Editor,
I’m a Carmel resident.
I enjoy perusing Current when it arrives faithfully, and I appreciate learning about what’s new in our community, as well as what is happening in the arts.
So, imagine my incredulity when I opened the Dec. 11 edition to a tasteless, disrespectful and beyond juvenile cartoon about Sen./Vice President Joe Biden.
I’m aware that this cartoonist, Tim Campbell, has been called out before for partisan cartoons.
It concerns me that you have made the editorial decision to publish this one, which does not serve the purpose of political cartooning in general. It does not adhere to guidelines or useful political cartooning. It does not instruct or display any issue of public concern.
Instead, it mocks a public servant whose many decades of service to his country far surpass anything that, I would believe, your cartoonist has ever done for his country.
I’m offended by this drawing, and you can be sure that a number of Carmel residents are disappointed to find this in Current.
Political cartooning has a long tradition in American journalism. It’s a powerful satirical tool. But, now more than ever, it needs to be tempered by knowledge of civics and by some civility.
Current is a useful publication and is good for our town. Local journalism is a jewel in any community lucky enough to retain its local newspaper. And although Current is known for its bias to the right, I think the paper is growing in recognizing the diversity of thought and of the voices in our community.
Having said that, I’m baffled by your decision to print a nasty and smarmy political cartoon. An apology to your readers would be in order. And it wouldn’t hurt to apologize to Joe Biden, too!
Beverly Thornburg, Carmel
