Mike Royko’s May 30 column (“Jewish males have lox on depression”) was terribly disappointing. For us, the depression set in when we recognized that a columnist celebrated for fresh insights and a sharp eye had offered up tired, old, overworked stereotypes about Jews.
Obviously, at the Anti-Defamation League, we routinely see material much more offensive than that attributed to the speakers in Royko’s column. In fact, most of the column contains the kind of stuff we would expect to see on a comic’s cutting room floor–not new, not funny.
Regrettably, the column does have the effect of reinforcing negative stereotypes about Jews. We have received numerous calls from Tribune readers who have expressed that concern. We expect much better from Royko and from the Tribune.
