Editorial Cartoons & Immigration
Team Member Name: Zach Sorenson
Publication: The Warmonger Report
Date: 10/19/2015
Cartoonist: Paresh Nath
U.S. or International: U.S.
Title of Cartoon: Syrian Refugee Crisis
Cartoon #: 13
What action is taking place in this cartoon?
In this cartoon we are able to see a rogue wave representing the Syrian refugee problem, and a man inside a small boat whose expression shows fear. The implication here is that programs that support and provide relief for those in need like refugees may become overwhelmed with the amount of refugees potentially coming to the U.S. The Syrian refugee problem is portrayed as too much to handle.
What is the context?
The Syria conflict has triggered the "greatest humanitarian crisis since World War II" (Mohammed 2015). According to the European Commission Fact Sheet on the Syria crisis, various humanitarian partners have sponsored "humanitarian programmes which provide millions of people with life-saving assistance including food and safe drinking water, non-food items, shelter, emergency medical treatments and protection." However, the same fact sheet claims that there are over 4 million registered and unregistered Syrian refugees (Mohammed, 2015). That's an extremely high number to be providing humanitarian aid to, especially all at the same time.
Tone of the Cartoon:
1) Negative framing of the issue
2) Framing is opposed to supporters
3) Framing is supportive of opponents
Team Member Name: Zach Sorenson
Publication: The Association of American Editorial (AAEC).
Date: 09/08/2015
Cartoonist: Deb Milbrath.
U.S. or International: U.S.
Title of cartoon: Syrian Refugee Crisis.
Cartoon #:
What action is taking place in this cartoon?
This particular cartoon provides more of a comedic look at what we are currently paying attention to in the U.S. To the left we see a live news report covering the Syrian refugee crisis that is cut short because of a developing story concerning Republican candidate, Donald Trump. However, it isn’t much of a story, but rather an update of his latest bowel movement. The inspiring factor behind this cartoon may be attributed to Mr. Trump’s current political campaign and the entertainment he has provided for everyone.
What is the context?
Though there is no specific event which sponsored this cartoon, it is a simple illustration of media coverage (or a lack thereof) in regards to the Syrian conflict. Specifically, Donald Trump was dubbed by CNN as a "ratings machine" (Alexander, Stelter, 2015).
Tone of the Cartoon:
1) Positive framing of the issue.
2) Framing supportive to supporters
3) Framing is opposed to opponents
What “reality” is constructed/framed about this issue?
The cartoonists wants the U.S. to realize that they might be giving more attention to Trump and his political campaign than issues that should demand more attention from us like the Syrian refugees. The Syrian refugee problem isn’t as entertaining as Trump’s flamboyant speeches coupled with his facial expressions, and as a result less people are concerned or aware of it.
Analysis:
Milbrath uses exaggeration to get her point across about America needing to reevaluate the priorities. Obviously no news story would ever be cut short because someone’s stomach is found to be more important, but this cartoon does help us see that we are focusing on issues that have little importance compared to others.
What “reality” is constructed/framed about this issue?
The cartoonist wants us to see that by allowing these refugees into our country, it would only overwhelm the welfare programs we have and create another problem. It’s not something we would be able to support.
Analysis: Nath uses metaphor and simile to help us realized the size of the problem and how incapable we are of handling it. The problem is compared to a giant wave crashing into a small boat without the means of supporting or surviving.
Analysis:
Nath uses analogy and symbolism To help us realized the size of the problem and how incapable we are of handling it. The problem is compared to a giant wave crashing into a small boat without the means of supporting or surviving.
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Team Member Name: Zach Sorenson
Published on: BARBWIRE.
Date: 09/19/2015
Cartoonist: A.F. Branco
U.S. or International: U.S.
Title of Cartoon: Syrian Refugees… Sleeper Sheep?
Cartoon #: 13
What action is taking place in this cartoon?
In this cartoon, we see President Obama holding up a welcome sign for Syrian refugees entering the U.S. The particular refugee he is welcoming appears to be harmless on the outside, but is actually a wolf in sheep’s clothing, or in other words, a member of ISIS pretending to be a war refugee. The cartoon is warning us of the danger that comes with allowing Syrian refugees into our country. This may come off as an invitation into our country to members of terrorists groups. Syrians may come to the U.S. claiming to be refugees of the war, but are actually terrorists in disguise.
What is the context?
In regards to welcoming Syrian refugees into the country, recently President Obama “has told his administration to take in at least 10,000 displaced Syrians over the next year.” (Harris, Sanger & Herszenhorn, 2015). This has come as part of an effort to disperse nearly 160,000 refugees across a dozen countries (Eilperin, 2015). Some people have voiced concerns over welcoming so many refugees for fear of them being members of ISIS. In October after the publication of this cartoon, Donald Trump echoed those concerns in criticism towards Germany welcoming so many of them, pointing out how many migrants are men and saying "this could be the greatest Trojan horse" (Schultz, 2015).
Tone of the cartoon:
1) Negative framing of the issue
2) Opposed to supporters
3) Supportive of opponents
What “reality” is constructed/framed about the issue?
The cartoonist wants those that see this cartoon to think twice about who we are letting into our country for our own safety. Accepting Syrian refugees into our country may not be so simple when considering the possible negative outcome.
Analysis:
Branco uses symbolism in this cartoon to express the idea that not everything is as it appears. Syrian refugees may look as harmless as sheep, but how do we know they aren’t pretending to be something they aren’t, like terrorists?
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(Branco, 2015)
(Milbrath, 2015)
(Jacobson, 2015)
(Nath, 2015)
Team Member Name: Zach Sorenson
Publication: Slate
Date: 10/24/2013
Cartoonist: Andy Warner
U.S. or International: U.S.
Title of Cartoon: The Displaced
Cartoon #: 16
What action is taking place in this cartoon?
In the background of this cartoon we can see what look like Syrian refugees. In front of them stands Wael Abou Faour, Lebanese minister of social affairs, and he is explaining to the world the injustice he has seen in regards to helping out Syrian refugees.
What is the context?
The cartoon provides a great explanation to what is happening with Syrians fleeing their country. Lebanon feels like they have been left to deal with the problem alone and that advanced countries should be doing more to help lessen the load.
Lebanon borders Syria, so it's natural that so many refugees would be flocking to their border. The United Nations says that Lebanon has the highest per capita percentage of refugees, and that the 1.1. million of them mark a 25% increase in the nation's population (Martinez, 2015).
In July of 2015, two years since the publication of this cartoon, new Lebanese minister of social affairs Rashid Derba said that he is ready to coordinate the return of Syrian refugees in Lebanon back to their countries (Staff, 2015).
Tone of the cartoon:
1) Positive framing of the issue
2) Framing is supportive to supporters
3) Framing is opposed to opponents
What “reality” is constructed/framed about this issue?
The cartoonist wants us to see that more help is needed from other capable countries with refugees seeking to relocate. Countries like Lebanon are overwhelmed with the amount of Syrians entering their country. John Haltiwanger wrote an article concerning first world negligence of this crisis and in it he reiterates that the countries offering the most help don’t have the resources to do so effectively. “But, these countries are not equipped to deal with the scale of the crisis…” (Haltiwanger, 2015). They simply do not have the means to support all of them. Promises from the U.N were made in regards to helping out, and Wael Abour Faour has seen those promises become empty promises. The burden should not be placed on one, or a few countries but rather many countries in order to make supporting such a great number of people possible.
Analysis:
This cartoon is pretty straight forward--perhaps because it is such a serious issue that the Warner believes he needs to be blunt about. What is used is labeling so that the audience knows who is speaking, which makes his message more impactful.
(Warner, 2013)