To the editor:

I thought the recent political cartoon in the Dec. 28 Journal-World was demeaning and insulting to senior citizens.

At a time when any hint of criticism toward people of color, gays or illegal immigrants can get one labeled a racist, bigot, homophobe or worse, it seems to be perfectly acceptable to ridicule or make fun of older people without fear of consequences. There was a time when elderly people were revered and respected in our society for their knowledge, contributions and experience, but no more. Their ideas are now looked down upon by the media as unimportant and out of touch with modern thinking.

They are shipped off to places one radio personality recently referred to as “God’s waiting rooms” in senior centers and old folks homes where they can be dismissed by liberal elite types as stupid and irrelevant if their thinking does not conform to a specific political ideology.

So before you might think it funny to belittle or ridicule older people to make a political point, keep in mind that cellphone you have your nose stuck to most of the day would not have happened it not for some old guy, pehaps now in “God’s waiting room.” I don’t care what their political beliefs may be, older citizens deserve more respect than that pathetic image portrayed in the Journal-World’s not funny political cartoon.

Gary Hamon,

Lawrence