UPDATE Thursday evening: John's apology and explanation: "We regret the error and offer sincere apologies to everyone who is offended by the cartoon. We are also offended by the cartoon. As it appears in the newspaper it is racially insensitive and promotes a negative racial stereotype we find offensive...
..."Both the cartoonist and the graphic artist who colored the cartoon were shocked today at how it appeared in the newspaper. The cartoonist said he was sick when he opened the paper and saw his cartoon. He said he drew the characters as New York mobsters."
You can see the decolored version here.
UPDATE 6PM Thurs: The comment thread beneath my initial request for reactions to today's Rhino Times cartoon has two dominant themes -- "wow, that's racist" and "I wish to talk about anything other than that cartoon." I have not seen anyone attempt a serious defense of the cartoon's content or the decision to publish it.
Here's my take: it's shocking. As in, I was very surprised when I saw it and didn't quite believe what I was seeing. And when I looked more closely, it was worse. The Rhinoceros Times chose to publish a drawing of two black men in jail jumpsuits, captioned in Amos n' Andy dialect, with one guy complaining that he wasn't getting his free meals and cable in jail.
Good thing CNN isn't reporting its article this week.
I once wrote a newspaper column defending John Hammer from charges of racism after an altercation in which he called a black public official "boy." But it's hard to imagine that the content of this cartoon went over his head, and he was able to see it as just a commentary about jail funding. Maybe his front-page apology will include a plausible explanation of his decision to run this thing.
In any case, he's created a mess for himself, and done his hometown no favors, either.
Interested to hear your thoughts on this cartoon from today's Rhino.
Notice how he doesn't have the courage nor the mental capacity to answer, PF?
Posted by: bubba | Jul 13, 2011 at 12:51 PM
Let's see, Jeff not only brags about his IQ but now about his physical stature and guaranteed life span. I recall he recently invited Bubba to meet him for a fist duel. Is he big man is again suggesting the same thing? I'll be glad to tell him in person that he is wrong on several issues including fracking . Just say where and when
Jeff it is day to day for all of us. Your Heightism and Ageism are showing. Shame on you.
Posted by: Fred Gregory | Jul 13, 2011 at 12:54 PM
I just respond to your repeated insults and insinuations. I'm not the one who reopened a three week old thread to insult someone.
I invited Bubba, in private, to insult me to my face, which he has yet to arrange. That was in early June.
Bring it to a head or shut the fuck up you pair of laughable old twits.
Posted by: Account Deleted | Jul 13, 2011 at 01:27 PM
"I invited Bubba, in private, to insult me to my face, which he has yet to arrange. That was in early June."
You issued the challenge......you come find me, bozo.
Posted by: bubba | Jul 13, 2011 at 03:01 PM
These are fun times.
(Sorry, Jeff. I love that line and have been waiting to use it).
Posted by: Brandon Burgess | Jul 13, 2011 at 07:13 PM
Hey Jeff. Mon ami
An old woman once said, "There comes a time in your life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh. Forget the bad, and focus on the good. Love the people who treat you right, pray for the ones who don't. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is a part of life, getting back up is living."
Posted by: Fred Gregory | Jul 15, 2011 at 12:12 AM