ENN Opinion/Editorial
06/21/97 - 13:00EDT
By Clark Staten, ENN Publisher
Beaufort, SC (ENN) -- Oklahoma City residents, families of bombing victims, and firefighters all over the country are expressing their anger today about an editorial cartoon that appeared in the Arizona Republic newspaper and depicts a firefighter with a nametag that reads "Death Penalty Fanatic." Further, one of the captions in the cartoon show a likeness of OKC Firefighter Chris Fields, who was shown in a now world-famous picture, telling a dying infant appearing similar to Baylee Almon to "Stop your whining!" The baby's caption reads, "Please stop the killing..." The cartoon was drawn by Steve Benson, of the United Features Syndicate, and was transmitted via Reuters News service to a number of newspapers.
According to the deceased baby's mother, Aren Almon Kok, the cartoon is "tacky" and "distasteful." John Hansen, Asst. Fire Chief in Oklahoma City, said that the cartoon was "just totally uncalled for." A representative of the International Association of Firefighters told ENN that they have sent a letter of protest to the Arizona Republic and are demanding an apology for the negative image that the cartoon portrays of firefighters. Others in the emergency service field have been even less polite, one firefighter, when show the cartoon, even asking this correspondent where the cartoonist lived and saying that he would like to "have a personal man-to-man discussion," with the author.
Benson, himself, said that "being provocative is his job." Further, he was quoted by the USAToday newspaper as saying, "This cartoon was meant to cause introspection and self-examination, and often that kind of brutal honesty causes pain." Benson concluded by telling USAToday that, " I got calls of commendation and agreement....[objections to this cartoon] are not because I used the image at all, but because I've used the image to make a statement with which the readers disagree."
If we could speak directly to Mr. Benson, we would tell him that he is at least right in his last statement....there are many in this country that don't agree with his depiction of a heroic firefighter with a nametag that reads "Death Penalty Fanatic." While there are certainly those in the fire and other emergency services that may agree with the death penalty, there are a large number of others that disagree with it and regard the sanctity of human life above all else. After all, it is their job to fight the forces of fires, floods, earthquakes, explosions, and any number of other hazards to try to SAVE LIVES.
Secondarily, Mr. Benson's depiction of the firefighter saying to an innocent baby, who eventually died in his arms, "Oh...Stop your whining!" is both insensitive and a direct insult to professional rescue workers everywhere. I can assure you that, having been personally faced with similar circumstances myself, the anguish that Firefighter Fields was feeling far transcends his saying any such nonsense or even thinking about Timothy McVeigh or the death penalty. All he was concerned about at the time was the pain and grief associated with the needless loss of an innocent baby's life.
Finally, Mr. Benson, it is obvious that you have a strong dislike for the death penalty and do not agree with Mr. McVeigh being sentenced to die for his crimes. But, it is our considered opinion that your political and ethical position is not sufficient justification for you to label some of America's most caring, heroic, and dedicated citizens as "death fanatics" of any kind. Regardless of your purported motivations, Mr. Benson, you should apologize to America's firefighters and refrain from making such ill-conceived statements in the future.
(C) EmergencyNet News Service, 1997. All rights reserved. May
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