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An Idea Made Into an Image Will Never Be Forgotten

We recently awarded the winners of the second Caminos de la Libertad cartoon competition. This is a good time to offer some brief thoughts on the importance of cartoons as a medium for the defense of freedoms.

Political cartoons have a long tradition in Mexico of illustrating daily realities, often distorted by authoritarian governments that repressed freedom of expression. They offer an interesting perspective on Mexican history, as can be seen in the Cartoon Museum in Mexico City.

Through cartoons, artists have shaped society’s beliefs and thinking, using this powerful form of expression to take on the powers that be through humor. As the popular Mexican saying goes, "The truth emerges between jokes,” and indeed, Mexicans laugh at everything in society, even their misfortune. What politician would dare to suppress this?

Since the 19th century, publications such as "La Orquesta” and “El Ahuizote" used satire to expose hypocrisy. The latter featured illustrations of the great artist Jose Guadalupe Posada. This genre lends itself to witty criticism, and is a good medium for Mexicans, given their creativity and penchant for incisive humor.

For the above reasons, political cartoons are a very powerful vehicle for the defense of liberal ideas. With this in mind, at Caminos de la Libertad we support the expressions of this genre that defend and represent freedom, to promote reflection concerning this intrinsic value of humankind clearly, accessibly, and, of course, having fun in the process.

Today, great opportunities of expression are opening up for new generations of cartoonists through digital tools, both in the creation as well as the circulation of ideas.

In the face of persistent threats to freedoms by authoritarian rulers throughout the world, there is much to be done in the world of political cartoons and criticism.

Through Caminos de la Libertad, we support creators who  ̶  with their pencils, pens, and brushes as weapons  ̶  strive every day to defend the freedoms that we all enjoy, because a powerful idea made into an image will never be forgotten.

Our Freedom

Understanding and Defending Freedom

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