A cartoon published in Adelaide’s newspaper The Advertiser has angered many Greeks worldwide and forced the paper to apologize.
The cartoon by Jos Valdman, showed ancient Greek warriors putting out fires using ceramic vases with the title “Another Greek Tragedy”, referring to the fires that claimed 80+ lives last Monday, east of Athens.
Greek Orthodox Community of SA president Bill Gonis said the cartoon was “absolutely disgusting”.
He told ABC Radio Adelaide that to say the local community was “extremely upset” was putting it mildly.
“We should know better,” Mr Gonis said.
“We’ve got our own bushfire history — never mind nationally, but here in this state especially — but somehow we find the time to display Greeks behind the times in putting out a fire using water from vases.
Have a look at this disgraceful cartoon in the @theTiser . People are dying over there, losing everything they own and you print this ? @MaikLeventis @GTsekenis pic.twitter.com/ZtfW7jW9EP
— Kristos Kyriacou (@Kyri_1) July 26, 2018
The Advertiser “unreservedly” apologized on its Facebook and Twitter pages for publishing the cartoon.
APOLOGY FOR GREEK CARTOON
Dear all, A cartoon about the Greek fire tragedy appeared in yesterday’s Advertiser and unfortunately upset many of the people who saw it.— The Advertiser (@theTiser) July 26, 2018
But we accept that we did and, for this, we unreservedly apologise.
Matt Deighton
Editor
The Advertiser— The Advertiser (@theTiser) July 26, 2018