Cartoon Raises a Stink

Washinton Post ^ | Friday, November 21, 2003 | Johnny Hart

[livesbygrace]

Did Johnny Hart -- the beloved creator of "B.C." and one of the most widely read cartoonists on Earth -- sneak a vulgar defamation of Islam into the comics pages last week? The question was raised yesterday by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Washington-based civil rights group, in an e-mail to its membership.

Hart and his syndicate say no -- that a simple, straightforward joke is being misconstrued. That may well be true, but the 73-year-old cartoonist's history of evangelizing his Christian beliefs through his comic cavemen have left many people doubtful.

The cartoon, which appeared Nov. 10 in more than 1,200 newspapers worldwide -- including The Washington Post -- shows a caveman entering an outhouse at night, and then saying, from inside, "Is it just me, or does it stink in here?"

The first public questioning of this cartoon arose in a washingtonpost.com chat Tuesday, when a reader noted that the cartoon seemed to make no sense, except metaphorically. The reader noted that the cartoon contained six crescent moons -- three in the sky, and three on the outhouse door -- and wondered if this might have been a veiled slur on the world's 1 billion practicing Muslims.

[Wonder Warthog]

"One thing that scared me: the phrase '1 billion practicing Muslims'..."

Of which 900,000,000 are at the educational, technological, and economic level of sixth century barbarians.

The other 100,000,000 are too busy keeping their fellow Muslims in the afore-mentioned barbaric condition.

[sirchtruth]

What I want to know is when someone misinterprets the meaning of a message why is it the senders responsibility to
apologize or be ostracized for it?

[Frapster]

I am a Christian. I am a fan of BC and Hart. I see the cartoon and I get it even if he won't admit it. Hilarious!

[mewzilla]

Here's a link just for those yahoos at CAIR...

[Snuffington]

Freaking nut jobs. Berke Breathed ought to hide his face in shame over his comments on this. I agree with the above comment that Trudeau is the only one showing an ounce of common sense here.

[FreePaul]

If the shoe fits scream discrimination, defamation, etc. If he had put a cross on the outhouse door he would have been accused of promoting Christian principles. If one lives to be offended he will be successful.

[ClearCase_guy]

the cartoon seemed to make no sense, except metaphorically

Perhaps we out to make a law that says "All Humor must make perfect sense."

Do we have less tolerance for silly humor? "There's been some shrinkage."
Should funny non-sequitors be allowed? "These pretzels are making me thirsty!"
Is Johnny Hart a good cartoonist? "The best, Jerry! The best!"

[beezdotcom]

And, it's pretty obvious to ME why the 'SLAM' is there. That way, you know the door was opened and shut, and he could just use the same drawing of the outhouse in each frame. It's a little lazy, but it works...

[muawiyah]

5th century is pre-Islamic. Are you inferring here that Christians and Mithrasts were "barbarians"?

[avg_freeper]

After a quick perusal of Hart's work I see that he will now have to apologize to the Iwhams, the Ipows, and the Izots.

[mewzilla]

According to this link the crescent moons and stars on doors dates back to Colonial times when it was used to ID which outhouse was the his or hers.

[ArrogantBustard]

The complainers are probably ignorant foreigners (excusable) and ignorant cityfolk (inexcusable) with no knowledge of the long standing connection between crescent moons and outhouse doors in rural America.

[ArGee]

I've seen few outhouses. The closest thing I have seen recently are porta-potties. Those doors slam because they have springs to ensure they close.

Someone had to work hard on this one. Then again, maybe the Muslims were offended because the shoe fits?

Shalom.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Most disappointed in Berke Butthead. Used to like Bloome County.

[ArGee]

One other thought - maybe CAIR decided to raise a "stink" about this because there has been so little evidence of anti-Muslim sentiment and they were loosing their funding and their main attack against US foreign policy. Got to keep the pot stirred to keep the funds flowing.

Shalom.

[TC Rider]

..still waiting for any lib to take offense at McGruder's "Boondocks".

[MrConfettiMan]

The reader noted that the cartoon contained six crescent moons -- three in the sky, and three on the outhouse door

Am I missing something here or do I see only one crescent moon in the sky and one on the outhouse door?

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Should CAIR apologize for being so ignorant of our rural history?

[livesbygrace]

I am a Christian, too, and I was wondering if I was alone in my thoughts... Hilarious!

[beezdotcom]

and before somebody points this out, yes I *know* all three outhouses were drawn separately...but it's still easier than having to draw the door opening and closing, while drawing the person in perspective...