Cartoons reflect UNM’s leftist political culture

Editor,

I read Monday’s interview of Lobo cartoonist Juan Tabone, and it’s apparent that Tabone is most likely suffering from delusions of grandeur. It seems to me that Tabone fancies himself a sort of crusader for the downtrodden and the oppressed while the evil, “Bible-thumping right-wing bullies” are trying to prevent him and his ilk from informing the masses about the “real” problems in American society.

But in reality, Tabone grossly overestimates the importance of his comic. At a university like UNM, it’s not hard to receive accolades for anything supporting the left side of the political “fence”; his comics serve only to reinforce the generic leftist idealism that a large portion of UNM students already so blindly follow.

Ultimately, his comics serve only to stroke those sharing Tabone’s point of view, and really, what does that serve? That’s not to say they aren’t entitled to their opinions, but rather that they take up arms and fight for issues that they don’t really know much about, if at all.

And if they do know anything about the issue, it’s just the same sort of propaganda that Tabone spews forth on a day-to-day basis, which is similarly grounded in pseudo-facts and half-truths. Furthermore, I find that more often than not, Tabone’s comics are either nonsensical or exhibit enormous holes in his reality.

I will, however, commend him for his artistic ability (and honestly, his comics about the university are amusing). At the end of the day, Tabone’s daily political “crusade” in the Lobo only angers those of differing opinions. Let’s be honest; in politics, it’s rare that somebody stops and considers the opposition’s opinions, but rather they will stop and get angry.

It seems to me that cooperation is essential in helping this country go forth in the right direction; so what is the point of pissing off the people whose help you need? It would serve Tabone well to brush up on the facts and truly understand the issues before he hits the drawing board.

Furthermore, Tabone inspires little to no controversy outside the opinions page of the Lobo. There are no protesters outside Marron Hall. There are only a handful of people willing to take the time and write the Lobo to voice their disdain.

His cartoon “chastising” APD for shooting mentally unstable people is the exception; not for its insightful wisdom on police shootings, but because it was so blatantly slanderous and demeaning. I believe that it would do him well to step out of the drawing room and realize the effects of his comics on society as a whole.

He is but one human among billions who, in reality, has no better grasp on the issues the country faces as any other human being. If political cartoons like Tabone’s are indeed a dying concept, then you will not see me weeping.

Austin Munn
UNM student