Letters: Editorial cartoon was distasteful

Regarding the July 6 political cartoon entitled 'De-Evolution”:

I understand that political cartoons represent a wide range of opinions, but I would hope that there are standards of decency that should not be violated.

The cartoon was, I hope, way outside these boundaries and I am disturbed that The Gazette let this cartoon be used.

That cave men are shown de-evolving to various earlier stages of hominids and ending with a being in a Muslim position of prayer was appallingly distasteful, most particularly at this sacred time in the Islamic year. The label of 'ISIS” on the prostrate figure did nothing to mitigate the tastelessness of the cartoon.

We have a rich and valued Muslim community in Cedar Rapids and I can only imagine how insulted they must have felt upon finding this cartoon in their local paper.

I always have been proud of our locally-owned, independent newspaper, but The Gazette should have known better in this instance.

Terry Boyden

Associate producer

Ethical Perspectives on the News