Editorial Cartoons: Proper Way to Express Controversial Issues

In the United States, editorial cartoons are seen in many news papers and magazines. It is the same situation in Japan where I grew up as well. Unlike those editorial cartoons in Japan, some of those in the United States are very controversial and aggressive; many of citizens doubt about existence of editorial cartoons when they see very offensive ones; for instance, fury raised when President Obama was depicted as a monkey shot by police men in political cartoon. I remember that one of Sirius radio’s hip hop program-host was cursing on this cartoon creator so hard, and also blaming on the particular publisher which the cartoon took place. I agree that depicting person as a monkey is very rude and controversial; however, I believe editorial cartoon should not be regulated and should be protected from the publisher, since it is one way of expression which not physically hurt others and regulating the cartoon is violation of the First Amendment of American Constitution, which is “freedom of Speech.”

When we observe controversial cartoons, we tend to focus on only negative side of them; nevertheless, we should consider good side of editorial cartoons as well, in order to evaluate the existence of them. I personally believe that drawing of editorial cartoons soften the expression comparing to just express verbally or in writing; because drawing in editorial cartoons are more likely comical in nature through drawing characters with deformation and emphasizing their uniqueness. Those drawing are not precise as pictures, therefore, editorial cartoons soften offensiveness. Therefore, I believe editorial cartoons are very effective way to acknowledge the readers very controversial point of view comparing to other medias of expressions. Another good side of editorial cartoons is that face to face communication would be avoided through expressing impersonalized media of drawing cartoons; the creator does not have to face to the person who is a target of criticism; on the other hand, readers do not have to face to the creator neither. If readers are dissatisfied with the cartoons, they can contact publisher instead of directly facing the creator, which may cause elevated emotion to increase chance of attacking him/her. Thus editorial cartoons can avoid hatred toward particular person and still encouraged to point out the controversial issues.

If editorial cartoons are regulated, we do not longer face one’s extremely controversial point of view or encountering the issues in form of the speech which increase the possibility of collusion by letting face taker and audience face to face. I especially believe that depicting politics through editorial cartoons are very effective way to convey the idea, since they are in the highest position basically citizens cannot control until election comes; therefore casting on issue by less offensive media of expression has to be promoted in order to make politicians and citizens know about it.

Doug Marlette in his article, “Freedom of Speech and the Editorial Cartoon,” suggests that the number of Cartoonist decreased from 200 to 90 in 20 years due to avoid conflict between publisher and the subscribers (Par. 2). This is a sad fact publishers are avoiding controversial issues in order to maintain their profit rather than acknowledging one’s point of view which may inspire readers to think deeply about it. I am a fan of such editorial cartoons which particularly focus on controversial issues, because I do not really see truly controversial editorial cartoons in Japan because of being too considerable to mention about it; I feel unique free atmosphere of the United States in free speech is decaying through overprotecting attitude of the society; I personally think knowing one’s point of view make others to think more about an issue or getting to know the issue; just hiding one’s opinion does not help to improve the society or letting know existence of other point of view. We cannot forget about greatness of American culture is diversity; we should not go toward homogeneous society where everyone becomes the same by regulating one’s opinion.

Editorial cartoons are symbol of freedom of speech which can express very controversial issue in less offensive way through less personalized cartoon; but it still conveys strong idea. Therefore we should encourage the expression made by editorial cartoons rather than undermining them, in order to maintain our democracy and freedom of speech.