Editorial Cartoons

Editorial cartoons play an important part in American culture. I remember when I was little my grandma would save the Sunday paper cartoons so I could read them. I think these small editorial cartoons effectively communicate things going on in society. Some of these editorial cartoons put a little humor or seriousness into the issues or topics going on in society. Also, they emphasize little things or dare to go where people don’t want to. They depict topics that are discussed in everyday life and things people dare no talk about or make fun of. Cartoons say what people are really thinking, all thoughts aside. Daryl Cagle is one of the well known professional cartoonists who focus on emphasizing things going on in society. For example, Cagle’s recent cartoons consist of the H1N1 swine flu virus and how people are reacting towards it. Also, there are cartoons on the recent balloon boy, Obama, Halloween, and more. I think these editorial cartoons help people better understand the issues going on. By adding a humorous twist to the topic it can help people better understand the issue and also gives people a look more on the bright side of things. Meaning that, people can take such a serious issue as the H1N1 virus, or swine flu, and see the humorous side of it. It gives people reassurance in that everything can be looked at in a humorous sort of view. One of the funny cartoons Cagle has come up with is about Halloween. It shows four little kids dressed up for Halloween with their little candy buckets and they are standing in front of a house that has a “for sale” sign on it. On the “for sale” sign it says foreclosed. As these kids are standing in front of this house they are all in a circle looking puzzled or upset. The caption under the cartoon is a voice of one of the kids and it says “Going door to door isn’t working. It’s time to reevaluate our business model.” It shows the topic of Halloween (coming up just next week) and the state of the economy. This is a perfect example of how cartoonists depict things we never really would have thought of. Like kids having to skip so many homes because of all the foreclosures in our neighborhoods. It’s funny yet shows the true reality we are facing. There are plenty more editorial cartoons on Daryl Cagle’s website that are very funny. If you want to check it out it is www.cagle.com .
I think cartoons help alleviate the stress or worry we have about current issues or topics going on. They help see the funny side of things. I think they are even funnier because when we read these cartoons we always think in our heads “very true” and let out a little laugh.

Freedom of Speech

I am proud to have the rights given by the First Amendment. (Actually I am proud to have the rights of all the amendments but for the sake of the chapter I am just going to focus on the First Amendment.) Given the right of free speech is one of the biggest freedoms people can have (along with many other rights). Although I have the freedom of speech, there are some things that I would not say. I grew up being taught that you should treat others how you would want to be treated. I would not disrespect others by using sexist, racist, or another abusive language. To me, this kind of talk is unnecessary and disrespectful. So, with that said, the prompt asks if you would sign an agreement that asks you to refrain from using racist, sexist, and otherwise abusive language on campus in order to be accepted to the school. Personally, I think why wouldn’t someone sign an agreement saying they would not use racist, sexist, or abusive language? Is it really that hard to be respectful to other peoples sexuality, race, gender, or just in general, be respectful? For me, this agreement would be easy for me to sign. Although it may be restricting my freedom of speech, I do not talk down to anyone’s sexuality, race, or gender. I do not talk down to anyone period. The prompt asks to weight the social benefits of this agreement. I think this agreement will reduce prejudices and make people accept one another. It is really important that people do not judge each other. Prejudging is what affects our world today. People still live with prejudices and cannot accept others for who they are. Which is sad. But that is life. Not everyone has the same opinion about issues or ideas. People grow up learning things differently. That is something I can understand. But what I do not understand is why people would put others down because of their race, gender, or sexuality. It is disrespectful and unnecessary. So the agreement would be something I would sign because I would have no problem abiding by those rules. Not only would I sign it, I would encourage others to sign it as well. I am totally for freedom of expression just as long as it is in a tasteful way and under necessary conditions.

Self Respect AND Happiness?

Which is more important- happiness or self-respect? I find this question a bit hard to answer. Both answers are extremely important and valuable in a person’s life. They both a equally important and should both be a top value in a person’s life. They are not just separate answers either. They both go hand in hand. If you respect yourself then you will understand you need happiness. If you are happy then you are respecting yourself. Happiness in my life makes everything around me better. If I am happy I enjoy things more, I am motivated to do things, and I am carefree. And that is a big deal because it gives me a sense of freedom. Being happy makes you feel weightless and carefree. Not worrying about much but caring for the things that need attention. Being happy is enjoying what you love and sharing that joy with others around you. I believe when you are happy, you should spread it around 
Having self respect is a part of being happy. Everybody in life wants to always be happy. When you are allowing yourself to enjoy life and be happy you are respecting yourself. As Dr. Wayne Dyer says “The best thing to give…to yourself, respect….” And I believe this is true. If you have self respect than happiness is right there beside you. Self Respect means a lot of things. It shows the confidence in yourself and what you believe in. It is staying true and honest with yourself.
In Reading Lolita in Tehran, Nafisi says “My generation had tasted individual freedom and lost it; no matter how painful the loss…..But what did this new generation have to safeguard them…Like Catherine’s, their desires, their yearnings, their urges to express themselves, were manifested in bizarre ways. As she is shunned by her father, manipulated by her aunt and finally deserted by her suitor…to stand up to each and every one of them-not in their way but in her own, quietly and humbly… she maintains her own style of dealing with events and with people.” This statement that is in the book reflects how people respect themselves or make themselves happy. We all approach things in a different way. One person’s way of being happy may be how another person feels happiness is and that goes along with self respect.
All in all, I believe respecting yourself leads to being happy or promoting happiness. We all find what makes us happy and by doing what makes us happy is respecting who we are. I love this quote by E.E. Cummings about self worth. We do not believe in ourselves until someone reveals that deep inside us is valuable, worth listening to, worthy of our trust, sacred to our touch. Once we believe in ourselves we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight or any experience that reveals the human spirit.