The Guardian has apologised after a cartoon depicting BBC chairman Richard Sharp was criticised as antisemitic.

Oreo

volver3

The "hand clasping".

I better go and do something else...

Good idea as all that digging must be tiring.Seems that the only thing that puts you out is any mention that Scotttish politics isn’t perfect, or of NS or the ferries.
Fortunately most people do find anti-Semitism alarming, and this cartoon was all that in plain sight.The cartoonist went to school with Sharp and admits he knew he was Jewish.
Nuff said.

But was it in plain sight?

I didn't know Sharp is Jewish and it didn't occur to me when I first looked at the cartoon. Many political cartoonists make their subjects look grotesque and I just thought that's what had happened here.

The octopus trope, as has been discussed, isn't exclusively anti-semitic and has been used in many contexts as a symbol of growing influence, capitalism and greed.

tickingbird

volver3

Yes, yes it has.

So we can never post a picture of an octopus again in a cartoon? Seriously?

Oh for crying out loud come off it!! Nobody’s complaining about an Octopus/Squid per se. An Octopus in a box with its tentacles grasping gold coins, carried by an obviously Jewish man.

Stop with these pathetic attempts to trivialise this. The levels of anti Jewish attacks in this country are alarming. It might be a bit of a laugh for the likes of you but this is how things began in 1930’s Germany. It’s insidious and it needs to be called out by all fair minded, decent people.

Sorry, but it honestly didn't occur to me that the depiction of Sharp was "obviously Jewish".

growstuff

Callistemon21

growstuff

The more I read about the whole loan affair, the more dodgy it seems. There's a lot more to come out - if it ever does. What on earth has happened to the money? Sharp should never have been appointed at the BBC. The role of Sam Blyth and Simon Case needs investigating. And what about Johnson himself?

I hope this cartoon doesn't distract from the serious issues.

It has, though, hasn't it.

As I noted earlier, Sharp is now a sympathetic figure.

I think that's very concerning. Disregarding the cartoon for a moment, it appears Sharp wasn't transparent when he was appointed. Quite honestly, the affair wreaks of cronyism of the worst sort. I think it's endemic and needs to be investigated.

The idea of having a political appointment (maybe in return for cash and favours) at the top of the national broadcaster is worrying (to say the least).

That’s the issue, you’re right. I wonder whether if Sharp had been portrayed as himself, but with the octopus this whole debacle could have been avoided - people are understandably jumping on the bandwagon but conveniently disregarding the main point of the cartoon.

It was very obvious to me growstuff if not to you or any others.knowing that Sharp was Jewish the cartoonist didn’t trouble himself to disguise anything.

Mr.Sharp should never have been appointed to his position in the BBC.

The cartoon has aroused sympathy for him which I hope does not detract from this.

Seems that the only thing that puts you out is any mention that Scottish politics isn’t perfect, or of NS or the ferries.

Is this an intentional movement across GN, or are you just not being very imaginative?

See my posts on Republicanism, vegetarianism, sustainable energy and ageism for corroboration.

So while everyone is distracted by arguing about whether the cartoon was anti-semitic, and if so, was deliberate or not......the fact remains that:

Sharp was not honest during the pre-appointment process

Johnson wanted Sharp in the job

nobody else even bothered applying......

and we are now feeling sorry for him.

Quite so GrannyGravy13 and HousePlantQueen

GrannyGravy13

Exceptionalism ?

If this was a person of colour it would be racism.

If this was a cartoon depicting a Muslim there would be a fatwa issued.

Can you not see that this is antisemitism normalised?

Of course it is GrannyGravy.
But some people don’t want to see. My mother used to say

There’s none so blind as those who will not see.

She was right too.

You are entitled to your opinion.

Mine is different.

HousePlantQueen
You’re right, unfortunately the lack of ability to see the antisemitism has created a situation in which the loan, the appointment of Richard Sharpe and so on, is mainly being ignored.

And you’re entitled to your opinion volver.

Mine is different.

Yes Maddyone .

That's what I said.

Oreo

It was very obvious to me growstuff if not to you or any others.knowing that Sharp was Jewish the cartoonist didn’t trouble himself to disguise anything.

What didn't he disguise?

Dave Rich, writing for The Guardian, has written that the cartoon was most certainly antisemitic. He details fully exactly why it is antisemitic.

GrannyGravy13

Exceptionalism ?

If this was a person of colour it would be racism.

If this was a cartoon depicting a Muslim there would be a fatwa issued.

Can you not see that this is antisemitism normalised?

There have been some horrendous cartoon depictions of Sadiq Khan.

growstuff

GrannyGravy13

Exceptionalism ?

If this was a person of colour it would be racism.

If this was a cartoon depicting a Muslim there would be a fatwa issued.

Can you not see that this is antisemitism normalised?

There have been some horrendous cartoon depictions of Sadiq Khan.

Yes and I am not comfortable with them or the one that really sticks in my mind was the one of Priti Patel depicted as a bull.

volver3

You are entitled to your opinion.

Mine is different.

Mine also Volver.

Some of us (a few) did not see this as anti semitic and have explained our reasons. Most did. Surely it’s not necessary to call those that didn’t “pathetic” nor was it obvious in plain sight. I didn’t know Sharp was Jewish, I also do consider myself a fair minded and decent person, and not agreeing with some points of view on this doesn’t make me otherwise.

I agree that now Sharp is seen a victim in the whole affair, it diverts attention from the legitimate concerns around his and other suspect political appointments.

maddyone

Dave Rich, writing for The Guardian, has written that the cartoon was most certainly antisemitic. He details fully exactly why it is antisemitic.

Good.
Very much the right things to do, and the responsible thing to do.

Shamie

I agree with you too.
There is some serious mocking and making light of things going on here. Pretending to be clever methinks?

It’s routine behaviour for some and best ignored. Sometimes I find it necessary to respond but mostly I see certain names and scroll past. Being Jewish myself I couldn’t ignore this one but, you know, the sun is shining here and I’m off to watch some tennis

Caricature: A likeness that captures a person's physical traits and simultaneously exaggerates them for humorous (and sometimes mean-spirited) effect. Cartoon: A visual art form consisting of hand or computer-drawn images, often (but not always) created for humorous effect.

It wasn't really a cartoon........sorry for being pedantic.

I remember some really terrifying caricatures of Margaret Thatcher by Gerald Scarfe.

You are crossing the line tickingbird.

It's not just me who objects to your name calling.

Enjoy the tennis.

No name calling or crossing the line from tickingbird IMO just a sensible comment with which I agree.
Sometimes you just can’t ignore posts and this was one of those times.

maddyone

Dave Rich, writing for The Guardian, has written that the cartoon was most certainly antisemitic. He details fully exactly why it is antisemitic.

Yes, I saw that and thought good on him!

Oreo

No name calling or crossing the line from tickingbird IMO just a sensible comment with which I agree.
Sometimes you just can’t ignore posts and this was one of those times.

So I was called pathetic, that was just the start of it.

I was described as "the likes of you".

Given that someone is so concerned about a cartoon in the papers, you'd think they'd be circumspect about what they called people.

Disagree with my posts if you like, of course. Just don't indulge in personal attacks.