China: Irreverent joke hit the bullseye

“China virus jokes misses the mark badly,” (TNT letter, 5/3).

In the letter writer’s criticism of the TNT’s 4/26 “Five Spot” column, he sounds more like an apologist for the Chinese government than someone interested in facts and reality.

He claims the right-wing media and the Trump administration are generating “anti-Asian tropes.” Wrong! They are generating anti-Chinese government tropes, and deservedly so.

The letter writer’s stance is like saying the anti-Nazis during World War II were actually anti-European.

Unfortunately, there will always be racists who will grasp at any excuse to express hatred. But this doesn’t mean the rest of us should ignore facts or fail to hold any government accountable for egregious actions.

Trump’s incompetence aside, the communist Chinese government deserves every bit of ridicule and blame directed at it for mishandling the initiation of the COVID-19 outbreak.

“The Five Spot” humor is often edgy, irreverent and unafraid of the truth. Its bit about a game of Chinese virus checkers is a prime example and hits the mark exactly.

The TNT’s Editorial Board doesn’t owe anyone an apology for it.

This story was originally published May 9, 2020 at 9:24 AM with the headline "China: Irreverent joke hit the bullseye."