The Guardian Cartoon of Priti Patel & Boris Johnson

The cartooon.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2020/mar/04/steve-bell-on-boris-johnson-defending-priti-patel-at-pmqs-cartoon

Only the more superstitious hindus take old cutoms seriously by old customs like revering cattle. Ms Patel is not a village ignoramus. I guess Priti- Is -As -Priti -Does is too sophisticated to be offended about cow and bull jokes.

Alexa
Based on your premise then a sophisticated muslim should not be offended if represented by a pig?

Depends what you mean by acceptable. In a free society it is acceptable to poke fun, to insult even, political leaders. I saw the cartoon and didn't like it but it did make me think: "Bulls in a china shop", not because I think Patel and Johnson necessarily are that but because I think others might see them as such. Then I shrugged. I favour the freedom of a free society.

So I think it's acceptable in that respect. It's also horrible. I think it will have boosted rather than damaged respect and support for Priti Patel.

I also think it is dreadful, gg

Is Priti Patel religious? Evidence? Would be being depicted as a sacred animal be more offensive than being depicted as an unclean one? Cartoonists have a long history of mocking political leaders, Should they be censored for fear of causing offence ? Even when there is no evidence of offence being caused?

As well as ‘ a bull in a China shop’ perhaps it is a play on words - bullying. Also Johnson was one of the Bullingdon set.

vegansrock
Although I disliked the cartoon, it is in poor taste, the guy who drew it did have the freedom to draw and publish it. That is as it should be.
What concerns me more is the different standards applied to this cartoon. Had this not been a lady of Asian descent, maybe of African/Caribbean descent or of muslim faith, there would have been a media firestorm and potentially street rioting. This thread would have been on page 12 with those quick to throw in the racist card, the same who are justifying and applying simplistic interpretations of the cartoon.

Joelsnan I suppose it's in the eye of the beholder but no different standards have been applied to this cartoon than have been applied to any other. Political cartoonists are usually hard hitting eg Rowlandson in the late 18th century and his cartoons of Prinny and Mrs Fitz amongst others.

I love cartoons. I can think up some real belters but unfortunately can't put the picture in my head onto the paper! However, this one is vile and if that's his style then I hope I never see any of his cartoons again. ?

Ah, yes, nandalot! Nifty thinking on your part.

Cartoonists have a long history of mocking political leaders, Should they be censored for fear of causing offence ? Even when there is no evidence of offence being caused?

So why was there so much offence taken when Boris Johnson, writing an article defending its wearing, likened the burka to a letterbox?

The Outraged of Orpington have obviously never heard of:

bull-y
bullshit
bullheaded
bullish
or talking bull.

And why did the cartoonist depict Boris Johnson as a bull?

eazybee if we have reached the stage where people can't see the difference between cartoonists (whose purpose and job description is taking the piss) and politicians (who are supposed to be moral, take diversity seriously and represent all faiths and none) we are truly up the creek!! (and without a paddle in sight!)

Really?
I have never heard of a job description like that before.
How crude.

Not crude easybee just an historical phrase. It comes from the tanning industry which relied on people providing their urine.

And has nothing to do with job descriptions.
As I understand it, freedom of speech is extended to people who draw pictures for newspapers, but not to journalists who write for them, because they are also MPs.

I wonder how Patel squares her treatment of her staff with the Hindu teachings about kindness, compassion, karma and harmlessness?

It’s a cartoon in a country where free speech is tolerated - I cannot get worked up about it.

Well there you are eazybee we are up the creek without a paddle! But then I knew that, look at who is PM!

How do we know how Priti Patel treats her staff? We have, so far, only heard one side of the story. Or did I miss the result of any unbiased investigation?

kittylester would you have asked the same question before Harvey Weinstein's trial?

Alexa
Based on your premise then a sophisticated muslim should not be offended if represented by a pig?(Joelsnan)

Pigs are supposed by some people to be unclean but cows are honoured by some other people. If Prito P is a village hindu who honours cows why should she be offended by cow horns?

I think the Guardian is a lefty paper so I'm not surprised.

Being thick here, trisher but I don't follow?