Posted on 08/27/2007 9:10:28 AM PDT by Lorianne
We're proud to host Berkeley Breathed's "Opus" every week, but especially this week and next: At least 25 of the newspapers that normally print the comic strip, and probably more, have declined these two, at least partly out of fear that Lola Granola's latest spiritual journey -- dabbling in Islam and adopting its conservative dress code for women -- could be offensive to Muslims. Sadly, one of the papers that isn't printing the strip is the Washington Post, though the Post's syndication service, Washington Post Writers Group, distributes Opus. (The Washington Post actually ran the strip online, though it was hard to find, but not in the paper.)
According to Editor and Publisher, some papers were concerned that the strips were sexually suggestive -- Lola's boyfriend Steve makes a joke about things he's "not getting" because of her conversion -- but the anxiety seemed to stem mostly from Breathed's making radical Islam "the hot new fad on the planet," as Lola says. Washington Post Writers Group Executive Sales Manager Karisue Wyson told E&P some papers "won't publish any Muslim-related humor, whether pro or con. 'They just don't want to touch that,' she said."
I thought the strip satirized loopy American seekers who customize world religions for their own needs, not Islam. But either way, it's cowardice to shun the strip. And newspapers wonder why they're dying?
Sorry - I guess it is this week and next. Bit confused as my stupid paper (the Austin American Statesman) seems to be running them a week behind. We got the one from above yesterday.
Depends on the definition of "it." The one posted in color at the beginning of the thread was the one run in the "dead tree" version of yesterday's Post. The one linked in post #8 is the Muzzi version that the Post is apparently not going to print.
Too bad. I think it is hysterical, particularly the last few panels.
Lemme see mr. Breathed put a pig a burkha.
bloom county bump!
I was a bit surprised that our local paper, the KC Star, chose to print the Opus Islam cartoons.
Berk Breathed is the funniest comic strip artist in history. He seems to enjoy poking fun at everyone and I enjoy it also, even when he gets heavy handed about it.
Reagan was a big fan as well. He once called Breathed to tell him how much he appreciated how he made Nancy look in one of his comic strips.
Breathed sent him the original drawings in response.
Makes me really miss the Gipper.
I miss Bloom County. It's been hard to follow, the Outland or Opus or whatever since they only run on Sunday. I suppose I should just buy them all together in a book.
Every time I listen to a current politician, I think that.
Every time.
btw, read the Reagan Diaries. Facinating.
I miss Bloom County.
Same here. I stopped bothering with the Sunday comics when they went so political, so slanted left, about a decade ago.
So did I. It didn't age well, though -- I looked through an old Bloom County collection a couple of years ago. The political humor (of which there was a lot) was very dated and un-funny.
Except for the Billy and the Boingers w/Steve Dallas. That was funny !!!
Ah come on lamestream media, that was funny and tame compaired to how most cartoonists treat American conservatives.
Always loved Berkeley Breathed’s work back to when it was called “Bloom County” and ran in my college newspaper.
When I was growing up, we had a book I practically memorized, named something like "Pictorial History of American Presidents". It had images from the time of every Administration up to Eisenhower, and the best ones were the political cartoons. Can't find that book around the old house, but I wouldn't mind a chance to replace it.
It would help if I could remember the real title or author.
Remember when Milo’s closet nightmare monster gets switched for Reagan’s nightmares?
Milo has Fidel, Qaddaffi and Gorby stepping out of his closet, while over a 1600 Penn...
“Nancy, I’ve had it up to my keister with this thing.”
bump
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