Priti Patel Cartoon

[Everanewbie]

Whatever you think of her politics, AIBU to feel that the Guardian, and left wing commentators display disgusting hypocracy in their treatment of politicians in the centre-right, especially when female or of colour, in thius case Home Secretary Priti Patel?

Diane Abbott has been targetted by the most foul abuse, which is rightly highlighted and condemned, however claims of abuse are fired back when her views, consistency, politics and competance are questioned. But if the person in question is more of a centre-right pursuasion, they seem to be fair game.

In my opinion, yes. I'd say that religion is enormously damaging, and I would not give it immunity from piss-taking. That would itself be a retrograde step.

Fair enough, at least you’re honest about what you prioritise. Which is more than can be said about the Guardian with its constant moral grandstanding, apparent love of multiculturalism, championing of identity politics, and constant articles on the evils of free speech. It’s funny how they’re happy to throw those values out of the window and bring out the racist tropes when it comes to BAME people who aren’t left wing.

I agree, OP.

The very people that despise her racist views, think nothing of this offensive picture. Hypocrites.

Just because I find her views disgusting, I would not extend that to her religion or ethnicity.

It's cherry-picked racism, because no one is more 'deserving' of racism just because they are a twat.

It’s potentially racist, it’s certainly not for me to say it’s not. I will say, your hand-wringing and glee at ‘the left’ producing this because of their jumping on any perceived ‘-ism’ is laughable as The Guardian is barely a left-wing paper. It may be the most left wing on a spectrum where the majority of (basically all) mainstream papers are right-wing, but no self respecting leftie reads The Guardian. The Guardian is for centrists who just about cling onto voting Labour as it eases their consciences when they can tell people they’ve never voted Tory.

Dianne Abbot faces masses of racist abuse on the daily, and not only that but death threats, seemingly for daring to exist in the spaces that she does as a black woman. Weaponising that to defend someone with abhorrent politics who’s policies negatively impact minority communities isn’t a great look, FYI.

Priti Patel isn’t centre-right, she’s just right wing. Your political spectrum seems to be a bit of a mess.

It was horrible and I'm not a fan of either politician. I'm surprised the guardian lowered themselves and printed it to be honest.
It shocked me and I'm not easily shocked by things! No need to do this sort of thing even if she isn't popular etc.

Mmm..

Biased, I am a cartoonist though not political stuff like this.

The question I ask is.. does this work, does it send the same message that Patel and Johnson are bullish, are bullies, if neither is Indian.

Yes, it does.

This works no matter what religion the person involved is.

The next question is, does Priti Patel actually follow a religion, does she identify with and represent Hindus, and given I had to look up to see if she does, and I can find no evidence that she does, I have to say no, she is not representative of a follower of any particular religion.

Bah.. clumsy fingers..

So on that basis, I'd say this cartoon is not racist, however it may be a poor cartoon... thats really up to the viewer.

However it has got all of us talking about it and as a cartoonist.. that is what I'd want, regardless of whether you like it or agree with it, people talking about it and looking at it would be my goal!

The Guardian isn’t a monolith. It has a variety of views in it. That is like any other newspaper.

Steve Bell has been licensed to be offensive for years - nearly 40 I think. There are probably a fair few people who work for the Guardian who think this is racist. But they aren’t the editor and the buck stops with her.

We are living in more robust times than some people are used to; this isn’t a time when there is effective “common decency” about what happens. This is going to be rough stuff for the next couple of years. The best predictor of what Britain will be like? Think pre 1997 attitudes. Identity politics is dead, for both Priti Patel and the Guardian.

The next question is, does Priti Patel actually follow a religion, does she identify with and represent Hindus

It would appear she does:

twitter.com/patel4witham/status/990623800181043200

It doesn't surprise me that some people on here don't think its racist, I wonder if they would think it was racist if the daily mail had a cartoon of diane abbot next to Jeremy Corbyn made up to look like monkeys

Even if the Daily Mail did that, it would still be perfectly legal. Maybe many people would be outraged, but that would still be permitted.

The Daily Mail has printed and published all sorts of derogatory things about politicians and certain groups. They all survived, and all was freedom of speech.

It is offensive, and while I can’t stand Priti Patel The Guardian should have known better than to print this.

It's notable that a number of people who have condemned don't have a bad word to day about the racist de Pfellel, and indeed, Patel herself for joyously deporting British citizens to Jamaica even though they've never lived there...

@HannibalHayes

To be fair, I don't think that's true! But I'm sure they'll pop up to defend themselves.

It's notable that a number of people who have condemned don't have a bad word to day about the racist de Pfellel, and indeed, Patel herself for joyously deporting British citizens to Jamaica even though they've never lived there...

How on earth can you possibly know that?

We've seen some of them on the Brexit threads. They're very, er, choosy about the points they respond to...

It's unacceptable. I find her to be unacceptable to be honest, but two wrongs don't make a right.

The cartoon isn't racist.
Patel is offensive.
Abbott is offensive.
That is not a comment on their colour or religion.

Yet another thread about the odious Patel that’s had Diane Abbott dragged into it. Why can’t we discuss one without the other?

Indeed - two wrong'uns don't make a right

GCAcademic “ Which is more than can be said about the Guardian with its constant moral grandstanding, apparent love of multiculturalism, championing of identity politics, and constant articles on the evils of free speech. It’s funny how they’re happy to throw those values out of the window and bring out the racist tropes when it comes to BAME people who aren’t left wing.”

This, x 100.

I doubt there was racist intent but that doesn't mean the image is therefore acceptable. It'd be akin to portraying a couple of lawmakers as 'pig headed' - you're going to cause understandable upset if one of them happens to be a Muslim.

I doubt there was racist intent but that doesn't mean the image is therefore acceptable. It'd be akin to portraying a couple of lawmakers as 'pig headed' - you're going to cause understandable upset if one of them happens to be a Muslim

Think that is stretching it a bit.
Might one also be offended at any animal portrayal of a person if they happen to be a vegetarian?

The right and the left are just as bad as each other and always have been. You can't really complain about racism and hypocrisy if those who share your politics do it as well.

The cartoon is distasteful but remember that Patel is an incredibly powerful woman. This is a far cry from the anti-Semitic cartoons attacking Jews, a victimised and scapegoated group, in 20's and 30's Germany.

I cancelled my Guardian subscription over a Steve Bell cartoon of Theresa May.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2017/jan/26/steve-bell-uk-us-theresa-may-donald-trump-cartoon

There’s a long history of political cartoons in the UK. Crude, gross images that have often had more impact than hours of speeches in the Commons and reams of broadsheet print. The defence that all politicians are subject to the same treatment only works if all politicians are white and male. You can’t pretend ignorance of the equally long history of using images to denigrate women and ethnic minorities. Using sexual imagery of women or depicting people of colour as animals carries a lot greater weight than the same imagery of white men because of the weight of that history.

The left and right aren’t ‘as bad as each other’. Nothing wrong with either. They are both reasonable positions.

The problem is with the far left and far right and in the West although the far left are noisy with their cancel culture, no platforming and identity obsessions, the far right are the ones who’ve made it in to government to demonise the poor and disabled, threaten the Irish and wish to reinstate the death penalty (UK) and call some of the types of people who carried tiki torches in Charlottesville screaming ‘Jews will not replace us’, ‘some very fine people’ (US).

I’m certain a far left government would spell disaster but there’s no chance we’ll get one in the the short to medium term. The Overton Window is firmly hovering over the mainstream/far right position.