Steve Benson (cartoonist)
Stephen Reed Benson | |
---|---|
Born | Sacramento, California, U.S. | January 2, 1954
Spouse | Claire Ferguson (m. 2020) |
Relatives | Ezra Taft Benson |
Family | Taft family |
Awards | Pulitzer Prize |
Stephen Reed Benson (born January 2, 1954) is an American
Biography
Stephen Benson was born on January 2, 1954, in
Awards
Benson was awarded the 1993
Controversy
In the late 1980s he was at first a supporter, then a prominent critic, of
In 1993 Benson faced further controversy within the LDS Church, when he stated that his grandfather, then nearing his 94th birthday, was suffering from senility that was being concealed by church leadership.[15] Later that year, Benson publicly left the church.[11][16] He has since become a critic of religious belief, appearing at Freedom From Religion Foundation's annual conventions and stating in its paper Freethought Today, "If, as the true believers claim, the word 'gospel' means good news, then the good news for me is that there is no gospel, other than what I can define for myself, by observation and conscience. As a freethinking human being, I have come not to favor or fear religion, but to face and fight it as an impediment to civilized advancement."[17][18]
In 1997, a Benson cartoon used the image of a firefighter carrying a dead child to comment on the death sentence that had just been imposed on Oklahoma City bombing defendant Timothy McVeigh. Benson forcefully defended his work against some readers' contentions that the cartoon was insensitive.[19]
In 1999, Benson released a political cartoon titled "Texas Bonfire Traditions." In the cartoon, he compared the 1999 Aggie Bonfire collapse to the Waco siege of 1993 and the murder of James Byrd Jr. in 1998. This prompted negative reactions and criticism from Texas A&M, and forced The Arizona Republic to remove the cartoon.[citation needed]
References
- ^ ISBN 978-1-57356-111-2.
- ^ "Cartoonist leaves Arizona for Tacoma". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. October 5, 1989. Retrieved November 11, 2022 – via Google News Archive Search.
- ^ Hsieh, Steven (January 23, 2019). "Pulitzer-Winning Cartoonist Among Laid Off at Arizona Republic". Phoenix New Times.
- ^ Boas, Phil; Burton, Greg; Tulumello, Kathy (January 24, 2019). "Did you see Steve Benson's cartoon today? These are words we (sadly) will no longer say". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
- Arizona Mirror. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
- ISBN 978-3-598-30183-4.
- ^ "Editorial Cartooning". Pulitzer Prizes. Retrieved December 9, 2010.
- azcentral.com.
- New York Times.
- Sunstone Magazine. pp. 15–21.
- ^ a b Flannery, Pat (February 22, 2008). "Former Ariz. governor Mecham dies". USA Today.
- ^ "Cartoonist Pat Bagley lambasts Gannett for short-sighted and cruel staff cut". AAEC News.
- ^ McEntee, Peg (May 24, 1989). "Pres. Benson Knows About Flap". Deseret News. Associated Press.
- ^ "Cartoonist Ousted From Mormon Post". Los Angeles Times. June 3, 1989 – via pqarchiver.com.
- ^ "Mormon President's Health Raises Questions; Succession: Famed grandson says church hierarchy is presenting a misleading image of Ezra Taft Benson, who serves as the faith's prophet for life". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. July 31, 1993.
- Salt Lake Tribune – via NewsBank.
- Freethought Today. Freedom From Religion Foundation. Archived from the originalon December 31, 2010.
- ^ "Outreach & Events". Freedom From Religion Foundation. Archived from the original on July 31, 2012.
- ^ "Oklahoma bombing cartoon causes protests; Artist defends anti-death penalty drawing". CNN. January 19, 1997.
Further reading
- Benson, Steve (Fall 1997), "Good-bye to God", Nieman Reports, 51 (3): 29–35
- Carriell, Lisa (June 19, 1997), "Oklahoma bombing cartoon causes protests: Artist defends anti-death penalty drawing", CNN.com, CNN