Cartoons prompt response, debate and gratitude

THE responses to Yeo’s cartoon of May 6 give food for further thought.

One contributor defends Winston Peters by accusing the artist of victimising that politician when Trevor Mallard is the real villain (Letters, 10.5.22).

Another suggests Peters orchestrated the whole thing, loves publicity and is well aware his actions ‘‘have consequences’’ (Letters, 11.5.22).

Perhaps the truth is somewhere in the middle.

My initial take was that Yeo utilised the trespass notice debacle to take a swipe at Peters’ previous use of ignorance as a defence when his superannuation was overpaid some years ago.

Then I thought the artist could be aiming at Trevor Mallard’s inflammatory behaviour towards protesters at the start of the occupation and the lack of immediate action by the police to clear parliament grounds, leading to accusations of the Government being ‘‘soft’’ on crime — that pet electioneering pitch of Peters and politicians on the right.

Whatever Yeo’s intent, in my opinion he is a very, very clever man whose cartoons don’t rely on either the ‘‘feel good funny’’ or cruel acerbic to make a point.

And they shouldn’t always be taken at face value.

I also reckon the Otago Daily Times and its readers are very lucky to have him.

Abbotsford

ONE may agree or disagree with Yeo’s cartoons, but in my opinion he has hit the nail on the head once again with his cartoon (ODT, 11.5.22). Hitler’s words to Putin, ‘‘You have become the very thing your country once fought against.’’

Oamaru