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February 02, 2006
Cartoonist Tom Toles is DESPICABLE
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Tom Toles editorial cartoon published in The Washington Post on Monday has drawn a very rare and very strong protest letter to the editors from all six members of The Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The letter, not yet published by the Post, charges that the six military leaders "believe you and Mr. Toles have done a disservice to your readers and your paper's reputation by using such a callous depiction of those who have volunteered to defend this nation, and as a result, have suffered traumatic and life-altering wounds. ... As the Joint Chiefs, it is rare that we all put our hand to one letter, but we cannot let this reprehensible cartoon go unanswered."
The spokeswoman said a letter from all six joint chiefs to anyone, let alone a newspaper, is rare, but the cartoon so offended them, they wanted to let their feelings be known. "It was expressing their disappointment with the paper and outrage at using that image to make a political point," said Lt. Col. Diane Battaglia. "That is a rare occurrence, but the level of inappropriateness prompted a response of unanimous support."
Battaglia said Post editors told her office that the letter would be published in Thursday's paper. Editorial Page Editor Fred Hiatt declined to comment on the letter. "My policy is I can't talk about letters until we publish them," , "If and when a letter runs, I'd be happy to talk about it."
The letter, signed by Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Admiral Edmund P. Giambastini, Jr., the vice-chairman, and the four other military branch leaders -- and addressed to the Post's managing editor, Philip Bennett -- reveals that they were "extremely disappointed" in the Toles cartoon. "Using the likeness of a service member who has lost his arms and legs in war as the central theme of a cartoon is beyond tasteless," they wrote.
They observed that the paper is "obviously free to address any topic," even use exaggeration. But they added: "While you or some of your readers may not agree with the war or its conduct, we believe you owe the men and women and their families who so selflessly serve our country the decency to not make light of their tremendous physical sacrifices."
Here is the pdf file of the letter from the Joint Chiefs of Staff
In case you cannot open a pdf file here is the letter.
Mr. Philip Bennett
Managing Editor, The Washington Post
1150 15th Street NW
Washington, DC 20071
To The Editor of the Washington Post:
We were extremely disappointed to see the editorial cartoon by Tom Toles on page B6 in the January 29 edition. Using the likeness of a service member who has lost his arms and legs in war as the central theme of a cartoon is beyond tasteless. Editorial cartoons are often designed to exaggerate issues - and your paper is obviously free to address any topic, including the state of readiness of today's Armed Forces. However, we believe you and Mr.Toles have done a disservice to your readers and your paper's reputation by using such a callous depiction of those who have volunteered to defend this nation, and as a result, have suffered traumatic and lifealtering wounds.
Those who visit with wounded veterans in local hospitals have found lives profoundly changed by pain and loss. They have also found brave men and women with a sense of purpose and selfless commitment that causes truly battle-hardened warriors to pause. Where do we get such men and women? From the cities, and farmlands of this great Nation - they serve to be a part of something bigger than themselves. While you or some of your readers may not agree with the war or its conduct, we believe you owe the men and women and their families who so selflessly serve our country the decency to not make light of their tremendous physical sacrifices.
As the Joint Chiefs, it is rare that we all put our hand to one letter, but we cannot let this reprehensible cartoon go unanswered.
Sincerely,
PETER PACE
General, US Marine Corps
Chairman
Of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
EDMUND P. GIAMBASTIANI, JR.
Admiral, U.S. Navy
Vice Chairman
Of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
MICHAEL W. HAGEE
General, US Marine Corps
Commandant of the Marine Corps
PETER J. SCHOOMAKER
General, US Army
Chief of Staff
MICHAEL G. MULLEN
Admiral, US Navy
Chief of Naval Operations
T. MiCHAEL MOSELEY
General, US Air Force
Chief of Staff
Wild Thing's comment.......Tom Toles is a gutter-rat heartless bastard! This needs wide dissemination. Congratulations to the Joint Chiefs! This is an insult to our military in the name of free speech!! The troops fought for and with them, and now they're fighting for them. And theirs. There are no words to express this type of thanks to the Joint Cheifs!
If you want to you can e-mail the Washington Post Editorial Board at:
opinions@washingtonpost.com
I hope the General's letter was distributed to every bed at Walter Reed and all other hospitals that are caring for our heros.
For a morale boost and to let them know their commanders have some major league cojones!!
God bless the USMC for promoting General Pace!!
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* Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler
* BIG DOG's blog
* Blackfive
And to one of our family of posters here at Theodore's World blog..........BobF
Thank you Bob for the heads up about the cartoon.
Posted by Wild Thing at February 2, 2006 12:18 AM
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Comments
For myself, with The Left I always need to check some of my indignance at the door. Any other choice is a direct line to rage and insanity. It's an evolutionary urge to remove the cancer in the tribe as soon as possible. Kill it, or disable it and put it in a snow bank, but remove it. But then, I'd be just like them.
(Somewhere I have the source and number of amputees from this war, and the number is actually tiny, although that doesn't relieve any one of them of the personal calamity of losing limbs to combat).
As for The Left, you need an anthropologist to understand them, not a sociologist. The Left has corrupted and defiled every sector of American life; they've enabled the worst among us to thrive and even prosper, people who in other eras would have been pushed to the dark corners of society to whither quietly away in their mental and emotional slums. Leftism is the elevation and celebration of every malignant quality in human beings. Toles is just another gold-plated turd in their jewelry box.
Sorry about the rant.
Posted by: Rhod at February 2, 2006 07:31 AM
Rhod, I love your rants! Thank you!!!
Posted by: Wild Thing at February 2, 2006 09:42 AM