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George W. Bush is to be the next President of the United States. But the tense battle for the White House, covered extensively by the media, was not without its share of humour. A leading American magazine carried a cartoon which showed a woman in a crowd demanding a recount. The placard she displayed had these words: "The joke is on U.S.", aptly summing up what the people must have felt.

Let us focus on the editorial cartoon again this time. Teachers around the world, especially the U.S., are using news stories, especially on elections, to impart lessons on citizenship and even critical thinking. And newspaper editorial cartoons have an important role to play in this with the strength of their images and the power of their messages. Across the U.S., the ability to interpret an editorial cartoon is being named as a basic skill, along with map and graph reading.

Widely credited as the "father of the editorial cartoon", illustrator Thomas Nast expressed his opinions on a range of political and social issues during the latter half of the 19th Century. In fact, his cartoons are considered to be a chronicle of U.S. history during that period.

Personalities and issues are fodder for humour. Here is your exercise using the U.S. election. The internet can be of help here. Online, there are dozens of excellent sources, one being the Washington Post on Politics page.

Here is what you can do. Try and collect as many cartoons as you can on the Presidential election. It can take time and patience. Analyse their content. Initiate a classroom discussion.

As an extension activity, design cartoons that counter the sentiments expressed in the ones you have collected.

For posterity

The 24th annual meeting of the World Heritage Committee held in Australia last year selected 61 new sites spread over 30 countries. This brings the total number of world heritage sites to 690. However, it does not include any Indian site.

Though not a historical site, the UNESCO did include something from India last year. Can you name it? Why was it the focus of attention on November 26, 2000 (The picture should help you).

Find out more about it and write an essay about why it is unique. Also find out more about the 61 sites.

Compiled by

MURALI N. KRISHNASWAMY

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