Now This is a frightening Toon

[IdaBriggs]

44. I disagree (which is why it DOES belong here).

It ties a President whose motto was/is "hope and change" and compares him to a previous Democratic President who inspired the country along similar themes. (And yes, there is room for the disappointment comparison, too.) The imagery is stunning in that it portrays security failures by the Secret Service (who had a sitting President exposed to open air) as potentially recreating an assassination scenario.

I have a great deal of respect for the Secret Service; I can not comprehend the courage of being able to throw yourself in front of a bullet in defense of anyone other than a child or loved one, so the level of patriotism they exhibit leaves me in awe.

I think some of the scandals recently are caused by overwork, exhaustion, and a changing media (social, network and cable) which nearly encourages violence and enjoys a good mountain-out-of-a-molehill scandal on a slow news day.

I would not have mourned the death of Bush Junior or Cheney, whose crimes against humanity in Iraq alone deserve hellfire and damnation, but on another level, I am proud of our system of government that allowed for peaceful transition.

I worry for President Obama and his family; I also worry for the safety of my own. And then I shrug, and move on to do my normal jobs (which don't include the responsibilities he or the Secret Service face).

The fact we are even having this discussion, provoked by this cartoon, is why it belongs here. It is not "instigating" an assassination attempt - it is doing a potential compare/contrast/provoke with vivid, powerful imagery.

And honestly, the imagery may not be as powerful for the younger generation. I wasn't born when President Kennedy was assassinated, yet this cartoon still spoke to me. We need to remember our history -- and we need to embrace good, powerful change.

I still have hope.

I like the cartoon, even though I hate the topic.

I have to say it was well done, and much thanks to n2doc for sharing it.



ON EDIT: And I *love* how it compares First Lady Michelle Obama with the iconic and amazing First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy (even if I don't like the assassination implications -- both young mothers with personal strength, style and flair. So proud of the Obamas being in the White House - brings tears of joy to my eyes.