In response to a combination of irresponsible editorial and cartoon appearred in the Toronto Sun, we sent a protest letter. Here we want to share our thoughts with our online community. The email address of the Toronto Sun is editor@sunpub.com. Thank you!
Sir,
In the 28 May 2003 edition of the Toronto Sun, there appeared an editorial textual and cartoon combo. In the article, the author accused the federal government of appeasing the new immigrants to the point that public safety from severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was compromised. Next to the column, there laid a cartoon showing skeletons marching in droves, wearing masks bearing "Made in China."
It is easy to dismiss such a combination as a slip of the journalistic integrity. However, if we give the it some more thought, the underlying message seems very disturbing.
It is not the first time that the ugly part of human nature rears its head when we witness human suffering. The attitude shown by the combination reminds us of difficult times when lepers were sent to isolated locations and whole ethnic groups were labeled as unclean and carrying diseases.
Such bad media behaviours also sets a unsettling precedent. What next? Cartoons showing cows carrying the Mad Cow disease, strolling down the trans-Canada highway? Or skeletal crows flying cross the border with West Nile virus?
The editorial pieces are supposed to be illuminating and inspiring at times of adversaries. We the public have the responsibility to demand high standards of the media and to hold the media accountable of the public misdeeds they carry out. We hope the newspaper will take a moment to reflect the image they want to project themselves and give the concept of social responsibility some serious thought.
Fuhu Wang, Xingzhong Huang
Yongzhi Wang, Daiyu Wang
Ottawa
Sir,
In the 28 May 2003 edition of the Toronto Sun, there appeared an editorial textual and cartoon combo. In the article, the author accused the federal government of appeasing the new immigrants to the point that public safety from severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was compromised. Next to the column, there laid a cartoon showing skeletons marching in droves, wearing masks bearing "Made in China."
It is easy to dismiss such a combination as a slip of the journalistic integrity. However, if we give the it some more thought, the underlying message seems very disturbing.
It is not the first time that the ugly part of human nature rears its head when we witness human suffering. The attitude shown by the combination reminds us of difficult times when lepers were sent to isolated locations and whole ethnic groups were labeled as unclean and carrying diseases.
Such bad media behaviours also sets a unsettling precedent. What next? Cartoons showing cows carrying the Mad Cow disease, strolling down the trans-Canada highway? Or skeletal crows flying cross the border with West Nile virus?
The editorial pieces are supposed to be illuminating and inspiring at times of adversaries. We the public have the responsibility to demand high standards of the media and to hold the media accountable of the public misdeeds they carry out. We hope the newspaper will take a moment to reflect the image they want to project themselves and give the concept of social responsibility some serious thought.
Fuhu Wang, Xingzhong Huang
Yongzhi Wang, Daiyu Wang
Ottawa
