In the wake of the Aurora, Colorado theater shooting that left 12 dead, pundits and politicians continue to search for who to blame for such a terrible tragedy (click here to view our collection of Batman Shooting cartoons).
In his cartoon about the subject, two-time Pulitzer prize winner Michael Ramirez, the conservative cartoonist at Investors Business Daily, points the finger at Generation Y and loner kids who lack personal contact facilitated by the rise of social networking and the internet:
Ramirez writes on his Facebook page about the cartoon:
As our nation mourns another senseless tragedy, now is the time for everyone to say prayers for the lives prematurely taken, and prayers for their families and loved ones. Take the time to reflect on your loved ones, cherish them, love them, hold them close and tell them how much you appreciate them in your life. While it is impossible to define the motives of evil and no one should politicize such a tragedy, these events should be a catalyst for serious introspection. I can’t help but reflect on whether the detachment and inurement of our society, the desensitization of so many of our youth, the lack of real human contact replaced by modern technology and the dissolution of the nuclear family has created a host of new problems for modern America. While these may or may not be factors associated with this specific case, those problems exist today and may herald misfortune tomorrow.
Matt Bors, a syndicated cartoonist and a Pulitzer finalist last year, didn’t take to kindly to Ramirez’s characterteration and went after him in a post on his Facebook page.
Michael Ramirez knows what caused the shooting: Gen Y. We’re all lazy, indifferent, apathetic, detached idiots with cell phones – apparent ready to kill. Hey Mike: Go Fuck Yourself.
I’m so tired this bullshit about Millennials being morons who text too much and can’t get jobs while people with comfortable lives gloat about how entitled or detached we are. We didn’t create this depression – or mass murder. It’s bums like Ramirez, and anyone with his attitude towards young people, who should truly be having trouble searching for work.
Readers comments were mixed about Ramirez’s cartoon:
Jim Rose: Gen Y, playing the parts of anyone other than themselves, instead of becoming the best that they could be! Thanks Hollyweird and shoot `em up game makers!
Kelly Schaefer: Bitter baby boomers. Just don’t forget which generation will be wiping your butts in the nursing homes. I’m sure you’ll conveniently block that out, though. Little rascals.
Kevin Legg: Families have been breaking down for aeons. We’ve been violent toward one another for just as long. This tragic shooting by a disaffected sociopath has about as much to do with him being from “Generation Y” as it has to do with the phases of the moon.
Mike Beckom: Wow. It’s been a really long time since I’ve seen this kinda hate generated by an editorial cartoon. While you may disagree with his message and/or his presentation….his toon did exactly what a good editorial cartoon is SUPPOSED TO DO.
Trevor Bajus: Old Man Yells At Cloud.
Sani Adam: Simply put, Hollywood is responsible for all of these horrific acts of violence. (and they support Obama)
What’s your take? Do you agree with Ramirez that our increasingly-detached culture is contributing to violent episodes like the Aurora shooting, or is Bors correct in his defense of Millennials? I’ve e-mailed Ramirez for his take on Bors’ criticism, and if he responds I’ll post it here.
Comment below, or weigh in on our Facebook page.
