Not comic, not funny

I am writing about your Maine Weekend Comics insert (BDN June 25-26), most of which I found neither comic nor funny. What I did find was a blatant display of violence, abuse (both human and animal), gender and species bias and tongue-in-cheek humor about the ravages of alcohol abuse.

Specifically and item by item:

“Garfield” is portrayed as having taken the goldfish (realistic cat behavior), but when caught by Jon, retaliates with physical abuse (very unrealistic cat behavior). The fish is irked, yet miraculously unharmed, apparently able to survive out of water for an extended period.

Most offensive of your weekend comic selection was “Slylock Fox,” a “comic” presented specifically for children. Vampire bats are neither evil nor do they form “cults” and prey upon unsuspecting victims. In fact, bats (vampire, or otherwise) rarely bother humans unless their colonies are disturbed. In actuality, the majority of bats spend most of their time feeding on insects and sometimes fruit, breeding and caring for their young. Bats, as a species, are very helpful to humans and the environment; individuals consume thousands of insects on a daily basis.

Particularly offensive about this “comic” selection was “How to draw baby and kitty.” Such action, carried out in reality may result in serious and long-term injury to a cat, or cause death. “Severe head injury can lead to epilepsy as its aftermath.” (Richard Pitcairn, DVM, Ph.D., “Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats,” p. 211).

Page two models family violence, as the characters of “Barney Google and Snuffy Smith” beat one another with kitchen implements.

Further on, we are “entertained” by the “Wizard of Id” making jokes about scheduled executions.

Next, “Andy Capp” models poor judgment while under the influence of alcohol.

Out-of-control emotions is the theme for the “Beetle Bailey” selection. Here we are supposedly entertained by a cartoon character having a rage fit.

The theme of head-beating is again portrayed as characters in “B.C.” lob rocks at one another’s heads.

And finally, in “Blondie,” Dagwood is once again typified as the empty-headed white male, incapable of the simplest task.

In these times when family violence, spouse, child and animal abuse and concerns about contracting AIDS from poor sexual judgment while under the influence of alcohol are both rampant and under close social scrutiny, I am surprised at your lack of editing this section of your paper. I am particularly dismayed that these topics are portrayed as “funny” in the section of your paper that children often look forward to each weekend.

It’s not enough to be “politically correct.” Such messages of violence, abuse, bias and tongue-in-cheek humor about the consequences of alcohol abuse serve only to teach children that such behavior is normal and expected. When put into the comics section, children are also taught that such behaviors are also funny, which they are not. These types of messages may contribute to deeper problems of general conflict that arise not only from lack of empathy for the suffering of others, but deep inner conflict that arises when children act upon modeled violent behaviors.

Just as the producers of children’s television broadcasting is being asked by the public to be more accountable for the messages they give to children in their children’s programming, newspapers should be likewise accountable. Let’s have comics, but let’s have ones that address truly funny issues and situations, not ones that portray the tragedies of modern life as something to laugh about or as normal behaviors.

While your “comics” insert fails the grade, kudos for your USA Weekend insert. This is good reading for children of a variety of ages, informative, educational and environmentally sensitive. Kaetheryn Walker Belfast