Some angry mail received on this one:

I wonder who will be more insulted by the cartoon you published on the Letters page today. My father who was recently laid off after 23 years at CAMCO, or my husband who has a PhD in bio-chemistry? --Ms. K. Ryckman, Dundas

Your Opinion Page cartoonist MacKay hit a new "low'" with his stupid, ignorant depiction of McMaster's recently announced purchase of the former Camco property to establish a technology research and development park in Hamilton. It will be far more comprehensive than a Bio-Tech Park and if a "nerd" the likes of a Bill Gates (Microsoft-Seattle) or a Mike Lazardis and James Balsillie (RIM-Waterloo) should emerge to benefit Hamilton, I hope you will stuff that cartoon down Mackay's throat!--Mr. K. McIntyre, Burlington.

McMaster's going to take the Camco site and turn it into a research park that will bring 1500 new, high-paying jobs to Hamilton. So, you print a cartoon that's derogatory to the very people who you should be thanking? What the !*$#@ are you smoking down there?--Mr. J. Merrall

Mr. A. Schroeder writes:

RE: Editorial cartoons (Oct. 7 and Oct. 8)

These tasteless cartoons were appalling because they were a pure commentary on the state of the Canadian military and in no way did they honour the fallen Lieutenant Chris Saunders.

Everybody knows the Canadian military has poor funding and as a result poor equipment. These cartoons tell us nothing we didn't already know.

The timing of the cartoons to illustrate this fact surrounding the death of serviceman is dishonouring and disrespectful to him and others who serve bravely and honourably. Somebody has died serving our country and cartoons should not be the venue for criticism of the funding circumstances surrounding the death.

It was just inappropriate timing and the editors should have known it. The cartoonist should send copies of his cartoons to the crew of HMCS Chicoutimi and see if they find it funny or an appropriate commentary at this time. I know I don't.

Some letters about this cartoon:

Moore's film is the best. It gets down to the facts. I think you can come up with something better too ... Keep trying. S. Cavazos

He has a right to talk all he wants, although many would take that away, i'm sure the founding fathers would be proud to have such a man around. J. Kingman

That pretty much sums up how I feel down here in the U.S. Thanks. D. Herbert

Your schoolyard humour is offensive and does not belong in a respectable newspaper. You obviously don't understand the concept of political cartoons as political satire and commentary. They are not a forum for gross personal attacks. J. Steeg

A bit mean spirited. I thought Canadians had more class. J. Lubeck

You insult not Micheal Moore, but all the innocent lives lost in the war. My brother was an Amercian Soldier who lost his life. I'm still trying to figure why. At least there is someone out there who is giving people a voice. D. Cleovoulou

Mr MacKay... Awesome cartoon!! A friend from the south. Sgt. J. W. Mitchell

Commentary from Le Carnet héraldiques, a blog based in France:

11 janvier 2008

UN COAT OF ARMS POUR L'HIVER

Au Canada, comme aux États-Unis et dans tous l'univers anglo-saxon, l'iconographie héraldique est toujours vivace.
À vrai dire, c'est tout le graphisme qui est en forme dans ces contrées lointaines.
Or donc, quand un "cartoonist" très irrespectueux envers le maire de Hamilton (Ontario) veut faire un carton pour se payer sa tête, il imagine un pastiche d'armoiries (coat of arms) très sophistiqué. Graeme Mackay (www.mackaycartoons.net/) reprend tout l'attirail des armes traditionnelles, l'écu, les tenants, la devise et lui donne une insolence très agréable à l'œil. 

Congratulations to The Spectator on this editorial and to artist Graeme MacKay on the editorial cartoon.

While he's travelling, I hope that Prime Minister Jean Chretien takes advantage of his captive airplane audience to lecture not just his Chinese hosts but also his corporate companions on the subject of democracy and human rights as they are understood and practised in Canada.

Those members of Team Canada who jeered the two Canadian protesters showed a dangerous combination of a narrow focus on economics and a condescending arrogance toward those whose knowledge of the total Chinese reality far exceeds theirs.

Team Canada seems so mesmerized by the prospect of profits to be gained from access to the world's biggest market that it fails to see (or chooses to ignore) the irony of the fact that access to that market is controlled by an undemocratic Chinese government fundamentally opposed to a truly free market, let alone a truly free society.

Chretien owes his success as a politician in large part to his careful tailoring of his message and his actions to the expressed wishes of the business community. He should now reverse the direction of the dialogue. I hope that Chretien reminds the business community -- as this situation has reminded the rest of us at home -- of just how fragile our own rights and democracy can be.

Finally, Hamilton East MP Sheila Copps, as an indefatigable promoter of all the good that Hamilton is and does, could do worse than to greet each returning member of Team Canada with a copy of The Spectator's editorial and the accompanying MacKay cartoon.

-- Danny Shea, Hamilton.