An offense that comes from misinterpretation is vulnerable

No sooner had the above cartoon been published than complaints from offended readers began to reach the offices of The Rebel Yell, student newspaper of the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. It was early-1997, not long after a controversial decision by the school board of Oakland to recogniseEbonics as a primary language had kick-started a national debate, and editorial cartoonist Alex Raffi had clearly hit a raw nerve with his irony-steeped piece. Multiple allegations of racism provoked the newspaper's staff to publicly back him, whilst Raffi himself drew another cartoon and offered explanations to as many people as possible, but it was this letter from Pullitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Berkeley Breathed in response to a request for guidance that provided the advice needed. Says Raffi:

Amazingly he offered me his advice. I learned a lesson early on that doing this kind of work is a privilege. You better be clear on what you mean. I still believe in the point of the cartoon but I executed it very poorly.

Transcript follows. Huge thanks to Alex Raffi for his permission to feature the letter.

Transcript

BERKELEY BREATHED

June 3, 1997

Alex,

Welcome to Editorial Cartooning. Having fun yet?

At your age and position, I went through an eerily similar situation. The offended were Hispanics at the University of Texas. They wanted my internal organs on a platter. My reaction was the same as yours: respond with a cartoon about everybody being so damned over-sensitive.

But... and this is a big one. But, I am now embarrassed looking back at the cartoon I had defended so defiantly before. I could have made the same point without pushing the delicate buttons. These skills I would learn in the following years... to a degree. Offending folks is a dandy pastime. It's our job, in a way. But an offense that comes from misinterpretation is vulnerable. Experience will teach you how to do so with minimal reader confusion... the Achille's heel of cartoonists. Offend with the cutting clarity of an idea well-expressed... and defend it to the death.

Finally, don't let the editors speak for you. That's not their job and they won't do it as convincingly. As a reader, I don't care what they say. I'd want to hear from you. If your point is well taken, but you can see where confusion was caused, then apologize for the latter, defend the former and pledge to continue with unwavering resolve and more practiced skill.

By the way, I am a member of PETA, and I am cancelling my subscription to the Rebel Yell due to the speciest nature of your other enclosed cartoon.

Go get 'em.

(Signed, 'Berkeley Breathed')

This was the spiciest cartoon he was referring to. Click image to enlarge.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHo3aDMD0cCWwjbEXAvrukv1QdVYU5NyCyb_Dq3ej_hpHVSLHUt_aH4mDtBvCEvRkPNafZ8XwqFWU8qIqOXOPe6q7EYiflcdo3XkE6F3fthTCFblRXzB-VQ3UEEYFvNpKxCGHj8T3VUyY/s1600-h/ebonics.jpg

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We All Need Each Other

Thanks to our creative capacity and our ability to reason and innovate, the human organism possesses a great deal of adaptive flexibility. This is what allows it to survive in many different conditions. But it is also rigidly programed for certain environmental requirements. Just as our bodies require physical nutrients the human brain demands positive forms of environmental stimulus at all stages.

We must ask the question: Is the condition we have created in the modern world actually supporting our mental health? Is the bedrock of our socioeconomic system acting as a positive force for human and social development and progress? Or is our society actually going against the core evolutionary requirements needed to create and maintain our personal and social well-being?

In Creative Courage we discuss our tendency to amend problems instead of looking at the core of why there is a problem and why we need a solution. I think the need for a solution to our epidemic of violence in the world is clear. I believe we need to consider looking at the beginning of the chain reaction that ends in a member of our society feeling they must take up arms against children. The solution is bigger than what has been discussed. Gun control is not the answer and more guns isn't the answer either. There has to be a fundamental shift where we all realize we are not on our own and that we ALL NEED EACH OTHER and must work to protect each other as we progress in life. I don't have an easy answer. I don't think there is one. But I know that if the majority of us begin to work together, we will find a solution that will begin to make that shift.

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Editorial cartoon

We need more holistic thinking in regard to cause and effect. Our short sighted mindset always seems to bites us in ass at every level of our egsistance. The cycle needs to be broken.

Malala Yousafzai Courage

I have a 9 year old daughter with access to an education. I want her to know who Malala Yousafzai is. She is the sister of all children and daughter to all mankind. The attack on her is symbolic of our failure. She reminds us that it takes courage to be free.