L E T T E R S

Todays cartoon seems to portray the Spectator as thinking that Vaccinating against H1N1 is comparable to putting tin foil hats on . HMMM . Well if the Paper we trust thinks its just as likely that Aliens are beaming things into our heads as getting H1N1 you,ve convinced me NOT to get the shot . Thanks I was on the fence but youre right.

M.Doyle -- Hamilton

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Graeme MacKay should be congratulated on this brilliant cartoon.
I suspect those who shun the vital H1N1 flu shot are the same people who believe in the Yeti, flying saucers and the continued existence of Elvis.

H. Painter -- Hamilton

The story of Stephen Harper stating that he chooses to watch news from the United States as opposed to Canada has caught my eye not for how it read but how its been twisted way out of proportion. There seems to be a trend, and it isn't much different to other recent stories designed to gaffe trap Harper and the Conservative all for the benefit of opposition parties. A previous example was wafergate, a story which went on in the news for way too long in the summer doldrums. There was also the earth shattering revelation in September that Stephen Harper actually wants a majority (here's a link to the explosive video) designed, I suppose, to whip up old fears that the PM has a devious hidden agenda, in this case to push through evil legislation like some dictator, or in the Canadian sense, rule like majority tyrants Chretien, or Mulroney, or Trudeau, etc.

Here's a case of a simple story blown way out of proportion. I've definitely had some fun at Harper's expense suggesting he's a lover of the low grade journalism dished out on American cable, but now the piling on Harper is in full force after having him admit to only watching it.

The reality is, according to Allan Gregg, an "At Issue" panelist on the CBC, the PM made the spur of the moment comment in jest at Gregg's expense. It was a wise crack, in other words. So what follows is a slew of interpretations not just from people blowing it out of proportion, ie: Bob Rae, but goofballs like Jason Kenny who defend Harper by saying he's too busy to be so "vainglorious" watching himself on tv. This in essence is what we get on every story churned of Ottawa. Reality obscured by conjecture, and it gives lots of fodder to editorial cartoonists.

After it's rejection a whole season ago in June, my cartoon of Copps Mausoleum finally got play on the front page in its full colour majesty.

The other day every media outlet carried a list of a bunch of places vying for the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. It provided a nice diversion from the usual negative stuff happening in the world, but in particular filled a gaping hole that comes with the lack of news in the depths of the northern hemisphere's summer.

So I thought I'd follow up the trivial fodder with my own. Old guys who dye their hair... it sure feels good to get that burning issue off my back.

This is what I drew for today:

...but what I really wanted to draw was something on these lines:

Sadly though, my newspaper sided with the angels and gave Mr. Chretien a big pat on the back for entering into a club reserved for only the greatest figures of our time (according to whoever sits on the throne as the monarch of England.) The powers here aren't very comfortable if my cartoons deviate noticeably from the editorial.

If the award is for record time spent as a career politician, then so be it, Chretien is worthy of the prize, especially since the appointment is solely at the whim of the sitting monarch without the guidance of any committees. The Queen has obviously had a thing for him going back decades to when he entered politics. Is it obvious I'm not a great fan of Mr. Chretien? -- (at least not of the Chretien post losing to John Turner for the Liberal leadership of 1984.)

Many in the media are asking why Chretien was awarded with this honour alongside the truly great personalities of the past century including Winston Churchill, Mother Theresa, Nelson Mandela, Florence Nightingale, Robert Baden-Powell, and Albert Schweitzer, to name a few. But on closer inspection of the current cast of the Order of Merit you may be left scratching your head wondering about the importance of some of Chretien's other colleagues in the club. It may not be that bad of a thing afterall having our own lone Canadian amongst a bunch of British stuffed shirts.