.

Swantje Knye

Park City