This is how STUPID republicans can be (LTTE re: Doonesbury)

[Atman]

I was going to post "how stupid republicans are," but thought I'd cut some slack to the three or four who are merely misguided.


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Offensive word in comic strip

In regards to the "Doonesbury" comic strip published Nov. 21: In the final panel, the word "vibrator" is used. I found this very offensive, and I am sure many other readers feel the same.

The comics are not meant to be a form of adult entertainment. These comics are read by families, including young children. Many kids are encouraged to read the funnies because the material is not challenging and also because it has been considered wholesome. Now many children will be asking their parents what the word "vibrator" means.

Adding insult to injury, this word was used by a minister. Portraying such a person this way is disrespectful to people of faith. I would hope that there be an effort to screen unwholesome, disrespectful content and that comics with this type of content not be published in the future.

THOMAS M. MENINGA

Modesto

Source

[UdoKier]

1. "Vibrator" is not inherently sexual

Even though it was in the comic. Many vibratorrs are used to massage sore muscles...

[notadmblnd]

10. Yeah and I never even tried to sit on my Dr. Scholls

vibrating foot massager. Beside's all children know (or at least mine do) that personal pleasure devices are called Tulip Planters

[Lone_Star_Dem]

19. ROFL

Oh, my side..ouch...can't breath. :)

[Goldmund]

2. Offensive word in a LTTE

In regards to the LTTE published Nov. 28 by Thomas M. Meninga, the word "vibrator" is used. I found this very offensive, and I am sure many other readers feel the same.

LTTEs are not meant to be a form of adult entertainment. These LTTEs are read by families, including young children. Many kids are encouraged to read the letters because the material is not challenging and also because it has been considered wholesome. Now many children will be asking their parents what the word "vibrator" means.

Adding insult to injury, this word was used by a person of faith. Representing a person this way, even if by himself, is disrespectful to people of faith. I would hope that there be an effort to screen unwholesome, disrespectful content and that LTTEs with this type of content not be published in the future.

Goldmund

New York

[LynzM]

7. LMFAO

That's excellent! You should send it in, even just so the editors can have a chuckle!

[Goldmund]

11. Hey, you're from Willimantic!

I went to UConn. Spent many a night at the Main Street cafe.

[LynzM]

12. Hey, so I am!!

You still in the neighborhood? I'd love to meet up with more DUers in person, and Main Street is still there and thriving! :)

[Goldmund]

13. Depends how you define "Neighborhood"

I live in NYC now. I still visit Storrs every now and then. I'll send you an IM next time I'm around -- you do the same if you're heading down here.

[LynzM]

27. Cool :)

We're not in NY much, but I'll definitely drop you a line if we're going to be in town. You have many better restaurants and places to hang out than Main Street Cafe ;)

[Atman]

14. It's NOT a joke, that's the scary part!

And, I'm from Wethersfield. I was out at UConn for the Marquette/UConn women's volleyball recently. Small message board!

[LynzM]

28. Yeah, it is!

It's nice being on the east coast, and maybe actually getting to go to one of the big DU meetups one of these times!

[Jo March]

21. Too funny! Can't breathe....laughing too hard!

LOL! That is great. Turn that self-righteous crap right back around.

[purduejake]

3. If you don't like it...

Don't read it. That's how a free society works. I am not a parent and never plan to be one, but I don't need my newspaper dumbed down for first graders any more than it already is. Here is a suggestion to parents: review the funnies or cancel your subscription.

[Atman]

15. I LOVE this line...

"Many kids are encouraged to read the funnies because the material is not challenging..."

Now you KNOW he's a republican...he doesn't want to challenge his kids' minds. He just wants them to accept whatever dogma he feeds them, I guess, and dumb down the rest of the culture to his level.

[TwentyFive]

4. You're right! Republicans aren't ALL dumb.

Some are greedy, others are pious, and still others are bigoted or obnoxious. But most often you hit the trifecta, where they are a some combination of at least 3 negatives.

[cyberpj]

5. "People of Faith" !!

"Adding insult to injury, this word was used by a minister. Portraying such a person this way is disrespectful to people of faith."

Like the children abused by their clergymen?

Or like the 'people of faith' who disrespect God's commandments?

Or like....

oh, nevermind..........

[Atman]

17. People of faith?

[Jo March]

20. I love that bumpersticker! LOL! That's great! n/t

[kranich]

6. Dear Mr. THOMAS M. MENINGA

Vibrator Vibrator Vibrator Vibrator Vibrator Vibrator Vibrator Vibrator Vibrator Vibrator Vibrator Vibrator VIBRAAAAATOOOR

PS- Hagar the Horrible, Snuffy Smith, Beetle Baily, Blondie, Dennis the Menace, Heathcliff, The Family Circus... all suck.

[Atman]

18. heh heh...heh heh...

You said "suck!"

[BOSSHOG]

8. Gosh, now Meninga has to explain vibrators to his children

instead of the reason Dan Rather has to run his Fallen Heroes segment on the Evening News every night from now until eternity. I'm sure that segment is unwholesome and disrespectful to people of faith as are flag draped coffins. We shouldn't show our kids such things

[cyberpj]

9. and if young children are reading Doonesbury...

...we're in better shape than I thought!!! :bounce:

[TlalocW]

16. When I was at Oklahoma State

Some nutjob wrote in to the campus newspaper complaining that they had run the in-depth article about female students who stripped at one of the three places in town on the same day as "Kids on Kampus" day, saying something akin to "We'll never know hwo many children picked up the paper and looked at the pictures and read the article."

I had a rebuttal letter published that said that 1. it was really unlikely that given the age group of the kids, that they would pick up the paper and more importantly, 2. the bigger tragedy is that we'll never know how many kids now spell campus with a k.

TlalocW

[whosinpower]

22. Reminds me

A few years ago, my nephew was getting married. He was marrying into quite a religious family (I did not know that when I came up with their wedding gift)

So...I went out and purchased something every woman would desperately want for entertainment purposes, but would be too embarrassed to buy on her own. I went on to explain that this little gadget would give her endless hours of pleasure much to the disdain of her husband....I went on to explain that this little gadget could CONTROL her every desire, and when she held it in her hands, there was nothing her husband could do except be frustrated. I even added that I took the liberty of putting the batteries in, so she could begin her self fulfilling pleasure right away. I wrote this all down in a letter, and explained that the letter had to be read out loud before opening the gift....which was long and narrow.....

She read the letter....and everyone was snickering appreciatively...and her mother shouts out VERY loudly - "Don't open it!!!!!!" We all laughed....even harder when she did open it to reveal....her very own tv remote control.

I don't think her mother really thought it was that funny......

[Goldmund]

23. Oh man I can't breathe...

[Karenina]

24. He was prolly sittin' on one

when he wrote it... :evilgrin:

[eauclaireliberal]

25. Here's a more suitable headline for that:

"Whiny Neo-con Asshole Who Hates Political Correctness unless it benefits him writes to Insignificant Periodical."

[GliderGuider]

26. Belles of St. Mary's

On a related topic, I heard about a women's group at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Battle Creek, MI, who developed a calendar similar to the one in the movie Calendar Girls. They're selling it as a fundraiser to rebuild their church steeple and for breast cancer research. I ordered a half dozen for Christmas and I encourage you to support them, too.

I got an e-mail from one of the volunteers (Miss March, as a matter of fact) who said: "Our sales are going very well and we have received many letters of appreciation for our project, as well as some very uncomplimentary ones from those who think it’s a disgraceful, pornographic calendar. Letters to the editor of our local newspaper have come in thick and fast. We’ve caused quite a controversy here in the staid Midwest, but we’ve had a lot of fun with it."

These women have courage. They're proud, mature members of their community who are not ashamed of the body God gave them. And it's a lovely, artistic project!

I'm glad they're shaking things up. It sure beats bake sales and quilt raffles for increasing breast cancer awareness. Two of the women are cancer survivers. Please consider buying a calendar or writing a letter of encouragement.

http://www.stthomasbc.org/stmarys1.htm