It’s Vladimir Putin’s birthday today. It’s also the 8th anniversary of the murder of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya.
From the archives:
Category: free speech
Hong Kong demonstrations continue
The “Umbrella Revolution” enters its sixth day with the demonstrators continuing their peaceful demands for China to honor their one country, two systems promise in 1997. Hopefully the Chinese government won’t resort to previous tactics but I admit I’m not optimistic.
cartoon from archives 6/30/2004
White House security breach
On Friday a man jumped the fence in front of the White House and made it all the way up to an unlocked front door before being tackled by security. So now according to the Washington Post the Secret Service is considering increasing the buffer area around the White House.
It’s a natural reaction to say “increase the security- whatever it takes!” after an incident like this but let me offer another perspective. I’ve lived in Washington before and after the attacks of 9-11 and believe me security has already dramatically increased. Streets are closed, the attitude and aggressiveness of the Capitol Hill and SCOTUS police have changed and there are so many more areas restricted and off-limits to ordinary Americans. The outside upper level around the Capitol with the dramatic view of the Mall and the Washington Monument is still closed to the general public and you never know when a guard will scream at you to get off a sidewalk because a motorcade is coming down the street.
Here’s my thoughts about this in a 2004 cartoon: 
Constitution Day
It’s U.S. Constitution Day
The children of Gaza
After multiple ceasefires, it looks as though Israel has withdrawn forces from Gaza. There are varying numbers being reported but according to the UN at least 1670 Palestinians have been killed, 296 of them children and almost 9000 have been injured. Israel has lost 67 soldiers and 3 civilians.
I’ve read so many comments and articles about the justification for these bombings which frankly just make me shake my head. Here’s what I think about those justifications:
(click for the link to Medium)
My cartoon criticizing the Israeli government
Early last week I created a cartoon about the bombings in Gaza. In editorial cartooning, there are some topics which will result in intense reactions from certain groups, as did this one. The series of events started with the Simon Wiesenthal Center issuing a press release last Friday from which the Jerusalem Post wrote a short article titled “US Jews furious over Washington Post cartoon showing Netanyahu punching Palestinian infant” (I’ll note the JP did not ask me for a comment). So all weekend and again this morning I’ve been getting tweets and emails, some obviously group orchestrated, accusing me of antisemitism and that I support Hamas. Anyone remotely familiar with my work knows I never criticize people’s religious beliefs, only the actions of governments and the leaders of any organization which try to influence public policies that affect ordinary people’s lives.
I’ve been in this profession long enough to know that dealing with blowback and angry reactions about a cartoon is part of the job description. However unlike my male colleagues I also am receiving sexually violent and misogynistic threats in response to this cartoon. During the Danish cartoon controversy in 2006 I maintained that regardless of what one thinks about a cartoon and its message, no one or group has the right to threaten or censor a cartoonist. You have the right to criticize, protest, or draw your own response to the cartoon- but violence and threats are not acceptable. I am a firm believer in every person’s free speech rights, regardless if a group finds the message offensive.
I’ll give the Simon Wiesenthal Center credit for acknowledging my free speech rights but they should be aware of what some of their supporters are saying in response to their press release. 
2006 cartoon in response to the Drawing Mohammed cartoon controversy
Fool me once, shame on me… fool me… you can’t get fooled again
The Republican National Committee is selling “I miss W” t-shirts. Really.
Spirit of 2014
Editorial cartoonist Etta Hulme has died
Etta Hulme, the cartoonist for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram has died at the age of 90. Etta was a kickass cartoonist and a hoot in person. Although I haven’t see her for several years, she used to regularly attend our AAEC conventions. I can still picture her smile whenever she walked into the room. 
So much for Mission Accomplished
Islamic militants have captured several cities in Iraq, including Mosul and Tikrit, and are now threatening to take Baghdad. 
The Guardian has a live blog on developing events and BBC News a good piece on the Sunni-Shia divide throughout the Middle East
The Ugly American
America doesn’t like imperfect heroes. We want them to be a comforting stereotype- god fearing, flag waving, all-American character from a Hollywood movie script – instead of real people with real differences who represent more the ideal that the Founding Fathers envisioned.
Since Obama’s Rose Garden announcement of Sgt. Bergdahl’s release, the tone from Washington has completely changed. It’s not the prisoner swap for the 5 Taliban leaders that’s really bothering the politicians and the talking heads; it’s the different looking and different political beliefs of Bergdahl’s father that’s the true reason for the outrage.
On the father, Robert Bergdahl: “He has learned to speak Pashto, the language of the Taliban, and looks like a Muslim.”
Fox News host Bill O’Reilly
“I mean, he says he was growing his beard because his son was in captivity. Well, your son’s out now. So if you really don’t — no longer look like a member of the Taliban, you don’t have to look like a member of the Taliban. Are you out of razors?”
Fox morning show co-host Brian Kilmeade .
“…the sketchy ‘I’m-ashamed-to-be-American’ Sgt. Bergdahl”
Sarah Palin
“The Bergdahl family is creepy. Terrorist sympathizers”
-comment on Sarah Palin’s facebook page
70 years ago: D-Day
Today is the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, France. A couple of months ago I attended a cartoon conference at the Memorial de Caen and was given a tour some of the landing sites. It’s a very beautiful area with sweeping views of the ocean but standing there one can’t help feeling sadness, knowing what took place on the beaches and countryside. If you haven’t yet, read The Longest Day by Cornelius Ryan.
(click for larger image)