While catching up on local news in my town, I came across the Sept. 16 cartoon regarding the Referendum 71 petition.

It is offensive, in the worst of taste and blatantly bigoted. While I appreciate that everyone has their point of view, I am appalled that the Bothell Reporter would print this. Shame on you!

Martha Equinox, Bothell

CARTOONIST FRANK SHIERS’ RESPONSE:

One of the things that I love about editorial cartoons is that they’re open to a reader’s interpretation. Sometimes, their view is dramatically different from mine. In this case, I was simply trying to illustrate the impact of the judge’s decision. My point is that the finding prevents some activists from acquiring the names and addresses of those who signed the petitions to put Referendum 71 on the ballot. Those activists plan to post that information on the Web. Further, their intention is to confront those individuals who signed the petitions and “have a conversation with them.” All of that is fact, plain and simple. My interest was in illustrating that fact. Any other interpretation is in the heart of the reader.