A cartoonist Daryl Cagle ,employed by MSNBC.com has depicted the Mexican National Flag ,what’s normally a regal-looking eagle at the center of Mexico’s flag riddled with bullets and bleeding. It’s a reference to the drug wars that have riled Mexico and left more than 28,000 people dead there in less than four years.
Freedom of the Fourth Estate is to be guaranteed.At the same time journalists presume that they are above normal human sensitivities in their pursuit of their story and their so called ‘creativity and independence’ by hurting the sentiments of the people.
They should understand their freedom ends where my nose begins.
Worse is his audacity in defending his action.
Cagle has not yet issued any apology, and newspapers continue to reprint his cartoon despite the controversy. The cartoonist also sought to defend his choice of material as freedom that comes with his profession.
“National flags are common fodder for editorial cartoonists around the world, so the reaction to this cartoon was surprising to me,” Cagle wrote. ”
How insensitive can one be?
US Cartoon of Mexican Flag Draws Ire Across the Border
The Mexican embassy responded that it respects freedom of speech unless it is directed at national Mexican symbols.
“Mexicans and Americans alike cherish freedom of expression as a fundamental right and a cornerstone of democratic societies, where satire and political cartoons are one of its distinctive manifestations. They serve as an important vehicle for voicing dissent, and expressing opinions…
Our national emblems (sic) have a particular place in the hearts of all Mexicans; we respect them as part of our national identity, regardless of political preferences.
The cartoon in question has triggered a negative response from some sectors of Mexican public opinion.”
Ricardo Alday, a spokesman for the embassy, then goes on to imply that Cagle should not do that again.
Cartoon Upsets Mexican Government | Foolocracy
Lucky the cartoonist has not drawn anything connected with Islam, in which case bombings or bombing threats would have been received by now.