TOW #2- Political Cartoon

http://townhall.com/political-cartoons/2015/09/16/135209

This political cartoon was created by a woman named Lisa Benson. Benson has been a cartoonist since the 1990s and has published many cartoons about the recent elections and other worldly events. This particular cartoon depicts her viewpoint of the Iranian nuclear deal. On the left, a donkey (the symbol of the Democratic Party) is shown blocking out the cries of the rest of the U.S. that say “Kill the DEAL!” On the right, the Ayatollah of Iran is shown to be agreeing with the cries of his people: “Death to AMERICA!” This drawing is aimed to send a powerful message to the citizens of the United States. Her depiction of the Donkey saying “I can’t hear you” to the desperate pleas of its citizens sends the message that the government is not representing the wishes of its people. The author’s purpose in drawing this cartoon is to convince readers that the Iranian Nuclear Deal is a bad idea. Her purpose is shown through her depiction of the Iranian Ayatollah. He is contentedly agreeing with his citizens as they scream for the destruction of America. She argues that as the American government ignores the opposition to the deal and defies the wishes of its people, it is essentially giving the Iranians the tools necessary to achieve their ultimate goal of destroying America.

Benson utilizes repetition to appeal to pathos and ethos, and a juxtaposition to appeal to logos and pathos. On the left, the words “Kill the DEAL!” are shown three times within a speech bubble that comes from the American public. Contrasted with the one time that the Iranian public states what they want and the acknowledgement by their Ayatollah, the American government’s (democratic party’s) refusal to listen is emphasized. The American public state their wishes three times and still are not heard. The Iranians state their wish once and are automatically given confirmation that their wish will be granted. This juxtaposition sends a powerful message about America’s fate if the Iranian Nuclear Deal is agreed upon, but also sends a powerful message about the American government’s loyalty to its people.

I find this political cartoon to be successful because of the emphasis on the betrayal of the US government to its people. Benson’s audience is US citizens, and because of this, the depiction of betrayal is extremely powerful in provoking rage towards the government. Her depiction of the Iranian side shows that Iran’s goal is to destroy America. This gives the reader the idea that if the deal is accepted, it will ultimately lead to America’s destruction. Overall, Benson’s use of repetition and her juxtaposition is successful in communicating her message that the Iranian nuclear idea is a recipe for disaster.