Political cartoon: I know it's a small thing to be angry about

[Recursion]

I just wanted to get my anger down on paper (or at least in electrons). There's a political cartoon making the rounds with babies posed as the Marines and Sailor at the flag raising on Iwo Jima, with a caption congratulating Alabama on "striking back" against Roe v. Wade.

There's a lot more important things going on, but as a veteran, and particularly as a Marine Corps veteran, I can not just let that go: some images are not appropriate for partisan political propaganda, and the flag-raising on Mt. Suribachi is absolutely one of them. To veterans that image is sacred, and not to be used to score political points. I know I shouldn't expect any better of the GOP, who love to praise soldiers and shit on veterans. But, like I said, I just wanted to register my complaint. It's not remotely the worst part of this current assault on women's bodily autonomy, but I wanted my 2 cents out there.

[ismnotwasm]

1. Given the death count of war

Up to and including pregnant women, that’s a completely fucked up image. Given the value of that particular image for veterans, have every right to be furious and disgusted.

[katmondoo]

2. Say whatever you wish, it is very welcomed and appreciated

[Lefta Dissenter]

3. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on that.

You give a perspective that wouldn’t have occurred to many of us. And just because it isn’t “the worst part” of the current assault doesn’t mean it’s not an important part of the assault.

(How many negatives can I pack into one sentence?)

[KY_EnviroGuy]

4. Thank you, Recursion - it's very appropriate and timely.

I wish you would consider submitting that as an editorial to a major paper.......

[ProudLib72]

5. +1

Yeah, Recursion, please write to the papers! Maybe it will have an impact there.

[FirstLight]

7. hear!hear!

I totally agree...and I bet some of us and other Vets would even sign it!

It's wrong to equate those issues, and worse to use such an image

[Farmer-Rick]

6. I knew a man who was there as they raised the flag. He was a hero

His family, I felt, treated him like crap. He was an amazing person.

He died recently. They are treating unborn fetuses as if they were thinking, breathing, soul searching, people.

These third world little dick-tators will not be happy until we have a fetus as president.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

8. It's no small thing! They are reprehensible.

Disgusting poseurs. The head-space they must live in....it is so dangerous....anti-Human. When I try to imagine behaving as they do I just can’t picture it. I get too enraged at how stupid and destructive they are...

Heartless evil, banal thinkers seeing only immediate personal profit. Stomp on anyone below you, make use of them and then jackboot them again. That is the repuke mindset.

[Honeycombe8]

9. I agree. It damages what the Iwo Jima statue actually means. nt

[defacto7]

10. Your complaint is duly registered along with mine.

[JonLP24]

11. Iwo Jima image isnt sacred to me as a veteran

Both men originally misidentified as flag raisers had helped raise a smaller flag about 90 minutes earlier, and were both still on the mountaintop and witnessed – but were not part of – the specific moment of raising the larger flag that was captured in the Pulitzer Prize–winning photo. All men were under the command of Brigadier General Harry B. Liversedge.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raising_the_Flag_on_Iwo_Jima

The film which covered their lives after is a lot more sad to me than feelings over that photograph.

[Qutzupalotl]

12. Write to the editor.

They read well-written letters and might even issue an apology. It’s worth a shot.

[Mosby]

13. K and R

[rustydog]

14. Technically, according to Barr, the baby is an accomplice and

will be placed in a cage with illegal immigrant children. We are a nation of laws Damn it! MAGA in some demented fu**ed way.

[GentryDixon]

15. I knew it wouldn't be long before the marines stood up against this disgusting cartoon.

Many on Twitter are claiming the one baby has his arm drawn as a penis.

[Rabrrrrrr]

16. You're damn right! That is indeed offensive. I'm glad I haven't seen it. Also, you said something

that I have longed try to put into words about the way that GOP treats our military personnel.

"They love to praise soldiers and shit on veterans" <-- that's perfectly said! And exactly and precisely true.

Thanks for finally giving me a one-sentence way to talk about their hypocrisy about our sons and daughters who serve in the military.

Just like "They love to praise fetuses but shit on the born".

[PatrickforO]

17. Indeed.

They do love to praise soldiers and shit on veterans.

[Nitram]

18. Well said, Recursion!

[50 Shades Of Blue]

19. K & R

[Collimator]

20. Another sad aspect of this is . . .

. . .that it can be interpreted to mean that more babies being born equates to more soldiers available to send to war.

I have enormous regard for the sacrifices that our military service people make for our country. However, when looking down at a newborn child, I don't wish for the child to grow up to be a soldier. This isn't ancient Sparta. I look down at a newborn child and pray that he or she grows up healthy and filled with love and living in a world at peace.

[dflprincess]

26. That's what I thought too

besides insulting veterans the image described would only remind me that the right wing loves the fetus because they want to use it for cannon fodder later.

[calimary]

21. Your two cents are worth a lot more than that.

Thank you for this post, Recursion. Thank you for your service to this country. You’re quite correct that the Iwo Jima image is nothing to trifle with. Especially regarding this issue.

[UniteFightBack]

22. They have the worst political cartoons and terrible meme's...because they all have intellectual rot.

Nothing is off limits when you have not internal litmus.

[alfredo]

23. Dems punch up, Republicans punch down.

[MasonDreams]

24. It is most definitely not a small thing.

That image is sacred and deserves respect. It honors those who "gave the last full measure of devotion". Lincoln's words here are sacred; and his call to action at the end of his second inaugural address, reminds us that we have some hard work to do yet. " with malice toward none, and charity for all,, with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right
Let us strive to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan - to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves, and with all nations"