In Colorado, along the front range, our major newspapers provide a forum for two of the most egregious examples of cartooning the neocon way - Mallard Fillmore and Chuck Asay. Over and over again I look at their pieces hoping to find a nugget of sense or compassion in their work. What I find is lies, distortions and attacks - as far as I am concerned - at the fabric of American society. I was finally moved to write a letter to the Editor of the Denver Post - below the fold:
Re: Mallard Fillmore and Distorting Reality
This Sunday's Mallard Fillmore is one more example of the distortion of reality to create the perception of prosecution. The story of Brittany McComb is simplified to cutting off her microphone for the mention of Christ. True but only in a very false way.
The high school - like many school districts here in Colorado - reviewed Brittany's speech prior to the commencement. The original speech included Biblical references and other material that the school felt went from acknowledging her faith to preaching at graduation. Brittany accepted the changes and the school believed she would follow the edited speech. She was informed prior to the commencement that her microphone would be cut off if she read her original speech. The school appears to have believed she agreed to this. She violated that trust. A copy of the article as reference is here
Would Mallard have written the same cartoon if the school had cut off the microphone if the valedictorian started to curse after being told not to? I don't think so. Many of us may agree or disagree with the actions of the school board but this was NOT a case of prosecution of Christians. This was a case of a student lying to the school administration and losing privileges because of that. Mallard has taken a local issue and blown it into an issue of faith. I have no problem with a person accepting impacts from civil disobedience - but Brittany McComb is no more prosecuted than any war protestor. She was not thrown in jail - she got her microphone cut off. By this standard arresting war protestors or people who heckle George Bush is not just persecution but attacks.
And so the trust and integrity of this nation is attacked from the neocons. I for one am fed up with this distortion and fear. I am disappointed that many in my Republican Party feel this distortion is an acceptable path to political power. I am sorry to see the Denver Post providing a forum for this attack at the fabric of America. I think preediting and rejection of this type of distortion would be an appropriate response.