Children should be spared cartoon ridicule

I would like to comment on the hurtful cartoon that appeared with the Aug. 3 Carolyn Hax Style advice column. The cartoon, by Nick Galifianakis, depicted a young child dressed in Hannibal Lecter-style restraints at a playground. The child was parked in a sandbox watching two other children play freely. The mothers’ comment: “At least they’re admitting he’s a problem.”

As a public schoolteacher and the parent of two children with developmental disabilities, I was horrified to see a child (and presumably his antisocial behavior) made the butt of a joke. Such an attitude has no place in our society. Every child deserves love and respect. To call a child “a problem” and dress him as a serial killer serves to demonize a child who is probably suffering deeply.

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Many parents of children who suffer from low frustration tolerance, explosive personalities, poor impulse control and other antisocial tendencies bear the assumption that our children are spoiled and that we are poor parents. But we will accept that ignorant judgment rather than have our children deemed unworthy for public participation. The truth is, all of our children are future adults. How they function in society will depend largely on how they are nurtured, guided and accepted into society as children.

Anne C. Whipp, Reston