letter – mackaycartoons

Friday March 28, 2025

March 28, 2025 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday March 28, 2025 (also, The Toronto Star)

Canada’s EV shift: Beyond U.S. trade ties

February 5, 2025

As the North American auto sector faces unprecedented challenges, spurred in large part by former President Donald Trump’s aggressive trade policies, Canada finds itself at a crossroads. Trump’s strategy to fortify a domesticated American auto industry has sent ripples across borders, prompting Canada to reconsider its economic alliances and environmental commitments. In light of these developments, it may be time for Canada to chart a new course, embracing a green future that welcomes electric vehicles (EVs) from Europe and even China.

News: Carney calls Trump’s tariffs on vehicles ‘a direct attack’ on Canada and its auto workers

February 7, 2025

Trump’s approach to the auto industry, characterized by protectionism and high tariffs, has created an unstable environment for Canadian automakers. With tariffs on steel, aluminum, and electric vehicles, Canada faces increasing costs and competitive disadvantages, threatening the viability of its auto sector. The U.S. administration’s focus on bringing manufacturing back to American soil has left Canada with dwindling options and a pressing need to diversify its economic partnerships.

In this context, the opportunity to rethink Canada’s green future is both timely and necessary. The global shift towards sustainable transportation presents a chance for Canada to align its policies with environmental goals, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and promoting cleaner energy. Electric vehicles are at the forefront of this movement, and international manufacturers offer promising alternatives.

February 5, 2025

European EVs: Europe has long been a leader in environmental regulations and innovation, producing high-quality electric vehicles that meet stringent standards. By strengthening ties with European automakers, Canada can benefit from advanced technology and sustainable practices, positioning itself as a leader in the green transition.

Chinese EVs: China, with its rapid advancements in electric vehicle technology, presents another viable option. Companies like BYD have made significant strides, offering affordable, environmentally friendly vehicles that could significantly boost EV adoption in Canada. Despite political tensions, the economic and environmental benefits of engaging with Chinese manufacturers are compelling.

News: China wants more trade with Canada, envoy says amid U.S. tariffs

Friday February 7, 2025

It is clear that maintaining the status quo with the U.S. is no longer sustainable for Canada’s auto industry. The need to pursue independent economic policies that prioritize Canada’s interests has never been more apparent. By reconsidering tariffs and fostering partnerships with Europe and China, Canada can secure its place in the global green economy.

This strategic realignment would not only support Canada’s environmental objectives but also provide consumers with more choices and competitive pricing. Allowing more affordable EVs into the Canadian market would accelerate the transition from gasoline vehicles, reducing emissions and promoting sustainability.

Analysis: Should Canada ease its 100% tariff on electric vehicles from China amid trade war with U.S.?

December 19, 2024

As Canada stands at the precipice of change, the decision to embrace a new path is not just an economic necessity but an opportunity to lead in the fight against climate change. By welcoming European and Chinese electric vehicles, Canada can redefine its future, ensuring a resilient and sustainable auto industry that aligns with its environmental values. In this pivotal moment, Canada has the chance to set a precedent for innovation and collaboration, paving the way for a truly green future.

A Green Lining?

As I sat down to sketch this editorial cartoon, I can’t help but feel like I’m venturing into risky, perhaps even crazy, territory. Our usual product is cynicism, and there’s plenty of that to go around with the grim prospect of Trump’s trade tariffs threatening to decimate the Canadian auto sector. Trump’s intentions seem clear, telegraphed with the precision of a maestro conducting an orchestra of chaos. But as I contemplate the future, a flicker of opportunity emerges – in tandem with the silver lining that’s rallied Canadians around the flag.

Before the Biden administration pressured Canada into imposing tariffs on Chinese-built EVs, there was an intriguing development. The President of Ford Canada couldn’t hide his admiration for a Chinese model. According to Car and Driver, Ford CEO Jim Farley, in a surprising confession, revealed that he had been driving a Xiaomi SU7, imported from Shanghai, and he didn’t want to give it up. His words, a radical acknowledgment of the competitive threat posed by Chinese automakers like Xiaomi and BYD, resonate in this new reality.

While politicians play the wait-and-see game with Trump, wondering if his tariff brinkmanship is mere leverage or a harbinger of “Liberation Day” on April 2nd, the consequences loom large. If Trump’s gambit unfolds as feared, the carnage will be swift and severe, leaving American car sales in Canada in tatters. They’ll become costly relics, fossil-fuelled dinosaurs in an era that increasingly favours electric innovation.

It’s hard to imagine this scenario just months ago, but here we are. The idea of embracing Chinese EVs doesn’t seem so far-fetched anymore. They’re electric, highly rated, and affordable. In contrast, our closest ally has turned adversarial, seemingly intent on causing harm. The notion of leaning into a new partnership, once unthinkable, now seems like a reasonable course of action in a world reshaped by Trump’s unpredictable maneuvers.

As I draw, I embrace the riskiness of these thoughts. Maybe it’s crazy, but in the unfolding new reality that Trump is orchestrating, it doesn’t seem so outlandish after all.

Check out my making-of animated editorial cartoon for March 27, 2025, below! If you haven’t yet, please subscribe to my Substack newsletter, where I share weekly editorial cartoons every Saturday morning. Substack is a crucial platform for me amidst the uncertainties of being a staff cartoonist, especially given recent layoffs and newspaper closures affecting our field. As long as I hold my position, subscriptions will remain free. Thank you for your support! This “note” helps craft my weekly posts and showcases animated versions of my cartoons. Enjoy!

– The Graeme Gallery

Read on Substack

Letter to the Editor, The Toronto Star, Thursday April 3, 2025

Exhaust-pipe dreams – Canada’s EV shift, Mar. 31

Thursday April 3, 2025

Cartoonist Graeme MacKay nailed it. The North American auto sector doesn’t care about EVs — except to the extent that EVs threaten their lucrative business of keeping internal combustion engines running. In this, it has found common cause with the fossil fuel industry, which also stands to lose out as the public increasingly recognizes the superiority of EVs.

We see evidence for the North American auto sector’s duplicity in its move to change its rapid-charging standard from the global Combined Charging System to Tesla’s previously proprietary plug, a move that makes no sense except as a tactic to dissuade people from purchasing EVs. Yet it does provide an opening for the Canadian government to fight back in U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war, by insisting that all EVs made in Canada use CCS and that all new EVs sold in Canada be compatible with CCS.

Of course, that would require a federal government that’s willing to stand up to corporate interests, so it won’t happen.

Gary Dale, Toronto

Tuesday October 29, 2024

October 29, 2024 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday October 29, 2024

The recent Trump rally exemplifies a troubling decline in political discourse, highlighting the stark contrast between inflammatory rhetoric and substantive policy discussions, raising concerns about the future of American democracy.

Trumps Closing statement is a Disheartening Reflection on Political Discourse in America

November 17, 2022

The recent rally held by former President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden has become a disturbing litmus test for the state of political discourse in the United States. As the closing argument of his 2024 campaign, Trump’s speech showcased an alarming trend: the normalization of incendiary rhetoric, personal attacks, and outright disdain for opponents. Trump’s denigrating remarks about Vice President Kamala Harris, branding her as “grossly incompetent” and “a vessel,” reflect a profound decline in the civility of our political dialogue. Such attacks are not just simple political rhetoric; they embody a culture of disdain that has seeped into the fabric of our political system, posing significant risks for the future of our democracy.

News: Trump at the Garden: A Closing Carnival of Grievances, Misogyny and Racism

January 8, 2021

This rally, marked by bombastic speeches and racist commentary from various speakers, stands in stark contrast to the more substantive and policy-focused campaign that Harris and the Democrats have been presenting. While Harris and her campaign have centered their messaging on real issues—like improving living conditions in Puerto Rico and promoting economic opportunities—Trump’s rhetoric is largely rooted in grievance and division. His supporters cheered slogans that reduce complex political issues to crude insults and jokes, showcasing a troubling embrace of attack politics over meaningful discourse.

If Trump’s rally is indeed a reflection of the closing arguments of his campaign, it raises serious concerns about what might lie ahead if he wins the election. The implications of electing a leader who resorts to such tactics should be chilling to every American. If voters choose to endorse this brand of politics, then they will ultimately receive what they deserve—a political landscape devoid of decency, where attacks and insults overshadow policies and governance.

December 5, 2019

The events at Madison Square Garden symbolize not just a moment in a political campaign, but a larger societal issue: the toleration of an aggressive, hostile approach to political debate. As we approach the 2024 election, the choice before voters is clear. Will we continue to accept this decline in civility, or will we demand a return to a political discourse that prioritizes respect, empathy, and a focus on issues that truly matter? (AI)

Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday October 31, 2024

Cartoon delivers giggles

Re: Oct. 29 editorial cartoon

Graeme MacKay has done it again. His editorial cartoon this morning was bang on. Flush two times with Mr. Trump going downhill. Keep them coming! A great giggle this morning.

Fran Cormier, Stoney Creek

Posted to SUBSTACK. It’s at the early experimental stage (at the time of it’s posting,) and presented in the form of notes as I figure out how to integrate it into my daily routine. Find out what’s swirling in my head as I come up with my ideas. It’s free and will continue to be, as will this carefully curated WordPress website which I’ve maintained obediently since 2012… until the traditional structure that has sustained me a livelihood collapses on top of me as it has for so many of my peers. Please take a look, and if you want to continue following/subscribe to my work, please subscribe, and thank you! – Graeme MacKay

Yet another note. I’m still contemplating whether or not to go whole hog with the full post thing. Thank you to the 8 subscribers for giving me a chance. Here’s some of thoughts swirling in circles as I drew this toilet editorial cartoon:

The Trump rally at Madison Square Garden serves as a disheartening reflection of the decline of political discourse in America, characterized by incendiary rhetoric and personal attacks on opponents like Vice President Kamala Harris. While Harris has focused on substantive issues, Trump’s campaign has leaned into grievance and division, culminating in an environment that embraces attack politics over meaningful conversation.

Harris has at least done what has come to be expected in a normal election campaign with dignity and grace by offering a policies. They have faced scrutiny as they should. Trump on the other hand, has offered no policy, just attack, no need for scrutiny, just shrugs and shaking heads – it’s classic Trump being Trump.

The rally on the weekend not only illustrates a troubling trend but also raises significant concerns about the future of American governance should voters choose to endorse such a political landscape. As the 2024 election day approaches, Americans must consider whether they will continue to tolerate this decline in civility or demand a return to respectful, issue-focused dialogue.

What I’m getting a sense of from these angry, hate filled, testosterone fuelled gatherings is a profile of a chunk of society that wants to inflict hurt on fellow humans. Instead of empathy for asylum seekers fleeing hopeless lives in failed states ruled by gangs they’re viewed suspiciously as criminals and rapists. For women who simply want to control their reproductive health they’re viewed as societal rejects who shouldn’t have such rights and should be forced to bring up children within a miserable framework that further punishes them with bare minimum support.

Simply put, western civilization suffers if Trump is elected, simple as that. Is Kamala Harris deranged? Is she a narcissist? Is she a criminal? Is she an old, fat, strange cake makeup doddering thing like her opponent? No. She’s normal. He is not.
American voters need to flush him a second time after flushing him the first time in 2020.

Friday October 25, 2024

October 25, 2024 by Graeme MacKay

$As the Trudeau government declines, personal grievances and internal fractures are surfacing among sidelined Liberal MPs, revealing a party consumed by its own infighting and struggling to survive a looming electoral defeat.$

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator (animated version, too) – Friday October 25, 2024

Trudeau’s Liberals Face the Inevitable Reckoning as the Party’s Inner Tensions Spill Out

October 19, 2024

As the Trudeau government wanes, what we are witnessing within the Liberal Party is a familiar phenomenon: the surfacing of personal grievances, power struggles, and a desperate jostling for relevance among those who have long operated as little more than “bums in seats” or “trained seals.” These MPs, tasked primarily with voting as directed by the leadership and handling the mundane affairs of constituents, now see the grim reality of their political future unfolding. With Justin Trudeau’s popularity slipping and no longer able to carry the caucus on the strength of his coattails, many backbenchers—formerly comfortable in their irrelevance—are finding themselves at the mercy of a crumbling party machine.

News: Trudeau touts united party after MPs push for change in caucus meeting

November 9, 2021

Trudeau, who once vowed to change the culture of factionalism within the Liberal Party, now faces dissent not just from the opposition but from within his own caucus. The frustrations expressed by MPs like Sean Casey and Alexandra Mendes—who bluntly declared that the public is simply “tired of his face”—are only a sliver of the discontent festering inside a party that increasingly appears more focused on its own survival than on governing effectively. The recent ultimatum from 24 MPs for Trudeau to step down only underscores this point: with elections approaching, they’re ready to jump ship unless the captain changes course.

October 26, 2021

What exacerbates the situation is the centralization of power around the PMO, a trend that has alienated many MPs. Pierre Trudeau’s famous dismissal of MPs as “nobodies” the moment they leave Parliament Hill has never felt more true—not only for backbenchers but even for junior ministers who lack real influence within the cabinet. In a government increasingly run by Katie Telford and a tight circle of senior ministers like Chrystia Freeland, Melanie Joly, and Dominic LeBlanc, those on the periphery have become politically invisible. For the MPs left out of the club, the future is bleak—riding Trudeau’s leadership into the ground means facing the electorate with no credibility or public profile to stand on.

Analysis: Trudeau and the Liberals are burning time on themselves that they can’t afford to waste

June 22, 2024

This disillusionment mirrors the last days of Brian Mulroney’s tenure, when MPs realized the futility of loyalty to a leader sinking under the weight of his own decisions. Mulroney’s mantra—“Ya gotta dance with the one that brung ya”—no longer resonates with today’s Liberals, as the cracks within Trudeau’s team widen. In its place, we hear the refrain “F*ck Trudeau,” a slogan borrowed from the Freedom Convoy movement, reflecting the growing public exhaustion and the frustration felt within caucus ranks.

January 5, 2024

In a system where MPs have been reduced to little more than tools of the executive—pushed to vote on command, promote party-approved causes, and remain silent unless called upon—it’s no wonder that many are now openly or privately questioning their future under Trudeau’s leadership. If the Liberal Party’s survival depends on focusing its energy on preventing Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives from taking power, the infighting and bitterness now on display could doom them to the same fate they faced in 2011: a party lost in its own squabbles, out of touch with Canadians, and destined for defeat. As Immigration Minister Marc Miller warned, every minute spent on “this garbage” is a minute not spent fighting the real political battles ahead. (AI)

Posted to SUBSTACK. It’s at the early experimental stage (at the time of it’s posting,) and presented in the form of notes as I figure out how to integrate it into my daily routine. Find out what’s swirling in my head as I come up with my ideas. It’s free and will continue to be, as will this carefully curated WordPress website which I’ve maintained obediently since 2012… until the traditional structure that has sustained me a livelihood collapses on top of me as it has for so many of my peers. Please take a look, and if you want to continue following/subscribe to my work, please subscribe, and thank you! – Graeme MacKay

Being a backbench MP during what seems to be the twilight of a government is hardly an enjoyable position.

It has to really suck.

These individuals chose public service, becoming dedicated foot soldiers for their party. They attended countless rubber chicken dinners, canvassed door to door, and passionately promoted their party and its leader to secure their seats. They arrived in Parliament eager to make a difference and be effective voices for their constituents. Perhaps they envisioned a chance to shine, to strut a little, maybe catch the attention of the mandarins, and to be appointed as committee chairs, Parliamentary Secretaries, or even to join the cabinet.

However, the more likely reality is that they find themselves in the role of trained seals, addressing constituent issues, showing up in Parliament, and performing one key task: voting with the party line while keeping their opinions to themselves.

As Justin Trudeau’s leadership wavers and power becomes increasingly concentrated within the Prime Minister’s Office, many Liberal MPs — now stuck on the backbenches — are expressing their frustrations and reevaluating their political futures. Echoing the discontent seen during the waning days of Mulroney and Chretien, these MPs are confronted with a stark truth: without the support of Trudeau’s influence, they risk going down with a sinking ship. With public fatigue regarding Trudeau and a rise in internal dissent, the party’s focus on its internal struggles is weakening its capacity to address the genuine threat posed by the Conservatives, evoking fears of a potential electoral collapse reminiscent of 2011.

In the end, the anticipated revolt from the backbenches against Justin Trudeau appears to have fizzled out with little fanfare. An ultimatum from certain MPs for him to resign by October 28 was swiftly dismissed by Trudeau, who asserted his intention to remain in power. While some may argue that this entire situation was merely a media fabrication, a “nothing burger” born from partisan fantasies, they are only fooling themselves. The reality is that a handful of disgruntled government MPs remain unhappy with the current trajectory, and their discontent signals a significant issue that cannot be overlooked. This simmering dissatisfaction could very well spell trouble for the party as it navigates its future amidst growing uncertainty.

Letters to the editor

Letters to the Editor, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday October 29, 2024

Cartoon disappointing, disgusting
Re: Oct. 25 editorial cartoon

I generally enjoy Graeme MacKay’s political cartoons, however, I found this one disappointing and, frankly, disgusting. I have seen the slogan depicted on the back benchers’ shirts far too often and really wish that the supposed adults who insist on displaying it would grow some brains and decency.

Bill Millar, Stoney Creek

Wrong call on choice of imagery
Many of us are completely exhausted by Justin Trudeau’s presence and he needs to go on the fastest rocket out, however, that was a disgusting attempt at humour by Graeme MacKay. Highlighting this perceived profanity comment is just so wrong and offensive!

The vulgarity doesn’t need to be displayed to make a point of what Liberal backbenchers might think. Paper bags on the heads, sitting with backs turned would have been just as effective.

Gordon Franklin, Clinton

Saturday October 12, 2024

October 12, 2024 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday October 12, 2024

Animated making-of clip here!

Gratitude, Complaints, and Context: A Reflection on Thanksgiving 2024

September 29, 2022

As we approach Thanksgiving 2024, a holiday traditionally celebrated with gratitude and the bounty of the harvest, Canadians find themselves caught in a peculiar tension between appreciation and dissatisfaction. The rising cost of living, particularly food prices, has led many to focus on economic struggles rather than the holiday’s central theme of thankfulness. While these concerns are valid, especially for those facing real financial strain, this shift toward complaints risks overshadowing the privilege many of us still enjoy in Canada.

In recent years, grocery prices have indeed risen, as pointed out in Toronto.com, where food inflation saw a 2.4% increase over the past year.

Thanksgiving dinner flyer deals: Here’s how much you might spend on turkey, potatoes, bread rolls, pies and more for the family feast

October 10, 2020

Many shoppers are feeling the squeeze, and it’s tempting to rail against the major supermarket chains—like Loblaws Inc.—that have posted record profits. However, some voices, like columnist Maynard van der Galien’s in The Ottawa Citizen, urge us to step back and reconsider our perspective. He highlights the fact that grocery stores remain well-stocked and clean, offering deals for the strategic shopper. For instance, he found 10 pounds of potatoes for just $1—an astonishingly low price even amidst inflation .

Van der Galien’s point is not that the cost of living hasn’t increased, but that many Canadians still have access to an abundance of food at reasonable prices, provided they take advantage of sales, loyalty programs, and other budgeting tactics. In his view, rather than complaining, Thanksgiving should remind us to appreciate the privileges we enjoy: the convenience of supermarkets, the availability of food from around the world, and the stability of our supply chains.

Opinion: It’s Thanksgiving weekend. Stop complaining about grocery prices

Pandemic Thanksgiving

This argument, however, must be weighed against the realities faced by many who find themselves in tougher economic circumstances. Food banks across the country are reporting record demand, and for some, no amount of flyer-scanning or coupon-clipping will make their Thanksgiving dinner affordable. Yet, as a reader of van der Galien’s column pointed out, it’s all about perspective: even with rising prices, a Thanksgiving meal can still be prepared for less than $50, which per person is cheaper than many fast-food meals. This echoes the long-standing economic principle that inflation is inevitable, not something unique to our current moment.

Yet, there’s a bigger context to consider. While many Canadians worry about grocery costs, others around the world are grappling with much more severe hardships. War-torn regions like Ukraine and the Middle East are facing food insecurity on a much more urgent level. Climate change-fuelled disasters, like the recent hurricanes Helene and Milton, are wreaking havoc on communities to the south of us. Here in Canada, we have been spared the worst of these crises. Our supermarkets are full, our infrastructure remains intact, and most of us are safe. This, too, should factor into our reflections during Thanksgiving.

Opinion: It’s Thanksgiving weekend. Stop complaining about grocery prices

October 10, 2015

Perhaps the growing tendency to complain about rising prices during Thanksgiving reflects a shift in societal expectations. We expect stability, affordability, and abundance, and when these are threatened—even slightly—it can feel unsettling. However, it’s important to remember that the holiday is not just about food, but about gratitude for what we do have, which remains significant when compared to global challenges.

This Thanksgiving, rather than focusing on what’s changed, maybe we can focus on what hasn’t. We are still fortunate to live in a country where clean, well-stocked grocery stores operate every day of the week, where we can find food deals with a bit of effort, and where safety and peace remain constants in our lives. It’s a time to recognize our relative stability in an unstable world. While it’s natural to feel the pinch of inflation, it might be equally natural to let gratitude take precedence over grievances—if only for one weekend.

As we sit down to our Thanksgiving meals this year, whether frugal or extravagant, let’s remind ourselves that being grateful doesn’t mean ignoring hardship—it means acknowledging both our challenges and our privileges. (AI)

* * * * *

Letter to the Editor, The Hamilton Spectator, October 17, 2024

Letter to the Editor

Feeling thankful for what we have

Re: Oct. 12 editorial cartoon

Graeme MacKay is spot on in terms of what countries around the world are thankful for, compared to the North American “first world problems.” I am not implying the majority of Canadians are self-absorbed in their perceived problems of high grocery prices, home costs, etc., but we are indeed lucky to be far removed from political strife that engulfs so many world nations.

So be sure to give some pause around the dinner table on Thanksgiving and think of those less fortunate and under threat of death. Even those in our own communities struggle during these festive holidays. I am very thankful for where I live and will not complain of our lifestyle or country where we live

Steve Warrick, Ancaster

Wednesday October 2, 2024

October 8, 2024 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday October 8, 2024

Animated making-of clip here!

A Year After October 7: The Dead End of Hamas’s Brutality and the World’s Inaction

September 28, 2024

As we mark the first anniversary of Hamas’s brutal assault on Israel, it is impossible to overstate the devastating consequences of that attack—not just for the Israelis and Palestinians but for the broader goal of peace in the Middle East. In his recent essay, New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman forcefully condemned Hamas’s actions on October 7, calling them not only indefensible but also a severe setback to any hopes for a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He is right. Hamas’s violence, fuelled by hatred and driven by no goal other than destruction, has shattered any glimmers of hope for the long-term solution that should be the only acceptable outcome: two states for two peoples, living side by side in dignity and peace.

Thomas L. Friedman: What I’m Thinking About on the First Anniversary of the War

The attack, in which Hamas brutally murdered, kidnapped, and terrorized Israeli civilians, was horrific. It left communities devastated, families shattered, and deepened the abyss of mutual mistrust and hostility. But beyond the raw brutality, what is particularly tragic is how much this act has set back the cause of Palestinian statehood—the very cause Hamas claims to represent. By engaging in terrorism rather than constructive diplomacy, Hamas not only reignited Israel’s fury but also reinforced global skepticism about the possibility of a peaceful Palestinian leadership emerging in Gaza.

March 20, 2024

For decades, the two-state solution has been seen by many, including Friedman and countless international diplomats, as the only viable path to peace. Yet Hamas’s actions have pushed that vision further out of reach. It was a strategic blunder as much as it was a moral atrocity, handing Israel the justification to retaliate with overwhelming force and to focus on military victory rather than any long-term political solution.

And what of the innocent civilians on both sides? The war has inflicted untold suffering on ordinary people, caught in the crossfire of this seemingly endless conflict. In Israel, families live in constant fear of rocket attacks. In Gaza, civilians—women, children, the elderly—are paying the price for Hamas’s decision to embed itself in residential areas, hospitals, and schools. Gaza’s residents, already living in crippling poverty and under blockade, have been subjected to unimaginable horrors. Hospitals have been bombed, neighbourhoods reduced to rubble, and the humanitarian crisis has worsened by the day. Israel’s military actions, aimed at Hamas, have also caused widespread civilian casualties, deepening the despair of a people who have already suffered for far too long.

Yet as Friedman rightly points out, Israel, too, bears responsibility for its inability to offer a vision for Gaza beyond “total victory” over Hamas. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government has pursued a war strategy that, without a plan for what comes next, risks turning Gaza into an eternal battlefield. The relentless bombing of schools and homes to kill a few militants is not a long-term solution, and it only solidifies Israel’s image as a brutal occupier in the eyes of much of the world. Without articulating a vision for peace—a real future for the Palestinians who live in Gaza—Israel will never be able to claim victory in the broader battle for the moral high ground.

October 20, 2023

The international community, for its part, has failed miserably in its responsibility to broker peace and end the senselessness. For a year, global leaders have stood by, wringing their hands while the violence escalates, incapable or unwilling to step in and demand a cease-fire, negotiate a viable solution, or impose any meaningful consequences for war crimes. The United States, under President Biden, has sent mixed messages—offering tepid warnings to Israel while continuing to supply weapons. Meanwhile, Europe, once a voice for human rights, has largely remained silent as Gaza burns. The global community’s dysfunction and impotence are a tragedy of their own, enabling the continuation of violence and suffering.

News: War rages on multiple fronts as Israel marks a year since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack

Friedman also touches on a darker undercurrent in Israeli politics: Prime Minister Netanyahu’s apparent interest in prolonging the war to serve his own political needs. Facing corruption charges, Netanyahu has used the conflict to delay his day in court and to bolster his standing with his far-right allies, who demand total victory and the continued expansion of settlements in the West Bank. This political calculus, combined with a lack of coherent strategy, risks dragging Israel into a perpetual cycle of violence, one in which neither peace nor security can ever be fully achieved.

October 14, 2023

This anniversary is a grim reminder of what happens when extremism, short-term thinking, and cynical political maneuvering drive policy instead of a genuine commitment to peace. Hamas, with its embrace of terror and rejection of diplomacy, has done as much harm to the Palestinian cause as it has to Israeli civilians. Meanwhile, Israel’s military response, unchecked by the international community and lacking any clear endgame, has deepened the suffering of Palestinians and alienated the global moral support it once relied on.

But there is a way forward—if only the world will seize it. As Friedman suggests, the key lies in rebuilding a legitimate Palestinian partner for peace, one that is capable of leading Gaza and the West Bank toward statehood. The Palestinian Authority, despite its flaws, remains the only viable alternative to Hamas. Israel must support its reform and empower it to govern Gaza, as part of a broader vision of two states. At the same time, the international community must pressure Israel to halt settlement expansion and recognize that permanent occupation and endless war will never bring security or peace.

It is a bitter irony that, one year after the October 7 attacks, the future seems bleaker than ever for both Israelis and Palestinians. But it does not have to be this way. There is still a path toward peace, if leaders on all sides are willing to take it. That path, however, requires an end to violence, an end to cynicism, and a renewed commitment to the only solution that can ever bring lasting justice and security: two states for two peoples, living side by side. Anything less is not just a failure of leadership—it is a failure of humanity. (AI)

Letter to the Editor, The Hamilton Spectator, Wednesday October 9, 2024

Cartoon an ‘inversion of reality’

October 9, 2024 letter

Graeme Mackay’s Oct. 8 cartoon depicted Israel’s prime minister fighting over a dove with Iran’s ayatollah, standing over a mountain of bones. This caricature drew an obscene moral equivalence.

One year ago, Hamas (an Iranian-backed terrorist proxy), launched the biggest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. The next day, Hezbollah, another Iranian proxy, began firing 10,000 rockets indiscriminately into Israel. Soon the Houthis in Yemen and other groups allied with Iran joined in. All of them are sworn to Israel’s destruction.

And yet Israel — for refusing to lie down and die — is put in the same category as the genocidal maniacs who seek to destroy it, and whose followers have been rampaging on our streets for a year? This is akin to showing Hitler and Churchill fighting over a mountain of graves and is an absolute inversion of reality.

Robert Walker, assistant director, Honest Reporting Canada

Letter to the Editor, The Hamilton Spectator, Thursday October 10, 2024

Innocents caught in the crossfire
Re: Cartoon an ‘inversion of reality’ Oct. 9

October 10, 2024

Graeme MacKay’s Oct. 8 cartoon depicted the reality of what is now happening in Gaza and the West Bank. What happened on Oct. 7, 2023, is pure horror for the people of Israel and for Jews around the world. As for how it was allowed to happen, the Israeli people deserve an honest answer.

For Israel, when it comes to defending its people, that is totally understandable. What the gentleman from HonestReporting Canada has failed to see is, peace is something that is earned. In all honesty whether it is Hamas, an extremely violent terrorist group, or prime minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu — both have caused the deaths of thousands of innocent people. The failure to see what has happened to these people is unconscionable.

Margo May Taylor, Ancaster