Tasteless criticism oversteps bounds

Page 4

Editorial

The recent ruling by the Alberta Press Council that a Calgary Herald cartoon, which ridiculed the Lubicon Lake Indian band, is racist should encourage those who support Indian rights and freedom of the press.

The Herald has responded by indicating freedom of the press is in jeopardy, but this "freedom" does not mean that anybody, including the press, can do exactly what they like. The press is indeed powerful and it is a newspaper's responsibility to take this power and freedom seriously, and use it wisely and respectfully.

While editorial cartoons are expected to be satirical, a mainstream newspaper should know better than to make fun of the ethnic background of a race.

This cartoon did not respect Indian lifestyles; it ridiculed them. The pipe is a most sacred and meaningful object to Natives; to suggest that it be used outside of rituals for smoking material other than tobacco is an insult to tradition.

Does the Herald ever suggest that the Prime Minister smokes strange things in his pipe? Does the newspaper suggest the Calgary mayor ferments blueberries and therefore acts irresponsibly? No. The Herald reserves this kind of tasteless criticism for minority groups like Indians.

"Fair comment" criticism does not take pot shots at peoples' race or ethnic background. It attacks the issues, not the people.

The press council unfortunately did not ask for an apology from the Herald, although it does have the power to demand an apology. It seems to be a "toothless" organization when it comes to demanding action. Herald publisher J. Patrick O'Callaghan has expressed surprise over the decision and says he will stand by it, and presumably all it stands for.

It is a sad day for freedom of the press and genuine political criticism when a major daily newspaper so blatantly abuses its power in this manner. Without respect for peoples' differences we have no freedom at all.