As I recently wrote, there was plenty of room for disagreement over the meaning of the chimp cartoon in the New York Post.

This, however, is a different story.

In case anyone is about to accuse me of going all PC, I'm not saying there's no room in this world for ethnic humor. I've been on the receiving end of my share of Mafia jokes, and I've found nearly all of them (1) pretty funny and (2) not offensive in the least. But I don't think it's a matter of political correctness to believe that Mayor Grose crossed a line here. I think it's a matter of simple courtesy and respect.

Those of you here who are Christians (which I believe is most of you), ask yourself this: What if the mayor had sent a cartoon making fun of Christians -- like, say, this one -- to a Christian acquaintance? What would your reaction be?

Comments

[Jason Taylor]

Oh, no one would make a really mean mafia joke about you, Gina. They'd be to frightened that your family would send some of their boys after you.

As for that particular cartoon, it's not funny, it's just annoying. To make good religious humor you have to be reasonably comfortable with your subject and not feel it something alien. You must, for instance know what the difference between a priest, a rabbi, and a preacher is.