Nuclear Football

Friday's Editorial Cartoon   —   Posted on February 26, 2021

Question(s)

1. Editorial cartoonists often use symbols to represent a person, group or idea. (the lion is a symbol of courage)
a) What does the donkey symbolize in this cartoon?
b) What does the football represent?

2. Cartoonists often use humor to illustrate a news item. What recent news item is illustrated in this cartoon?

3. Although there are some safeguards in place, the president of the United States has sole authority to launch a nuclear weapon.  It is believed that this unprecedented request by a large number of Democrats to a Democratic president is due to the fact that:

• They are concerned over a perceived decline in President Biden’s cognitive abilities and/or belief that he may be suffering from some form of dementia.  They must think it is unsafe for him to hold this power, concerned he may not have the cognitive ability to make a rapid decision on a matter of this magnitude -- OR,
• House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in early January that she wanted to prevent what she claimed was an “unstable” President Donald Trump from launching a nuclear weapon in his remaining days in office; they are asking President Biden to change this sixty year old  policy to prevent future presidents from having sole authority over launching a nuclear strike

a) Why do you think such a large number of Democrats made this request?

b) This story was mostly ignored by the media. Do you think it should have been a bigger news story? Why or why not?

c) Ask a parent to answer a) and b).