Special Needs Cartoon

Last week I drew a cartoon about the election results. I compared the United States to a classroom in which “mainstreaming” mentally handicapped children is in force. It’s one thing, I drew, to have such children—in this case, the Bush-supporting red states—share the class (the U.S.) with the brighter kids, i.e., the Kerry-supporting blue states. Seeing the Bush supporters—who are, to a man, dumber than rocks—in charge of our country, I said in my cartoon, is something akin to putting the special needs kids in charge of the class.

Evidently some websites or newsgroups for the parents of such children are conducting a write-in campaign concerning that cartoon. I understand why they are upset. They already face a tremendous challenge raising their kids, then this asshole cartoonist comes along and insults their kids. Or so it must seem.

It is true that I oppose the whole idea of “mainstreaming,” a practice that was becoming in vogue when I was in school. I believe that “special needs” children are just that–they need the kind of special attention that “ordinary” classes can’t give them without sacrificing the interests of the other children. Because I remember sitting in classes where one slow kid would plunge the rest of us into fits of boredom, I also favor “tracking” students by ability. Kids shouldn’t have to teach other kids. I also believe that our educational system is woefully underfunded, especially in poor and urban areas, and that “special needs” kids are often neglected. That is wrong and unfair.

But that cartoon wasn’t about that. It was about Bush, and the annoyance that those of us who actually read the paper have for those who plainly don’t, yet are in the majority and have the audacity to turn up to vote–despite being totally unqualified to do so. To express that, I felt that the mainstreaming analogy worked well. I still do.

It’s hard enough to draw political cartoons without having to consider political correctness while trying to make a point. The question for me is, and was, does the cartoon work? Does it express its point? In this case, I believe that the cartoon works. Every analogy offends someone. As a French-American, I am constantly disgusted and offended by anti-French jokes (i.e., a French military strategist? what’s that? –Jay Leno, the other day). But I shake my head and move on.

Many parents wrote me to say that their kid is mildly autistic and is a great student in a regular classroom. To them I would say, my cartoon wasn’t remotely about your kid. Others resorted to blind rage:

I want you to know that I, along with many others, think you are an inconsiderate prick. I think you are scum, slime, and otherwise, a bastard. I read your lame ass cartoon about how politicians are like “special needs” children. You are a heartless bastard and nonetheless, a moron. I read your “terms of email” and I don’t want a response from you so don’t bother as I will delete it promptly.

May you burn in hell for all eternity and God forgive me for hoping you have a long life full of agony and pain.

ps: if i ever see you, i will make a point to tell you in your face you are by far one of the worst comics ever…not only for the fact that you are an inconsiderate jaggoff, but that you are not even funny, or serious, you really actually suck at your job. May i suggest home decorating or maybe gardening? From the looks of your picture, you would be a lot better at any of this than at the horrible job youre doing now.

Burn in Hell Jackass,

eat me

By the way, a cartoonist isn’t a comic. A comic does stand up.

Then there are the more thoughtful responses, such as this one:

I’m sure you have received numerous e-mails about your “mentally handicapped” cartoon that appeared in the November 8 edition of the The Washington Post. I must admit I was taken aback by the cartoon and the offensive portrayal of a special needs student in an inclusive classroom.

I looked at some of your other work and found I was generally in agreement with your philosophy so, rather than express outrage at this cartoon, I wanted to understand the message which, I admit, missed its mark with me.

Perhaps you could explain the cartoon to me. While I may still not agree the depiction of the student was appropriate, I would like to understand the motivation.

Individuals with special needs have such a difficult time fitting into the general population; I hope you understand why this particular cartoon would raise the hackles of those who work so hard to accomplish

inclusion and acceptance for their students and family members.

I’ve tried to explain the cartoon above. But parents of special needs children also need to consider that many, many Americans oppose “mainstreaming” because it can come at the detriment of gifted and other children. And a recent survey of special needs parents found that 24 percent believe mainstreaming is detrimental to their own children’s education. So, while mainstreaming is currently in vogue, there is no broad consensus in our society.

Then there is this mystifying offering:

I am applauded by your comic 11/08/04.

Does she mean “appalled”? Or “I applaud”?

Anyway, I am sorry that I don’t have the time, staff or energy to respond personally to all of the people who wrote to me. Unlike Republicans, the vast majority of angry parents wrote polite, questioning and/or disagreeing letters that deserve an answer. At last count I received about 400 such emails, and there’s no way I can answer all of them and get anything else done. Moreover, my spam filter seems to be intercepting and deleting them, possibly because the subjects are similar.

I must say that my eyes have been opened about a struggle that thousands of Americans are fighting every day, to raise their kids as best as they can while faced with unusual challenges. I plan to research this issue in depth with a view, if not towards commenting further, at least towards becoming more aware of their concerns. The last thing I want to do is make life more difficult for them.