Underfire Tremain says cartoon lampooned politics, not suicide

I AM almost at a loss for words. Today’s effort from Garrick Tremain

(ODT, 11.9.17) is so thoughtless, so insensitive and such a disgusting attempt to be clever. What is he thinking?

I have nothing more to say except having that printed in today’s paper makes me feel very disappointed and sad.

Sandra Robinson

Roslyn

I WAS shocked and disgusted to see the Tremain cartoon politicising suicides. This cartoon was uncalled for and must have been very hurtful to those parents and relatives who have suffered from this devastating event. I hope Tremain will apologise to those families who have suffered and think of how other people feel before he embarks on politicising this type of human misery.

R. Bennett

Mosgiel

I FOUND Garrick Tremain’s cartoon to be in very poor taste. He clearly has never experienced the loss of dearly loved person by suicide.

Liz Berry

Opoho [Garrick Tremain replies: ‘‘I am never surprised when people misconstrue the messages in cartoons. This is a typical instance. The cartoon in no way ‘politicised’ or made light of this country’s shameful suicide record.

‘‘Like the 606 Pairs of Shoes demonstration it did, by merely mentioning it, draw further attention to that record. Like the organisers of that demonstration, I am proud to have done so.

‘‘For those unable to understand the cartoon, there is, sadly, a need for me to point out that the cartoon, far from lampooning suicide, was lampooning the buffoonish behaviour of Steven Joyce — another cause for regret in this country at present.’’]