Dr Laura and Free Speech Cartoon

Today’s editorial cartoon was inspired by national radio host, Dr. Laura Schlessinger, who announced on Larry King last week that she was going to quit her show at the end of her contract (in four months) because she felt her free speech was being limited.  Seems few would accept her apology on the air for not only dropping the n-bomb multiple times during a call but actually told a black female caller that maybe she shouldn’t have married outside her race if she was “hypersensitive about color and don’t have a sense of humor.”

Now one thing I agree with Dr. Laura in her announcement to Larry King was when she used the phrase, “Debate don’t Eradicate” when it comes to speech you don’t believe in.  I think people tend to focus too much on what everyone else is doing and not enough on dealing with their own racist beliefs.  So if I can call you out as a racist before you can do it to me, I win because no one wants to defend themselves after being called a racist.

HOWEVER,

A.  Read the transcript of the call.  Not once did the caller ever get to finish any point because Dr. L constantly cut her off and didn’t listen to her entire example or point.  I get that radio hosts have to move things quickly but don’t complain about having your speech limited when you are in the power position.

B.  READ the TRANSCRIPT.  The arrogance that some people have that they assume with the power the hold.  Oh my.

C.  She was planning on not extending her contract prior to this incident.  So this just looks like grandstanding to me.

D.  She mentioned to Larry that even without radio she still has her website, podcasts, YouTube, books (and not mentioned were her speaking engagements) so is her speech really being limited?

E. Just because you have a 1st Amendment right to Free Speech in the United States, do NOT mean I can’t have an opposing opinion.  Yet people only think Free Speech applies to themselves and not the other guy.

Mosque “at” Ground Zero Cartoon

This was actually based on a conversation I had with someone about the proposed Mosque to be built a few blocks from Ground Zero in New York.  Unfortunately, as the media tends to do, they keep referring to the proposed center as the Mosque AT Ground Zero.  When I asked the person if they would be OK if the Mosque were built a few blocks away, she said yes.  I said, “well that’s the plan anyway”.  Then she backtracked and came up with more reasons why it shouldn’t be built.  To which I replied, “How far is far enough?”.

Matt Sledge of the Huffington Post did a nice article that showcased that you can’t see the proposed site from Ground Zero and even if you came via the subway, you would have to go out of your way to see the Mosque.  So for all the arguments against it, which I am open to discussing, can we at least agree that the Mosque will not be AT Ground Zero?

For those concerned about the impact of a sixteen story Mosque that close to ground zero, I have a simple solution.    Build a seventeen story Synagogue and an eighteen story Church right next door.

Editorial Cartoon: Cincinnati raises Parking Meter Rates

Two things happened this past week in Cincinnati.  First council approved a controversial plan to build a street car in the city.  I’m not going into the good and bad of it per se but once again Cincinnati tries to follow plans of other cities to promote tourism while never seeming to lead the way.  One reason it is controversial is because opponents say that fares will not cover the cost to operate the streetcar and the city will continually have to pony up money to keep it in business.

Secondly, they decided to double the parking rates in downtown from $1 per hour to $2 per hour.  While not New York pricing, this is one of the highest in a 250 mile radius.  On top of it they increased the rates for city garages.  So let’s see…what was the plan to bring more people downtown?

What stuff does your city do that you question?

Comic Con now Hollywood Con? – Cartoon

Something painfully obvious I know but this article in the LA Times (hat tip to Alan of the Daily Cartoonist) laments the takeover each year of Comic-Con by Hollywood elite hoping to get a strong internet buzz for their latest endeavors.

For those who go, do you feel the loss of the way it used to be or is it better for smaller exhibitors because what you lose in focus you make up because if the sheer number of people. 

I have never been to a comic convention and even with the proliferation of webcartoonists that exhibit at them these days, I will probably not ever be one of them.  Face it, political cartoon compilations are not what fanboys are clamoring for.  Maybe if there’s ever a newsie-con, I’ll be setting up shop between Rachel Maddow and Glenn Beck who are there trying to hock their own books.

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