Too Funny...It's Grondahl Redux

Two reader letters appeared in this morning's Std-Ex, re last week's "Blight Family" political cartoon. Something tells me that our local newspaper of record took substantial heat over that over-the-top illustration:

From Ogden's own Rulon Yorgason:

Reader reacts to 'Blight' family cartoon
Friday, July 8, 2005

After seeing the June 28 cartoon, "Living with the 'Blight' family," first I was angry; second, I was disgusted; and third, I was sorry for the offenders.

Angry at what? Angry that Grondahl would denigrate upstanding, law-abiding, taxpaying citizens who happen to live where they wish -- in peaceful, safe neighborhoods where friends look out for each other. Neighborhoods the city has neglected for years. One can guess why.

I was disgusted because the cartoon assumes we should be alike, and if we aren't like the perfect Ogdenite ideal, then we should be forced to conform or made to leave and be sacrificed for the good of the majority.

Sorry for the bullies? Why not? These are the people who pick on those they assume are defenseless. Sorry, because bullies are really afraid to face their equals; they need help. As it is, they find someone to do their dirty work.

One form of their bullying is: "Do this if you really like your job." We saw this during the petition drive. It doesn't need to be done openly. A hint here and there and a little body language can say a lot.

Do this or you are not patriotic. We are seeing this today when our trusting young people are ordered to kill innocent women, children and other young men they have never met and don't even know. Oops! Now I have strayed onto another stage and another bully.

-Rulon Yorgason

And from the inimitable Tom Owens:

Cartoon was tasteless, warrants an apology
Friday, July 8, 2005

The Standard-Examiner has reached an all-time low with the publication of the extremely tasteless June 28 cartoon "Living with the 'Blight' family," depicting the decent folks who stood up to the mayor and Wal-Mart as a bunch of rabble-rousing scum.

The cartoon may reflect how Lord Mayor Godfrey sees those who oppose his policies, but it was a big disappointment to see you sully the reputation of the great newspaper Bill and Abe Glasmann built with such cheap and biased shots.

I think that you owe the brave people who stood up to this naked land grab a front-page retraction and apology.

-Tom Owens
Farmington

The reader poll here has 69 votes tallied, by the way, and these are the results, so far:

"What's your take on the 06/28/05 Grondahl cartoon? (Scroll down page)"

Totally innocuous (2) 3%
Mildly insensitive (5) 7%
Grossly insensitive (24) 35%
Accurately describes property rights advocates (2) 3%
Accurately reflects the perception of Std-Ex editors & publisher (30) 43%
Other view suggestions (6) 9%
Total Votes: 69

My initial take was that this cartoon was basically innocuous, but I've changed my mind on that. Grondahl obviously rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. Grondahl is a fine illustrator, I think, but you won't see his works hanging in the Smithsonian or the Louvre, so long as he's willing to continue selling his soul to the corporo-fascist "Suits from Sanduskey."

It really was a cheap shot. But I don't think we should hold our collective breath for the well-deserved apologies that would naturally flow forth in a righteous and decent world. The Std-Ex editors and publisher are obviously still too preoccupied with wringing their hands -- and crying towels -- over the Wal-Mart ad revenue that was lost as a result of our local citizens' noble efforts to stand up for their God-given individual property rights.