| CARTOON WARS A cartoon presentation delivered by Terry Mosher to The Ottawa Press Club on the occasion of World Press Freedom day Ottawa -- May 3, 2006 |
Even though some will only whisper it these days, I must admit to being a
cartoonist. I’m in the serious business of not taking most things too seriously.
Cartoons, in one form or another, have been with us for a very long time –
as illustrated here by Ukranian cartoonist Oleg Dergachov…
cartoonist. I’m in the serious business of not taking most things too seriously.
Cartoons, in one form or another, have been with us for a very long time –
as illustrated here by Ukranian cartoonist Oleg Dergachov…
An important part of our job is to mock those who are in charge.
I understand satire as simply a testing process.
No person, no thing is ever perfect. We all have faults and weaknesses.
However – and here’s the test – can we admit as much by laughing at
our frailties – or not?
To laugh at ourselves in public is even more of a test.
When we poke fun at these authority figures that govern our lives, do they join in
the laughter – or not?
I find it revealing, for instance, that Robert Bourassa and Paul Martin both
enjoyed and collected cartoons of themselves …
I understand satire as simply a testing process.
No person, no thing is ever perfect. We all have faults and weaknesses.
However – and here’s the test – can we admit as much by laughing at
our frailties – or not?
To laugh at ourselves in public is even more of a test.
When we poke fun at these authority figures that govern our lives, do they join in
the laughter – or not?
I find it revealing, for instance, that Robert Bourassa and Paul Martin both
enjoyed and collected cartoons of themselves …
On the other hand, Brian Mulroney…
…and Stephen Harper…
…are not collectors.
Generally, we Canadians are quite prepared to laugh at ourselves, a real sign of
our maturity as a society.
Generally, we Canadians are quite prepared to laugh at ourselves, a real sign of
our maturity as a society.
