Cartoonist sparks outcry as Egyptians tally vote

[oberliner]

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- A Brazilian cartoonist whose caricatures against the former regime of Hosni Mubarak won him praise in the Arab world is now in the spotlight himself amid Egypt's divisive election.

Carlos Latuff's latest illustration, pointing to a sharp surge in support for Islamic candidates, was not received favorably Saturday by many Egyptians on social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook.

Unlike his work in recent months, which has focused a critical lens on violent measures taken by Egypt's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, or SCAF, the latest cartoon conveyed expectations of an Islamist victory in a vote for parliament.

The image, of a menacing sword labeled "Islamists" emerging from an Egyptian ballot box, sparked criticism that the usually sympathetic artist had resorted to crude generalizations bordering on Islamophobia.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=441580

[MADem]

1. Some things make no sense to me. A Brazilian cartoonist creates a cartoon about EGYPT

that is a subject of controversy, and that's what this story is about.

BECAUSE said cartoonist also has done, in the past, cartoons about the Israeli-Palestinian imbroglio mentioned thusly: Before the Egyptian uprising began in early 2011, along with pro-democracy protests across the region, Latuff was mostly recognized in the Middle East for his vocal support for the Palestinians.

His cartoons depicting Israeli brutality against Palestinians in Gaza took off during late 2008, when the three-week Operation Cast Lead began that would ultimately leave some 1,400 people dead.

Latuff has made two trips to the region whose cause he has championed for a decade. Supporters of Israel accuse him of anti-Semitism for comparing Israel to Nazi Germany; Latuff denies the allegations.

the entire story--which is about EGYPT, and holds some significance relative to the issues of the day in that nation--is banished to the I/P forum?

Come on--that's a bridge too far.

IMO.

[oberliner]

2. Actually, I posted it here initially

Since anything with an I/P connection usually ends up here, I decided it would be better to put it in this forum.

Also, I think that I/P readers might be familiar with this particular cartoonist and be more likely to comment than others (so far, not).

I feared it might get lost in the shuffle in the other forums.

[MADem]

3. Isn't that a damn shame? I mean, really--this article is about Egypt.

It's a pity you have to stuff it here just because the guy has a history of doing other work concerning I/P issues.

I swear, if the headline is Obama Visits France, and they happen to mention that Mrs. Sarkozy had on a Palestinian scarf, the frigging thing would end up here!

Anyway, it was an interesting article; thank you for putting it up, even out here in the hinterlands! I'd give a plus one if I could!

[oberliner]

4. You make some good points

I also don't think the site is entirely consistent about what gets moved here and what doesn't. There seems to be a grey area. Sometimes just the mention of anything I/P gets an article sent here (even if it's mostly about something else) whereas other times not.

[MADem]

5. I don't understand it either. There are some "special forums" that seem to

devolve into shit-flinging contests, and I guess the idea is corral and segregate those ideas in the subject-matter forums, and not allow them out into the general discussion, LBN or GDP areas. It's kind of like the cops in the cities with those little nets, shoving all people of a certain stripe down an alley for containment.....at least there's no pepper spray here! Count those blessings!