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    ‘This is a Call to Action’

    November 3, 2024 | 3:57 AM
    in ART, COLUMNS
    20

    By Gary Martin

    My cartoon this week is a call to action. We’re ALL going to have to do some heavy lifting to put our democracy in balance. This is my reminder to everyone to do their part.

    Gary B. Martin is an illustrator and animator who has lived on the Upper West Side for more than three decades. His Sunday illustrations for West Side Rag chronicle life in the neighborhood, New York City, and the Universe.

    Watch for Gary’s illustrations on Sundays in the Rag and see them all here. For a broader range of Gary’s work, including animations and other motion graphics, please visit www.martoons.com

    Subscribe to West Side Rag’s FREE email newsletter here. And please check out the Support button below.

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    Please limit comments to 150 words and keep them civil and relevant to the article at hand. Comments are closed after six days. Our primary goal is to create a safe and respectful space where a broad spectrum of voices can be heard. We welcome diverse viewpoints and encourage readers to engage critically with one another’s ideas, but never at the expense of civility. Disagreement is expected—even encouraged—but it must be expressed with care and consideration. Comments that take cheap shots, escalate conflict, or veer into ideological warfare detract from the constructive spirit we aim to cultivate. A detailed statement on comments and WSR policy can be read here.

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    20 Comments
    Nancy
    Nancy
    1 year ago

    This perfectly captures our off-kilter world and the efforts to right this big ship. Beautifully done, Martoons!

    7
    Reply
    Ellen White
    Ellen White
    1 year ago

    A great visual metaphor for what’s ahead. Thanks, Gary!

    6
    Reply
    DebM
    DebM
    1 year ago

    Says it all. Powerful. Haunting. Perfect expression of where we are today.

    7
    Reply
    MST
    MST
    1 year ago

    My family (ages 19-75) has been donating and canvassing.
    For some of my family it is definitely a financial sacrifice.

    Wish more millennial and Gen Z took this seriously and were active….

    If you can wait on long lines to get a Milano Market sandwich……

    4
    Reply
    Kayson212
    Kayson212
    1 year ago
    Reply to  MST

    I participated in the Harris to PA canvassing caravan that left Zabar’s Saturday morning . I am close to Boomer age and while there were many of us there, Millennials and Gen Zers constituted three-quarters of the overflow crowd that filled four buses plus carpools.

    2
    Reply
    eloise
    eloise
    1 year ago
    Reply to  MST

    Why is it always our fault? I know dozens more young people volunteering in this election cycle than boomers. We are here and we are helping Madam President get elected.

    9
    Reply
    Alisa
    Alisa
    1 year ago
    Reply to  eloise

    That is great.

    I am a parent of a millennial and Gen Z.
    One is politically active, the other is not so much unfortunately.
    (The politically active one does think her peers could do more)

    It is true that Americans of all ages don’t vote.

    This election will really impact younger people though

    3
    Reply
    Mark
    Mark
    1 year ago

    There is really no more important message for people to hear this week, both before and after the election. Thank you for the sharing it so compellingly, Gary.

    6
    Reply
    Joanna
    Joanna
    1 year ago

    Message received. Thank you, Gary. It could NOT be more important. Right. Now.

    3
    Reply
    Boris
    Boris
    1 year ago
    Reply to  Joanna

    That is said during every election season so much that it loses its authenticity. People think everything now is more important than before despite their lack of historical perspective.

    Last edited 1 year ago by Boris
    1
    Reply
    Andy
    Andy
    1 year ago

    Amen

    3
    Reply
    Sam
    Sam
    1 year ago

    Please read the 6 propositions on the NYC Ballot carefully and vote accordingly.
    Most people randomly selected “Yes” as a default but get educated before you go to vote.

    5
    Reply
    Pixie Harriman
    Pixie Harriman
    1 year ago
    Reply to  Sam

    I agree. Proposition 1 is deceitfully written. Vote NO. It is a backdoor to strip parents of their rights and authority amongst other things. We already have abortion rights and are not in jeopardy of being taken away. Read and think through what it is actually meaning to do. Vote no.

    2
    Reply
    Cindy Nelson-Mullen
    Cindy Nelson-Mullen
    1 year ago

    Wow! It is so true Mr Martoons! Scary, but true! Thank you for reminding us!

    3
    Reply
    ecm
    ecm
    1 year ago

    Better to set the clock back one hour this morning than a century on Tuesday.

    2
    Reply
    J.L.
    J.L.
    1 year ago

    Love the In- Person early voting this week on the UWS. Seeing the ballot on-line was very helpful.

    @Sam, totally agree about reading the propositions carefully and ahead of time. It would be great to have an equal length explanation from those who want to keep the law as-is for those who don’t have the time for a thorough research on each topic.

    How often are the election of Judges contested? These seem like appointments.

    3
    Reply
    Don
    Don
    1 year ago

    Yes, it’s definitely begun to feel like the weight of the world is on our collective shoulders…!!!

    1
    Reply
    Curmudgeon
    Curmudgeon
    1 year ago

    We are so smart and important

    1
    Reply
    Joe Chiplock
    Joe Chiplock
    1 year ago

    Hard work is good work…

    1
    Reply
    Edith Tyson
    Edith Tyson
    1 year ago

    Love

    0
    Reply

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