LETTER: Dean cartoon went too far
Editor,
I am writing in response to a political cartoon that appeared in the opinion section of The Statesman on Friday. It was a cartoon disparaging presidential candidate Howard Dean on his opinions regarding homosexuals. It explained that Dean commented, “If God had thought homosexuality was a sin he would not have created gay people.” The artist expounded that “If God thought adultery was a sin, he wouldn’t have created adulterers.” It goes on to use the same ideology for terrorists and murderers.
Upon further investigation, there was no corresponding article or op/ed piece that would warrant such a homophobic piece of artistic commentary, a USU student did not draw the cartoon, so I am led to conclude that The Statesman placed this cartoon as a cheap ploy to get a response in the form of letters to the editor. After I reached this conclusion I debated on writing in, but alas, I’m calling their bluff, taking the bait, let’s rock.
Personally, I found the cartoon profoundly offensive, and not at all funny. But that may be because as a gay person myself, I was compared to an adulterer, terrorist and murderer in the cartoon. I don’t understand the parallels between homosexuals and adulterers, terrorists and murderers, primarily because homosexuality (unlike adultery, terrorism and murder) doesn’t affect anybody besides homosexuals. Adulterers break commitments and cheat on their spouses. Gay people can’t even legally get married in this country. Murderers take the lives of other people. Homosexuals, for the most part, just want to live their own lives freely without harassment from other individuals and their own government. I resent the terrorist reference the most. Terrorism is an act that has affected all Americans, even gay people. It is a looming threat that caused President Bush to declare two wars. I am sure gay Americans resent any comparisons likening them to terrorists.
On a political note, I would vote for Howard Dean because of his views on homosexuality, I can’t wait for the new Bravo series: Queer Eye for the Commander in Chief.
Cy Martz