Newspaper To Boycott Controversial "Opus" Cartoon

Editor & Publisher:

At least 25 of the 200 or so "Opus" client newspapers might not run the Sunday-only comic's next two episodes, which feature Islamic references and a sex joke.

That's according to Washington Post Writers Group Executive Sales Manager Karisue Wyson, when contacted today by E&P. WPWG Editorial Director/General Manager Alan Shearer added that more than 25 clients might not use the strips because the syndicate hasn't heard from about 150 of the 200 papers it alerted.

Read the whole story: Editor & Publisher

Comments

[Portnoy]

The outrage over here at HUFFPO is deafening.

[Portnoy]

My local newspaper has printed editorial cartoons that made fun of:
Pedofile Priests
Gay Televangelists
Landgrabbing Jews
Celebrity Scientologists
Intolerant Baptists
Flower-wielding Moonies
and Know-it-all Athiest Authors.

They have even published catoons that poked fun of:
Afican Americans,
Women
Men
Mexicans,
Blah, blah blah...

Yet when it comes time for a cartoon that touches on the Islamic faith, they pull the cartoon and cite a need to tolerant and not offend our local population of Arab-Americans.

As Orwell wrote: All animals are Equal. Some Animals are more equal than others.

[realitytrumpsbull]

Somewhere, buried in our national documentation, there's supposed to be something on paper that separates church and state. This isn't really the case in some other countries, and some religious institutions have their hate on for america because of that, because when you've got a country run by the People instead of by the Church, you have a different system of authority. I like freedom of religion, as it also implies freedom FROM it, meaning that we do not, nor should we have, a church tax. However, BushCo, in their infinite wisdom, has basically passed one without a public vote to that effect by shoveling millions, if not billions of tax dollars at the Church, so now the christian righties have this unlimited budget thing to draw upon.

It bears remembering that once upon a time, even the Catholics took an anti-american stand, at the close of the US/Mexico war. They actively gave money to the country of Mexico during time of war. So, it kind of stands to reason that if the catholics have a recorded history of doing that kind of thing, odds are there might be a chance of other denominations doing likewise.

Speaking as a heathen-american, someone who attends no church(synagoge, insert name of religious facility here_________), I have grave doubts about the role of religion in society, and as a result of MY beliefs, I don't give these people any money, especially when they start warming up to topics like Crusades(reference Jimmy Swaggart and company, there), I start to be A Little Concerned. Other topics for reference include Jim Jones, David Koresh, the Moonies, for that matter the Scientologists, anyone who's got a belief system and a gleam in their eye and strong political ambitions, be afraid, be very afraid...and when Bush starts handing them your tax dollars, be concerned...

[Portnoy]

Every minority, be it Baptist/Unitarian, Irish/Ital­ian/Octoge­narian/Zen Buddhist, Zionist/Seventh-day Adventist, Women's Lib/Republican, Mattachine/Four Square Gospel feels it has the will, the right, the duty to douse the kerosene, light the fuse.

Every dimwit editor who sees himself as the source of all dreary blanc-mange plain porridge unleavened literature, licks his guillotine and eyes the neck of any author who dares to speak above a whisper or write above a nursery rhyme.

Ray Bradbury, "Coda" 1979

[larry278]

If you don't get the joke that the cartoon is making-do you protest if your paper prints it or protest if your paper doesn't print it? What do you if you don't subscribe to any paper which has a comic section?

[larryk]

The Opus comic for tomorrow (August 26) is available here:

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/8650/opus82607su2.jpg

[johnnyjust]

Everybody believes in censorship in one form or another.

Everybody.

[LeftVetPatriot]

Right. Everybody you know.

~zzzipp~ Censor this.

[plutorage]

The problem is not religion. After all, we've had plenty of cartoons, movies, etc., about flying nuns, wicked priests and all manner of religious figures.

The problem is that Islam is a political movement, not a religion.

[LeftVetPatriot]

Yeah, I'm sure that's the reason.

How's that head injury coming?

[progressivegreg]

Man, I didn't know Bloom County was still around! Our local paper doesn't carry it, too bad. I was a HUGE fan of Opus and the gang back when!

[ohiomark]

Bloom County was one of the best comic strips ever.

[jake106]

He started making his comics again about five years ago, I think. It isn't Bloom County anymore, it's called Opus, but seeing as how all the major Bloom County characters are back, it is close enough for me. I loved that comic also. It was THE definitive political commentary comic of the 80's, in my opinion.

Plus, they had Star Wars references galore, you can't go wrong.

[bn]

Wusses!

[GenericBlogger]

If those newspapers don't have the backbone to print two cartoons on Islam then why are they in business?

[1will]

Those pussies.

[wagadog]

Gotta Getta Burquini. Seriously.

[SouthJerseySteve]

Is this a prime example of Political Correctness? I may be slightly biased when I see Arabic or Muslims in public but maybe it's only because THEY WERE THE ONES flying the airplaines into buildings on 9-11-01???

[Smirk]

I think it's a desire to avoid getting death threats rather than fear of being politically incorrect.

[Ramirez]

I think you're right.

[avicenna]

I hear they (arabs or muslims) experience a slight shiver when they come across a card carrying Christian working on an oil rig near their home land. For some reason they think they are all as bent on destruction like their representatives from the Bush administration. Small-mindedness sucks, eh?

[mrcontinental]

They've already won. Get your prayer rugs out folks.