Can the editor who thought the Miami Herald’s editorial cartoon should be reprinted in The Day on September 14, 2015 explain why it was appropriate, because I can’t see anything but an outrageous insult. The cartoon displays a fanatical looking, Bible-wielding Huckabee facing off against a fanatical looking, Quran-wielding Muslim cleric. Stretching the truth, but not outrageous.

However, the cartoon labels the Muslim cleric as a member of the terrorist organization Islamic State, noted for the brutality of its atrocities, persecution of Christianity and other religions and murder of thousands. Even in the distorted prism of American politics there is no justification for this kind of comparison for Mr. Huckabee or any other American politician. None has ever advocated anything even remotely similar to the types of atrocities perpetuated by the Islamic State in the name of the IS “cause” and I can’t believe that any sane person would suggest otherwise.

Since that can’t be the message of this cartoon I have completely missed the point and would appreciate the editor responsible for reprinting this cartoon explaining the actual message, perhaps as a note under my letter or he can hide behind his anonymity.

Wayne Olsen

Ledyard

Editor's note: How to interpret a political cartoon is ultimately up to the reader. Our take is that the cartoonist was pointing out the dangers of subsituting religious beliefs for the rule of law.