After a bit of popular demand, I’ve decided to release some death threat snippets that came in following this cartoon. Most of the “popular demand” was from Tea (ahem) Partiers who accused me of fabricating the whole nasty death-related emails thing. So, without further ado . . .
“For this stupid, childish cartoon demonizing the Tea Party protesters (whom only perverts and sexual deviants call "Tea Baggers") Mark Fiore needs to be killed, along with his family.”
And, so there’s no confusion that this is only linguistically-based rage about the term “Tea Bagger,” the author continues in bumper sticker fashion,
“The only good socialist is a dead socialist.”
Granted, he’s no crazy guy from Somalia at my
door wielding an ax, in fact, my mental image of him is more of a guy in his underwear at his computer. (I should talk, I’m wearing pajama bottoms right now, although I do have loads of experience wielding an ax from my days in Idaho. See previous
post.)
Then there was a “Tea Bagger” who apparently didn’t mind being called one, though he was still angry.
“Subject: David the gun owning tea bagger”
Though I get quite a bit of exercise when I’m not working on cartoons, some were recommending I become more physically fit.
“When the knock on the door comes in a few hours, start running.”
I think this next guy (yes, most seem to be guys) is a little more passive, he’s not necessarily prepared to do the dirty work himself. This one is hardly a death threat, it’s more of a New Year’s Resolution methinks.
"I hope you suffer a
painful demise."
There did seem to be a large number of self-identified “Tea Baggers” who were very angry with me, in part for saying “Tea Bag.” Some were even very proud and ready to
take my ass down.”
Most were considerate enough to keep their language clean, although this one slipped a bit. (Edited for family viewing.)
"SMASH THE SOCIALISTS. There's hell to pay, very soon, a--hole. F--k you"
Okay, booga-booga, very scary stuff. Actually, not really, this is all fairly typical Internet threat-speak. If you are really concerned about cartoonists who are having their lives threatened for the work they are creating, I strongly urge you to check out and support the
Cartoonist Rights Network. They’ve been working with cartoonists internationally who have been variously sued, jailed, beaten and killed. I’ve met some of these cartoonists and they are true heroes. CRNI does great work, most importantly by bringing attention to cartoonists in trouble. If you learn about some of their stories, this whole Tea Bag episode seems about as big a deal as a, well, tea bag.
Now, to prove I’m not hated in all the conservative locales of the United States, here is a gratuitous shot of me last September in Walt Disney’s hometown Marceline, Missouri.
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Comments
Surfing sucks, don't try it.
Surfing sucks, don't try it.
Some of these tea baggers
Some of these tea baggers are scary people, the Gun-Nut element does scare me.
However, many moons ago a friend's band decided to make the jump from indie to major label, and guess what? They got threatening letters!??!? Huh? And of course, nothing happened.
some clergy are scary
some clergy are scary people, some cops are scary people, some liberals are scary people, some nuns are scary people, some local politicians are scary people, some bankers are scary people, some foreign leaders are scary people....some.
Get it?
What did he write about?
What did he write about? what were the lyrics?
Some snippets? Post them
Some snippets? Post them all. Show everyone how utterly insane these teabaggers are.
My thinking is that the
My thinking is that the reason those on the extreme side of the religious right (of whatever stripe religion they claim) are sociopaths is that they don't surf. Wouldn't it be better if the Tea Party movement was a surf club?
Likewise, Al Queda would be a much nicer organization if they surfed and were dedicated to promoting surfing. I joked a long time ago that we would have saved a lot more lives had we, instead of invading various countries, we just bought Al Queda a bunch of surf boards, loaded them up and transported them to some great learning surf break, and gave them lessons.
Would have been a nice experiment. Instead, we get what we got.
Death-threats should be
Death-threats should be forwarded to the local Police...
Heard the NPR Ombudsman
Heard the NPR Ombudsman falling on her sword about the Tea Bagger cartoon on the NPR website. So, how DOES one "fact check" a cartoon, anyway??
Reagarding these death
Reagarding these death threats...
It is the function of all satire, if rendered and delivered correctly, to upset someone: so you're just being effective in your vocation, Mark; although I do have to admit to a certain satisfaction that it's the teabaggers, and their nihilist agenda, who are reverting to type and threatening violence (and, sadly, worse).
You're doing a great job mate! Keep it up!
Cheers, chin up and good luck from the UK!
Bren.
Cosmic Navel Lint : http://cosmicnavellint.blogspot.com/
One day, we all may be
One day, we all may be fortunate enough to receive anonymous death threats from the underwear death jihad.
What do tea baggers and
What do tea baggers and radical islam have in common? No sense of humor or irony!
in case u didn't know, many
in case u didn't know, many of these "teabaggers" are white supremists, tax evaders wanted by the fbi and irs, and so forth:
http://www.splcenter.org/news/item.jsp?aid=392
and while this article didn't go over it, many of them are also from the ayn rand institute (atheists who hate everybody, i wonder how they get along with religious conservatives), and the PR campaign "staff" for sarah palin and glenn beck, who are paid by the post to harass.
the last reason is why we usually say "don't feed the trolls." cuz so long as there's money to be made, they keep coming back. u kick them off quickly--they have their own places to practice freedom of speech, u have the right to not be harrassed.
those firms are headquartered in places like new zealand, london, toronto, and northern virginia. they network together tho, so they have the same agenda/talking points. for the ones overseas, u used to be able to watch the times they made their comments, cuz it would be working hours where they were...u used to also be able to follow their ip addresses, but now they hide them, and the most u get is a server in russia somewhere...
russia is where the hackers who broke into those climate emails had their computer work based...at some point we'll have our own hackers figure out where this is all coming from.
you've definitely been targeted tho, and that's actually a good thing...they only bother to harass someone who is a threat to their mission, that is to say, anyone effective at communication and exposing them for what they are.
progressives are so
progressives are so yesterday...grow up. There will never be utopia because God rules and man will always be an animal.
Mark, good for you. You're
Mark, good for you. You're brilliant and brave.
I wouldn't discount all as
I wouldn't discount all as irrelevant "Internet threat speak." You've seen what these idiots have done sometimes (cf. Dr. Tiller). You maybe needn't quake in your boots but I'd be a little cautious. I wouldn't venture into the South or the Midwest too much. Sometimes people really want to do what they say. Of course they need some blowback for their meanness. Keep doing your cartoons. The dog the rock thrown into the pack hit snarls the loudest. Your work must hit a nerve or there wouldn't be the hateful responses.
Mark, these people might be
Mark, these people might be bluster but then again they might be dangerous. I just had a 'nephew-in-law' shot in the face. His crime: growing medical marijuana. Admittedly not a wise choice of profession but people nowadays think life and death is a video-game. Apparently it is becoming "acceptable" to blow someone away if you disagree with them or hate them for whatever perverted reason. I don't know, I'm serious, have you contacted the authorities or would that be an exercise in futility in view of the incompetence of our law enforcement agencies that couldn't detect the Detroit plane bomber despite REPEATED warnings. Makes me wonder why Afghanistan is a priority when we won't even protect our own people here at home. I'm really down on Obama for being this stupid as to buy the generals' malarke and escalating. I see him now as another George W. Bush. He's broken almost every one of his campaign promises now. This whole country seems to be filled with scammers and confidence men (and women).
I'm sorry you have to deal with this kind of garbage. I wish these people could be located and something done to deal with them. Making death threats on someone is tantamount to violent assault. If they say it they might do it. OMG I'm very afraid for this country. It is going down the toilet.
Sorry you are suffering the
Sorry you are suffering the wrath and the ignorance of the wrathful ignorant. I know you know it means you're doing a good job. But please do take care. There are lots of crazy people in this world and a high percentage are probably teabaggers.
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