Another tasteless cartoon from the AJC's Mike Luckovich

Back in June, I posted about Mike Luckovich’s disgusting cartoon that broadbrushed all of our troops as no better than Islamofascists who torture innocents.

Well, he’s using our troops in a cartoon again, except this time they’re in flag-draped coffins, and used to make a “point” about Rush Limbaugh’s statements about actor Michael J. Fox. The father of a US Army Sgt. Mike Stokely, KIA in Iraq, sent me a copy of the letter he wrote to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in response:

I met the most important passenger I could possibly meet as he arrived at Hartsfield International Airport at approximately 5:00 p.m. on August 24, 2005. I welcomed him home by watching through tears as two Army Sergeants uncrate his casket and drape it with an American Flag. Airline employees watch as I, an untrained civilian, stand at attention and salute as best I could. My boy – a man greater than I shall ever be, SGT Michael James Stokely, had come home.

Webster’s defines a casket as a receptacle for something highly prized and valued; a coffin, especially an expensive one. That definition is an understatement for the Stokely family and many more like us.

Mr. Luckovich’s [October] 27, 2006 editorial parody of the Rush Limbaugh / Michael J. Fox squabble, using rows of flag draped caskets with a clown like individual saying to another “Rush Limbaugh says they’re faking it” is over the top. The two have absolutely nothing to do with one another except that Mr. Luckovich is getting a two for one shot by expressing his disdain for the valuable contents of flag draped caskets as he pokes Rush Limbaugh in the eye.

The conerstone of the freedom and way of life we have in America is founded on free speech. Mr. Luckovich can express himself without having his property taken, sent to Siberia, fear of hands, genitals, or head being cut-off, daughter raped in his presence or forced to watch as his whole family is slaughtered. That freedom cornerstone is cut with the sacrificial service of soldiers, especially those whose body comes home in a flag draped casket.

Webster’s got it right, for dead soldiers in flag draped caskets are highly prized and most valuable for they have done their best, giving all for America. Can the same be said of Mr. Luckovich and the AJC? Maybe Mr. Luckovich should draw a cartoon and parody himself standing alongside West Park Baptist fanatics who mock flag draped caskets and seek to wound families of dead soldiers.

May God continue to Bless America and may your blessing be so great that you suffer not the welcoming home of your valuable loved one in a way our family and many others have, and may no one mock your loss.

God bless you and your family, Mr. Stokely, and thank you for sending me a copy of your letter. Mike Luckovich is allowed to draw his pointless, tacky, and demeaning cartoons because of honorable men like your son.

NC Cop says:

November 1, 2006 at 11:03 pm

Mike Luckovich is allowed to draw his pointless, tacky, and demeaning cartoons because of honorable men like your son.

That says it all S.T. Unfortunately, even Luckovich’s trash is the burden we have to bear to live in a free society. It’s because of heroes like Sgt. Mike Stokely that Luckovich gets to print his crap.

Thank you Mr. Stokely for raising a man like Sgt. Mike Stokely, a man who gave his life so that others may enjoy the freedom that we take for granted. A man who gave his life so that others may have the right to vote and have their voice heard. A man who gave his life to stop the rape, murder, and torture of children because their parents spoke out against the government.

Thank you Mr. Stokely and Godspeed Sgt. Stokely.

Drewsmom says:

November 2, 2006 at 6:20 am

NC Cop stole all my thunder, thank you Mr. Stokely and don’t worry, he is up in heaven being comforted by all our angels who care about this country and your son’s cause.