From the editor: Our sincerest apologies

On Friday, July 12, The Aspen Times ill-advisedly published an editorial cartoon of two caricatures of Israeli soldiers depicted in a derogatory fashion.

The immediate reaction from our readers, colleagues, and superiors was understandably immense. Because we successfully failed to vet this cartoon from contaminating our press, residents stopped by the office, disgruntled readers called in, and Times’ management rightfully demanded to know why we occupied our column inches with something so off-base.

For this, we can’t thank everyone enough.

Many of us, including yours truly, lost sleep over Friday’s editorial cartoon. What were we thinking? How did this get through? How on earth do we fix this?

By Friday afternoon, Times’ editors and management decided that we are no longer running editorial cartoons. The illustrative rhetoric sometimes divides more than it unites, and this is not indicative of what we stand for, who we are, and the ultimate mission of integrity in American journalism.

Much more importantly, we sincerely apologize to the Jewish community, our readers, and everyone else. Please, please know this editorial cartoon was published out of a lapse in judgment: We unconsciously did not read between the lines.

This apology will likely seem fruitless to some, and that’s completely understandable.

But just know, we are sorry.

Ray K. Erku is the editor of The Aspen Times. He can be reached at 970-429-9120 or rerku@aspentimes.com.