Messages of anger, hurt and disbelief are falling on deaf ears at The Buffalo News in the aftermath of an antisemitic political cartoon published by the News last week.
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The cartoon has led to loud cries from leadership in the Buffalo Jewish community and beyond and the only response from the News, so far, is that they're aware of the reaction and they plan to publish letters received in Sunday's edition.
What's puzzling is, in an era where the News and many in political leadership positions often say it's not about what was said, but how it's received, that the paper is refusing to acknowledge the pain an editorial cartoon has caused a sector of this community.
"I was sure by now we would have a response," Rabbi Mendy Labkowski told WBEN Friday. "I was sure that The Buffalo News would take down the cartoon and issue their response. I’m really shocked at The Buffalo News."
In a Sunday editorial, the News said it regretted the cartoon's message, but there was no apology.
Time and time again, in editorials and from politicians, those who have uttered much less toxic messages are scolded for offending portions of our population. Sometimes it's political, sometimes religious and sometimes it's cultural. But in most instances, if a portion of the community is clearly feeling 'wronged' or offended, an apology or some sort of acknowledgement is sought.
Why not now? Where are our usually vocal political leaders, quick with a snarky social media post, when an entire community is offended? Why is The Buffalo News seemingly 'ok' with hearing the words of emotional hurt and responding with only a promise top publish a few letters?
"The cover up is worse than the scandal itself," Labkowski told us. And, Labkowski adds, by promising to publish letters in the News, they are acknowledging the antisemitic nature of the cartoon itself.
The artist can hide behind creative license, but the response from the Jewish community can't be ignored. "It’s beautiful to see the Jewish community, all denominations, everyone coming together and saying ‘this is antisimitic’," Labkowski said.
The outrage here is the tone-deaf lack of response to the reaction to the political cartoon that would normally largely go unnoticed in the bowels of a shrinking print edition or in the depths of a website.
But if the News is to continue to call out others for hurtful speech that offends large portions of our community, and if politicians are going to do the same, it's incumbent upon them all to acknowledge that the editorial message was offensive to many, to the degree that a Rabbi is repeatedly looking for some semblance of a response.
"All they have to do is give an apology," Labkowski said. "Take the cartoon down and give an apology."