Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Silencing Opus
Salon ^ | August 26, 2007 | Joan Walsh

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?


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Front Page News
KEYWORDS: 1a; berkebreathed; berkeleybreathed; censorship; opus; salon
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-53 next last
To: Red Badger

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.


21 posted on 08/27/2007 10:19:31 AM PDT by green iguana
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: green iguana
I'm not gonna tell you the details from next week's installment, but Lola DONS a bhurka..............
22 posted on 08/27/2007 10:22:34 AM PDT by Red Badger (ALL that CARBON in ALL that oil & coal was once in the atmospere. We're just putting it back!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Lorianne; george76


23 posted on 08/27/2007 10:49:40 AM PDT by Grampa Dave (Donate to Vets For Freedom: http://www.vetsforfreedom.org/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: thulldud
The author said it was online, but not in the dead tree paper. Was that incorrect?

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.

24 posted on 08/27/2007 11:09:03 AM PDT by blau993
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Lorianne
...some papers "won't publish any Muslim-related humor, whether pro or con. 'They just don't want to touch that,' she said."

Aack...sphft...eek...plphhft!


25 posted on 08/27/2007 11:09:28 AM PDT by GalaxieFiveHundred
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GalaxieFiveHundred

Lemme see mr. Breathed put a pig a burkha.


26 posted on 08/27/2007 11:16:49 AM PDT by Redbob (WWJBD - "What would Jack Bauer Do?")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Lorianne

bloom county bump!


27 posted on 08/27/2007 11:21:02 AM PDT by Smogger (It's the WOT Stupid)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lorianne

I was a bit surprised that our local paper, the KC Star, chose to print the Opus Islam cartoons.


28 posted on 08/27/2007 11:23:54 AM PDT by MEGoody (Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Old Mountain man

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.


29 posted on 08/27/2007 11:24:53 AM PDT by Badeye (You know its a kook site when they ban the word 'kook')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Badeye

Makes me really miss the Gipper.


30 posted on 08/27/2007 11:31:03 AM PDT by Old Mountain man (Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Badeye
Berk Breathed is the funniest comic strip artist in history.

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.

31 posted on 08/27/2007 11:32:43 AM PDT by Smogger (It's the WOT Stupid)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Old Mountain man

Every time I listen to a current politician, I think that.

Every time.

btw, read the Reagan Diaries. Facinating.


32 posted on 08/27/2007 11:49:13 AM PDT by Badeye (You know its a kook site when they ban the word 'kook')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Smogger

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.


33 posted on 08/27/2007 11:50:02 AM PDT by Badeye (You know its a kook site when they ban the word 'kook')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: freepertoo
When did Breathed come back??? I loved Bloom County.

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.

34 posted on 08/27/2007 11:55:38 AM PDT by r9etb
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: r9etb

Except for the Billy and the Boingers w/Steve Dallas. That was funny !!!


35 posted on 08/27/2007 12:20:23 PM PDT by stratboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: Democrat for Bush

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.


36 posted on 08/27/2007 1:42:08 PM PDT by anymouse
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: stratboy

37 posted on 08/27/2007 1:50:56 PM PDT by Smogger (It's the WOT Stupid)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: r9etb
Dated political humor is still funny when you know the history -- it even helps in remembering it.

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.

38 posted on 08/27/2007 2:21:39 PM PDT by thulldud ("Para inglés, oprima el dos.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: Badeye

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.”


39 posted on 08/27/2007 2:24:46 PM PDT by sinanju
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Lorianne

bump


40 posted on 08/27/2007 2:25:53 PM PDT by VOA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-53 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson