This is a reprint of John Olday's book of anti-war illustrations, first published during the Second World War in May 1943.

The new edition goes to great lengths to distance itself in particular from one cartoon on page 19 titled 'I thank god I am not a wicked Jew baiter!' Stating that the drawing should be understood in the light of knowledge available to the author, and that, it must be seen in the context of the times.

The illustration depicts America, in the form of a crocodile, shedding tears at the sight of Germany, as a tiger, carrying of a Jewish victim in its maul. The worried looking crocodile seems oblivious to the dismembered negro corps right by its own feet!

In an ideal world, this cartoon should make little sense to us in the context of our evolved society. However, no explanation is really necessary.
Just take the Haiti earthquake disaster right on America's doorstep which Barack Obama pledged a monumental US humanitarian mission to alleviate.
Except that once the media heat was off of their backs, they fled!
It was, and still is, Fidel Castro's Cuban aid workers who have dealt with much of the aftermath of this human tragedy, with little to no recognition from the rest of the world.

Sometimes it makes you wonder what we were fighting for seventy years ago.

The book also highlights: greed, hunger, political lies, the corruption of the church, erosion of our civil liberties etc.

Powerful stuff. ( )