Editor,
Political caricatures are awesome. As someone who has experienced different higher education systems internationally, and has been exposed to varying degrees of student expression via mediums like independent student newspapers, allow me to draw your attention to a freedom you are privileged to have.
You’re able to expose, critique, analyze and feature virtually any topic you like, and cartoons are an important component of this. Political caricatures are a great medium of critique to depict the basic premise of a topic in an entertaining, ironic and somewhat informative way.
I mean, there’s a reason why they’re in history books, right? This type of organized expression isn’t commonplace everywhere, so acknowledge this liberty and, furthermore, keep it classy. The Daily Lobo cartoonist, Juan Tabone, has been and continues to blatantly exploit this freedom in a desperately un-classy way. Last semester, he reiterated the same hollow, crude and frankly primitive style of argument within the ink of the majority of his cartoons.
Tabone’s material from Monday’s newspaper features the winner of the “How stoopid are yoo?” prize, depicted as a white, overbuilt,. overweight and “Jeezus”-loving male; apparently believing that the birth control pill causes abortion defines his appallingly low “eye-cue.”
I’m disappointed in the Lobo for allowing distasteful material to be published under “Juan’s Opinion” … wait, my apologies, I meant “Lobo Opinion.” Look, as a woman, physics and applied mathematics double major, French minor and Christ-lover via Catholicism, I conclude on the analysis of this cartoon: It is stupid. Please impart some leadership skills onto your cartoonist and encourage him to competently devote his drawing skills and create tastefully ironic commentary on something relevant.
As a political caricature fan and a very strong supporter of free press, I think every Lobo would appreciate more intellectual presence in your cartoon sector.
Maria Benitez-Jones
UNM student
