Cartoon critics miss the point

The Herald has printed several letters to the editor about the “tastelessness” of the Sunday political cartoon depicting a weatherman in front of a weather map saying “Mostly sunny today, with a chance of mass shootings…”

These criticisms miss the point. A political cartoon is meant to make us think about something that should be obvious, but needs to be seen in a different context. Such cartoons aren’t necessarily meant to be funny.

Mass shootings are becoming so common that we tend to be upset for a day or two and then put it out of our minds until the next mass shooting. Meanwhile, individual gun murders are committed daily throughout our country (as frequently as weather reports) that far outnumber the mass murders. The victims and their families know that these violent acts are far too common and senseless. Ask the students and families of Marysville Pilchuck High School if this isn’t far too common to be ignored.

That cartoon hit the target precisely, but some of the critics missed the point.

Don Martinson

Edmonds