Jihartists

It wasn’t safe for cartoonists after Sept. 11, 2001. We risked the lynch mob if we used humor, criticized officials in Washington and New York or, worst of all, depicted the sacred image of the twin towers, except in That Most Solemn of Manners. Thank God and Allah that’s changed. The ink wasn’t dry on Monday’s 9/11 anniversary salutes before we started peppering political posturing, demonizing democracy’s dismemberment and prattling against poisonous air and poisoned airwaves. We may still have our critics, but let’s not forget: In the five years since 9/11, cartoonists, like Al Qaeda, have launched no deadly attacks on U.S. soil. Which was also true for both groups in the five years before 9/11. Now, don’t you feel safer?