Mussey's cartoon was not a bit funny

February 10, 2010 12:35 am

On Dec. 11, The Free Lance-Star published a cartoon titled "Life in a Gun Shell" by Andrew Mussey.

The cartoon stated, "Give a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."

The cartoon depicted one character throwing a lit match on the other and that character engulfed in flames.

At that time there had been a lot of news coverage about a 15-year-old Florida boy, Michael Brewer, who had been set on fire intentionally by three other boys. He had burns over 80 percent of his body and is still recovering today. Reports were that the boys had actually laughed afterward.

I don't think Mr. Mussey's cartoon would have been in good taste at any time, but especially not at that time.

Maybe the boys who set Michael Brewer on fire found humor in it, but I am pretty certain no one else did.

Marie Drom

Spotsylvania