An Editorial Response
I'm going to break from Momma for a day to copy the following letter from today's Raleigh News & Observer:
"Aaron McGruder's Jan. 15 "Boondocks" comic strip, which included the line that Condoleezza Rice was pushing for the death penalty for anyone who teaches a black person to read, is an outright malicious lie. The N&O should apologize to Rice and your readers for such a calumny.
I agree with many other readers that this strip should be on the Other Opinion page if it is worth printing at all. There is nothing comic about it." -- Eugene V. Moriarty, Durham
Here's the link to the cartoon in question. What you don't see is that in previous cartoons McGruder had been poking fun at black churches for applauding white politicians for just showing up, regardless of what they said at the church. As happened in this strip.
A few points: I do think the Boondocks from time to time edges across the line. Sometimes, that makes it shocking instead of funny. Other times it makes it hilarious. I guess the times I find it shocking, others may find it funny. At least it is funny, though! Aren't the funny pages supposed to be funny? And isn't this why I started this blog in the first place?
Is he worried someone is going to mistakenly believe Condi Rice did push for the death penalty for teaching blacks to read? Puh-leeze. That may happen, but people who get their NEWS from the FUNNY PAPERS deserve what they get. Condi Rice has a PhD, PEOPLE!! Condi Rice grew up in Birmingham during the Civil Rights era!!!! Condi Rice's family stressed the importance of her education. If there is any person less likely than Condi Rice to do such a thing as push for the death penalty for teaching blacks to read, I'd like to meet that person. Really! Because I think that person may be Oprah Winfrey, and I'd love to meet her.
Mr. Moriarty was obviously offended by this strip. He says it may not be "worth printing at all." Why? Because it's offensive to him? Because it sometimes crosses the line? No: Because "There is nothing comic about it." Comic: "Causing laughter or amusement." (according to Webster's). I find nothing comic about Family Circus, Garfield, Marmaduke, Hagar the Horrible, Dennis the Menace ... need I go on? I should write a letter to the N&O. I should also write a letter about this malicious piece of trash they printed today:
January 18's Shoe, which included the line that an extreme makeover tv show was coming to visit the bird waitress's house is an outright lie. It has been scientifically proven that birds don't watch tv. I mean, come on! TV's don't fit in the nests of most North American songbirds. The fact that Shoe thinks the bird waitress is ugly is offensive to me. Women (and female birds) come in all shapes and sizes. Your comic is offensive to female birds who work in coffee shops, and an apology is in order. Besides, if the bird waitress is going to be watching a makeover show, don't you think it would be The Swan?
Thank you,
Big Al
"Aaron McGruder's Jan. 15 "Boondocks" comic strip, which included the line that Condoleezza Rice was pushing for the death penalty for anyone who teaches a black person to read, is an outright malicious lie. The N&O should apologize to Rice and your readers for such a calumny.
I agree with many other readers that this strip should be on the Other Opinion page if it is worth printing at all. There is nothing comic about it." -- Eugene V. Moriarty, Durham
Here's the link to the cartoon in question. What you don't see is that in previous cartoons McGruder had been poking fun at black churches for applauding white politicians for just showing up, regardless of what they said at the church. As happened in this strip.
A few points: I do think the Boondocks from time to time edges across the line. Sometimes, that makes it shocking instead of funny. Other times it makes it hilarious. I guess the times I find it shocking, others may find it funny. At least it is funny, though! Aren't the funny pages supposed to be funny? And isn't this why I started this blog in the first place?
Is he worried someone is going to mistakenly believe Condi Rice did push for the death penalty for teaching blacks to read? Puh-leeze. That may happen, but people who get their NEWS from the FUNNY PAPERS deserve what they get. Condi Rice has a PhD, PEOPLE!! Condi Rice grew up in Birmingham during the Civil Rights era!!!! Condi Rice's family stressed the importance of her education. If there is any person less likely than Condi Rice to do such a thing as push for the death penalty for teaching blacks to read, I'd like to meet that person. Really! Because I think that person may be Oprah Winfrey, and I'd love to meet her.
Mr. Moriarty was obviously offended by this strip. He says it may not be "worth printing at all." Why? Because it's offensive to him? Because it sometimes crosses the line? No: Because "There is nothing comic about it." Comic: "Causing laughter or amusement." (according to Webster's). I find nothing comic about Family Circus, Garfield, Marmaduke, Hagar the Horrible, Dennis the Menace ... need I go on? I should write a letter to the N&O. I should also write a letter about this malicious piece of trash they printed today:
January 18's Shoe, which included the line that an extreme makeover tv show was coming to visit the bird waitress's house is an outright lie. It has been scientifically proven that birds don't watch tv. I mean, come on! TV's don't fit in the nests of most North American songbirds. The fact that Shoe thinks the bird waitress is ugly is offensive to me. Women (and female birds) come in all shapes and sizes. Your comic is offensive to female birds who work in coffee shops, and an apology is in order. Besides, if the bird waitress is going to be watching a makeover show, don't you think it would be The Swan?
Thank you,
Big Al
posted by big al at 8:16 PM
2 Comments:
I can get over how awesome your blog is. I read it start to finish and wished I didn't have glass walls in my office, because holding in laughter gets hard after a while.
Seriously... Awesome.
--Emily
Moriarity is a putz and probably gets cornholed by a big African American every night.
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