Letter: Come on, they’re only comics

I found the letter to the editor by Gary Thomas in The Advocate on Feb. 25 very disturbing.

I can certainly understand a person becoming so angry at a public official that he may say overly hostile things, but for a person to get so enraged over a comic strip could be the sign of real problems. I dislike Doonesbury and disagree with its political views 95 percent of the time, but I’m not going to call him a neo-communist or his work “garbage” just because I know it’s too far left-wing.

I think The Advocate handles the situation perfectly by putting Filmore and Doonesbury next to each other to balance the political beliefs. I would agree that they belong together on the editorial page rather than in the comics, as they are in the Pensacola, Fla., newspaper, but as long as both left- and right-wing views are included I think it’s totally appropriate.

Filmore is extremely funny and, in my opinion, highly accurate, so please leave him right where he is. His presence in The Advocate is a prime reason I dropped our local newspaper which only runs Doonesbury in the comics.

As for Thomas, I hope he can get some help to overcome his anger and hostility over a duck. Thank you for considering my opinion.

Michael Sellen

retired sales representative

River Ridge

Comments

1) Comment by Bouncer - 06/03/2013

"If I gave you a penny for your thoughts, I'd get change back." --Me

2) Comment by DMJ - 06/03/2013

Just read my first Mallard Filmore. It's not funny. I'll continue to not read it just like I've been doing my entire life. Not sure what Doonesbury is, but I suspect I'll not read that forever as well.

3) Comment by Bighug - 06/03/2013

Gerald, political stance and the ability to understand sarcasm are not mutually exclusive.

4) Comment by DMJ - 06/03/2013

"As for Thomas, I hope he can get some help to overcome his anger and hostility over a duck." HA!! Burn!

5) Comment by [e-mail] - 06/03/2013

I don't know that a political centrist would be able to appreciate a duck's sarcasm; of course my opinion might be one of obfuscation in this instance since I myself once tried to read a Doonesbury strip without success. It's not much as compared to the duck, but a difference of opinion is why they race horses.

6) Comment by nimby? - 06/03/2013

"the problem with sarcasm is that not everyone gets it" , Ray Wylie Hubbard ...

7) Comment by bourbon-soda - 06/03/2013

"Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand." - Mark Twain - unfortunately, sometimes it can take a while.

8) Comment by Bighug - 06/03/2013

I am a political centrist who sometimes agree and sometimes disagree with both strips. The comment about Filmore said the strip wasn't funny. I agree. Sellen states "As for Thomas, I hope he can get some help to overcome his anger and hostility over a duck." The letter's first sentence says "I found the letter to the editor by Gary Thomas in The Advocate on Feb. 25 very disturbing." As for Sellen, I hope he can get some help to overcome his anger and hostility over a comment about a duck.

9) Comment by prbeav - 05/03/2013

Thank you, Mr. Sellen for a civil letter. Often, comics are the best way to express controversial ideas, whether the author holds the opinion or not. I'd be better off if I had that talent.