Nate Beeler is the editorial cartoonist for the Columbus Dispatch. His award-winning cartoons have appeared on CNN, Fox News, and in such publications as Time, Newsweek. He is one of the most widely read editorial cartoonists, with his cartoons distributed internationally to more than 800 publications. We are going to describe and interpret a cartoon made by Beeler that illustrates immigration in the United States related to the notion of Spaces and Exchanges.
To begin with, this cartoon depicts three characters in black and white. On the left we have two reporters. First, a cameraman dressed with a plaid shirt, is carrying a huge video camera that covers his face. On it there is a sticker with the words: ‘TV NEWS’. Beside him, is represented a reporter. He is wearing a black suit with a grey tie. He is holding a microphone in one hand and has his other hand in his pocket. Smiling, he speaks to the camera and asks the third character: We’re here live with the 3000 millionth american! How do you feel about this milestone sir? These two characters are interviewing the man who is on the right. Contrary to them, he seems to be scruffy and dirty because he is wearing a cap, a white tank top, jeans and surprisingly he has no shoes. Furthermore, he has a moustache and the shirt that he wears reveals his chest hair. He is carrying a bag full of things in one hand and a sleeping bag under the other arm. Clinging to his trousers is barbed wire. He seems to be confused and does not understand the situation that is why his only answer is the Spanish question: ‘¿Qué?’ wich means ‘What?’.
It is obvious that with this cartoon, Beeler wants to criticise the treatment given to immigrants who arrive in the United States. First of all, we can deduce through the answer given by the character interviewed that he seems to be a Mexican who has just crossed the border, this is seen because of the barbed wire that usually protects borders from illegal crossing. In fact the Mexico- United States border is the most frequently crossed international boundary in the world. The illegal immigrants are called wetbacks because they have to cross the Rio Bravo that divides both countries. Moreover, with this cartoon the artist wants to point out the fact that sometimes journalists make reality up pretending something that it is not true just for the salce of the show. In addition to this, here the reporter qualifies the situation as a milestone just because the Mexican man has just arrived despite all the troubles that he must have gone through. To sum up just with a little glance at both characters we can see they belong to opposed worlds.
In relation to the notion Spaces and Exchanges this cartoon reveals a current reality: the clash of two worlds, North and South, rich and poor world. Although Beeler illustrates this scene in America this ‘illegal’ migration happens everywhere in the world and not only because of money and work but also because of wars. On the other hand those who are rich and powerful can cross the border easily. As a conclusion this cartoon evinces the idea that with new technologies huge amounts of people are able to see what is happening around the world but just a few react.
