“Mama Just Got Added to the War Chat,” Jerome Stueart (11 x 15) watercolor, mixed media on paper. 3-25-25.
This was perhaps too easy to make fun of–as public incompetency is its own caricature. Of course, as an artist, there is a representation which reflects my own idea of attractiveness–as every artist does throughout time. But this is also a nod to adult gay son’s taking care of their moms/parents. Shoutout to family caregivers. And it’s a nod to gay representation in editorial illustration, and a positively-presented unique body image. Hey, we deserve that!
Also, just to note, V.P. is not J.D. I suspect it is only a matter of time before our own troops will be used to help V.P. in the Ukraine.
While the sheer incompetency of the Trump Cabinet and other Appointees is what this illustration is about, I was most appalled by the sheer lack of empathy by any participants in the chat about the lives they were taking. War is a serious business, and I can’t imagine Obama’s team or Hillary’s team using prayer emojis and cheering on the deaths of those who were NOT the target. I expect my elected officials to be grave and reluctant to use weapons of mass destruction to end the life of one person–and if they have to use that kind of weapon, I would hope that they would have more respect for life than this. Trump and all his team disgust me.
Everything I see from this administration comes from a lack of empathy and compassion for the humanity of anyone but themselves. They are all drunk on power.
I also hate the kidnapping of Christianity to promote hate. I’ve seen it many times, and of course, Christianity has promoted slavery, and the subjugation of women, and the cruel treatment of the LGBTQ community. So it has a history just in the US of being used to hurt people– not to mention WORLD history– but that is not what the core of our faith teaches.
I hate how the US is being run now in OUR names—as if we all agreed this would be the right thing to do. I can’t imagine a single Christian person–if they truly followed Christ–approving of this kind of behavior or of the “disappearing” of people who don’t agree with Trump–students and professors taken off the street and shuffled into prisons in El Salvador for exercising their rights of free speech while Trump’s team are committing crimes against the country and humanity every single day.
I pray Justice comes, and she comes swiftly, against this fascist regime.
Until then, illustrations and essays, and calling my representative and protesting when I can. I’m going to try to start illustrating more of what we CAN do–and not just the shock at what is happening. I think there’s a place for prescriptive illustration– a tool which has been used for propaganda before can be used to model ways to fight back. Show us winning, show Justice coming, show the paths.
Thank you for listening. I’m just one bear bearing witness. I just didn’t think I would be witnessing this.
Bear Witness 