Top Ten Reasons We Won’t Abolish I.C.E.
October 9th, 2019 Barry Posted in Immigration, Racism & Racists | No Comments »
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TRANSCRIPT OF CARTOON
This cartoon has a big title panel at the top, followed by ten smaller panels.
TITLE PANEL
The title panel has a drawing of a close-up on a chain-link fence. Behind the fence, but still readable, are the words “Top Ten Reasons We Won’t Abolish…” And then, in larger, rougher lettering in front of the fence, the sentence continues: “I.C.E.”
PANEL 1
In the center, a man wearing an I.C.E. uniform – including bulletproof vest and a hard helmet – is smiling and holding an “aw, shucks” kind of pose, with a hand held on one cheek in an embarrassed fashion. Behind him, two other men – one dressed like a right-wing protester looking for a fight, with protective vest and camo pants, and a MAGA hat, and the other wearing a Nazi uniform – early praise him.
MAGA HAT DUDE: Because those I.C.E. uniforms look sharp!
I.C.E. DUDE: Aw, gosh. Thanks, guys!
NAZI: You can’t spell “nice” without I.C.E.!
PANEL 2
A conservatively-dressed (jacket and tie) man, sitting behind a desk, speaks to the viewer, spreading his arms, palms up, in a “let’s not go crazy” sort of gesture.
MAN: “Abolish” is an extreme position, and if we’re extremist in protecting human rights, aren’t we just as bad as the extremists abusing human rights?
PANEL 3
A woman in a striped shirt and a puffy jacket speaks to the viewer. Behind her, a darker-skinned person wearing a knit cap, a big jacket, and a skirt sardonically comments.
WOMAN: I.C.E. provides paychecks to thousands of vicious racist goons! Where else could those people go?
KNIT HAT: Police?
PANEL 4
In an extremely close close-up, a white man speaks to the viewer, lips contracted in fear, eyes incredibly wide, holding his hands to his face like the kid on the poster for “Home Alone.” His word balloon is drawn with shaky lines.
MAN: Because the b-b-brown people are invading and they’re g-going to replace us and soon there’ll be no white people left in America!
PANEL 5
A man and a woman talk in a park; the man looks angry.
MAN: Getting rid of I.C.E. means open borders!
WOMAN: But in 2000, before I.C.E. existed, borders weren’t-
MAN: DON’T DEFLECT ME WITH FACTS!
PANEL 6
The robber characters from the movie “Home Alone” stand smiling at the viewer. The shorter robber, who was played by Joe Pesci, speaks.
ROBBER: If the Home Alone movies taught us anything, it’s that children being left alone because I.C.E. snatched up their parents is wacky fun!
PANEL 7
A woman speaks to the viewer from behind a chain-link fence. She’s calm but sad, and she’s hooked the fingers of one hand through the chain links.
WOMAN: Because a lot of people think “never again” was only a suggestion.
PANEL 8
George Washington and Thomas Jefferson speak; Jefferson has both fists raised above his head in a “frat boy celebrating” like gesture.
WASHINGTON: Because forced labor performed by brown people trapped in inhumane conditions is what America’s all about! Right, Thomas?
JEFFERSON: Hell yeah, George!
PANEL 9
Two men are standing in front of a stone wall, talking. The first man, who is white, is making an expansive “oh, come on!” gesture; the second man, who appears Latino, has his arms crossed and is speaking cheerfully.
WHITE MAN: Because if we “cancel” I.C.E. for inhumane treatment, where does it end? Do we cancel the border patrol? Private prisons?
LATINO: I can live with that.
PANEL 10
A woman sits in the middle of her bed. The shot is a bit distant and from above, making her look small and lonely. (Or so the cartoonist hoped.)
WOMAN: Abolishing I.C.E. would be really hard and the whole issue is such a bummer. So instead, I’ll sit home and quietly loathe myself. Cool?
