Another public figure has stepped up calling for the removal of 19th century cartoonist Thomas Nast to be removed from consideration for induction into the New Jersey Hall of Fame. Assemblyman and Irish-American Scott Rudder (R-Burlington) called Nast’s representations of Irish-Catholics as “deplorable.”
New Jersey Newsroom reports that Assemblyman Rudder is but one more added to the list of people calling for Nast’s removal for inclusion. Alongside Rudder are the New Jersey Ancient Order of Hibernians, and Assemblymen Wayne P. DeAngelo (D-Mercer) and Scott Rumana (R-Passaic).
While Nast, as a popular cartoonist, created the modern and beloved visual of both Santa Claus and Uncle Sam, his other cartoons often depicted Irish-Catholics in a flagrantly horrible light.
Rudder said that Nast’s inclusion on the public ballot would be “not only insulting to New Jersey residents of Irish descent or Catholic faith, but to people of every group that has been victimized by bigotry and stereotyping.” Aside from Irish-Catholics, Nast also penned cartoons which were degrading to Germans and African-Americans.
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Read More:
Will New Jersey Hall of Fame induct Thomas Nast, a racist and anti-Irish Catholic?
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New Jersey newspaper editorial defends anti-Irish, anti-Catholic cartoonist Thomas Nast
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“The state Hall of Fame should promote tolerance and acceptance, not the racial bigotry and religious paranoia that Nast promoted in some of his work,” Rudder went on to say. “Thomas Nast used his sketch pencil as a weapon to denigrate Irish Catholics and play on public fears.”
The mission statement for the Hall of Fame notes that “By presenting significant and powerful role models … the Hall of Fame is a source of learning, inspiration and hope for children.”
Rudder has asked Don Jay Smith, the executive director of the Hall of Fame, for Nast’s name to be removed immediately.
Smith, however, remains supportive of Nast’s inclusion, especially with this being the third year he was nominated for the honor. Said Smith, “He [Nast] attacked the Irish because they were the main supporters of the Democratic machine of Tammany Hall, which he opposed. If it had been another group, he would have attacked them. The feeling on our board of commissioners is that this is his third year as a nominee, and it’s up to the public to decide if he’s worthy of the nomination.”
Nast is included in ‘General’ category for the vote, the largest of any of the groups. Other nominees for the honor right now are artists Alexander Calder, Alfred Stieglitz, Charles Addams; philanthropist Doris Duke, economist Milton Friedman, writers Joyce Carol Oates and Dorothy Parker, scholar Dorothy Porter Wesley, and former Gov. Tom Kean.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Murph46 | Dec 31, 2011, 04:22 PM EST
odonnell- there you go with a broad supposition,I watch Fox,MSNBC,CBS and all others .I have no bigotry and will fight it till i die.I live next to and across from Afro-Americans by choice.The New Years Eve party I go to tonight is hosted by a liberal bigot and I remind him of that fact periodically.When you paint with a broadstroke you miss the true point.
odonnell521 | Dec 31, 2011, 07:09 AM EST
If you understand that the people who watch(and unfortunately beleive) Fox News are the same type of people who read (and unfortunately agreed with) the bigotry and fear that Thomas Nast, you'll understand why he was so popular in his time, and still has apologists today.
Murph46 | Dec 30, 2011, 01:35 PM EST
Why don't the atherts of the world get it? A racist is a racist ,a bigot is a bigot and if we honor these people what does it say about us?
pilib04 | Dec 30, 2011, 11:33 AM EST
atherts, if i may, i would take exception to your premise. the issue here, in my opinion, is not history, but honoring a racist. much the same as we would reject honoring one who drew anti-Jewish cartoons, or anti-Black cartoons, we should also reject those who drew anti-Irish cartoons. i am all for "letting it go" as Shrck55 says, i just don't believe nast should be honored for being a racist. using the "times" is a very slippery slope that could be used to justify the jewish holocaust, an gorta mor, the middle passage and the armenian holocaust.
Shmrck5S | Dec 30, 2011, 10:16 AM EST
This "let's not hurt anyone's feelings" attitude is why we can't have prayer in school and why we have to say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas". It works both ways. Nast's abominable cartoons were penned many years ago. How about we let it go and be bigger than he was?
atherts | Dec 30, 2011, 09:58 AM EST
So we're supposed to ignore or rewrite history because we don't like something someone said? There are lots of instances of uncomfortable history in books and other media. Nash was representing much of the thought at the time both good and bad. Let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater.