This cartoon can be shown as selective perception, depending on where and how you were raised, you as an individual will determine visually your opinion based on what you see. While looking at this cartoon the reader tends to perceive things according to their beliefs rather than what the facts really are. As you look at this specific cartoon, those who were raised in a different part of the country may see this as offensive or not understand the meaning behind it while others may think deeply on the what is being shown and form their opinion based on that visual. Because of people making these decisions they perceive these messages already based on their existing views and tend not to see it any other way.
In this cartoon boy and girl are going to the movies. They look at a poster of the incredible hulk and the boy says to the girl, “That happens every time you bring up illegal immigration around your uncle. Only in his case its toxic radiation from talk radio that altered his genetic chemistry. This shows that the girl uncle apparently gets upset over the immigration issue as a consequence of listening to talk radio. The cartoon is a representation of the Selective Perception theory itself as it refers to the uncle getting angry over what he is listening to while someone on the other side of the issue may not be so angry because of their views and opinions. As a personal example, while listening to Rush Limbaugh a friend of mine will become very worked up about the things Limbaugh is talking about, probably as much as Limbaugh himself. While on the other side I think his claims are ridiculous and pay little attention. How we think, how we are raised, our views and beliefs affect the things we hear and see in the media and this cartoon is an example of that.
The term Anchor Babies is a subject of much debate. The term Anchor Babies refers to children born to immigrants and undocumented workers. This term is controversial because under the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution children born on US soil receive citizenship. Many undocumented workers that come to this country use this as a way to quickly become legal US citizens through the sponsorship of their citizen children. The cartoon shows Native Americans in the early colonization years looking down at Pilgrims the immigrated from Europe. The Pilgrims are referred to as “filthy disease ridden invaders” and shown in the cartoon as ugly and dirty, and playing in the dirt. Then the Natives also say “and they are having Anchor Babies” which refers to the young child playing in the dirt. This is an example of selective perception because we can all see this cartoon in different ways due to many different factors. Things like upbringing, race, economic status, and especially past experience with immigration will affect how you perceive and interpret this particular cartoon.
Showing that someone has thrown their baby over the México/U.S border making that child the 300 000 001st American. Still attached to its umbilical cord. Showing immigrants as being desperate for their child to be a U.S citizen.
An American Flag is flying behind a brick wall with one of the bricks having an inscription “Made In Berlin”. By putting up a wall between the U.S. and Mexico the United States are really no better than those who constructed the Berlin Wall. The Berlin Wall has so much negativity and people can’t believe that a country would fence itself in. When the wall fell it is shown as a happy time in history. The United States is just recycling the Wall and putting its own up to prevent undocumented workers from illegally entering the country.
Two men, one dressed as Uncle Sam and one holding a paper that says “immigration reform” are standing looking at the blurring U.S./Mexico Border and the one asks the other if he as any ideas. No one really knows what to do about immigration reform. They almost feel helpless as they sit and watch the border blur and ask each other what to do. No matter what the U.S. Government decides to do, immigration will remain.
An undocumented worker crosses his fingers and waits for Uncle Sam’s decision, whether he may come into the Untied States or not. Most immigrants don’t wait for the U.S. to decide whether they can come here illegal or not. It’s a decision the U.S. has debated for many years.
The Immigrants Editorial Cartoons 