Letters to the Editor

Cartoon's depiction of GOP inaccurate

I was dumbfounded upon reading your cartoonist's depiction of the Republican Party on July 1. As a delegate to the 1996 and 1998 state conventions for the Republican Party of Minnesota, I can assure you that the Republican Party is neither exclusive nor does it "shoo" people away.

The Republican Party is the only political party that stands for individual freedoms and liberties, regardless of a person's race or cultural background. The party welcomes anyone who is against needless government bureaucracy and control, whether that be through lowering taxes, decreasing gun control laws for responsible citizens or preventing skyrocketing increases in frivolous lawsuits.

Matthew J. Lenertz,junior, Carlson School of Management

Wagner detracts from Daily's credibility

Freedom of speech is a precious right. Abusing that right in any form is not insightful, informative, authoritative or clever. It is moronic.

On June 29 the editors at the Daily set a very poor example of organizational and civic leadership by printing Wagner's cartoon with the caption, "Clinton welcomed to Tiananmen Square with a 21-gun salute." Presumably, the cartoon portrayed President Bill Clinton with Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Premier Zhu Rongji. To their left stood a squad of riflemen. Captioned below the drawing were the words,"Unfortunately, all of them missed."

At first glance I thought, "What a dolt. He's at it again." I began to wonder what thoughts had entered the cartoonist's mind that he should wish the death of three leaders. Does virtue or morality play into such thinking? I am not one to answer on behalf of the Daily's would-be political philosopher.

However, I am concerned and annoyed to the point of having polled several individuals -- including an agent of the Minneapolis office of the U.S. Secret Service. This branch of the federal government is responsible for securing the safety of the president of the United States and visiting foreign dignitaries. I was told that the agent hadn't reviewed the Daily this week, but that those involved in gathering intelligence on local attitudes involving the president routinely read the Daily for information. He said that he would pass the information along to his co-worker.

Poor taste does not make a successful newspaper. However, in the case of the Daily, its buoyancy depends not only upon ads that pay operational expenses but also upon funding offered through student fees and other public spending.

Apparently, the Daily does not care how stupid, tactless, undiplomatic or offensive its political cartoons may be in the course of courting its readers, advertising revenue, public funds or recognition as a credible newspaper -- and one that is credibly administered. Too bad, since many of the Daily's writers are quite good.

A few months ago, the Daily published another political cartoon in which nearly 40 police cars were portrayed around the areas of Dinkytown and fraternity row. I wondered at that time just how poorly had the cartoonist's pre-collegiate educators failed him in teaching the basics of counting and assessing problems.

As well, I wondered how deep were that person's problems with authority figures and whether or not he was a piece of dynamite ready to explode. Again, I am in no position to provide an insightful or authoritative answer. I am, in either case, not interested in seeing another cartoon by Wagner published in the Daily. I do not wish to pay for his careless, presumptuous or moronic philosophy.

Wagner and, by implication and acquiescence, the Daily, is no leader. The aforementioned work has detracted from the good and hopeful works of others who, in time and education, have come before most Daily readers. Do we condone violence and personal presumption as a proper means of judiciousness? I hope not.

Barry N. Peterson,alumnus, College of Liberal Arts