Roger Ebert and others question Johnny Hart's latest B.C. comic(calls Darwin stupid)

Poynter ^ | 05/01/05 | Poynter

[Pikamax]

This is actually a running debate.

first the strip that offended Ebert and others.

http://poynter.org/forum/view_post.asp?id=9440

Title:	"B.C." vs. "Doonesbury"
Posted By:	Jim Romenesko
From ROGER EBERT: I am not suggesting that Johny Hart's "B.C." comic strip today should be censored in any way, but I will be fascinated to see if any editors do spike it, as they sometimes spike "Doonesbury," etc., for political reasons.
5/3/2005 11:48:52 AM http://poynter.org/forum/?id=letters From MATT MENDELSOHN: Thanks to Roger Ebert for the heads up on Johnny Hart's slam on Darwin and evolution. When I Googled "Hart" I expected to find one -- just one -- story of a newspaper holding the strip. But instead I found and E & P story which said that not one of 1,200 Creators Syndicate clients had any reservations. And Creators President Rick Newcombe's lame defense, "Anyone who runs 'B.C.' at this point knows Johnny Hart's philosophy," is an even bigger bummer. Everyone knows where Aaron Magruder stands too, but that doesn't stop "Boondocks" from being held every few weeks. Two years ago Hart slammed Muslims in a strip (the "does it stink in here?" I SLAM outhouse) and then pulled a golly-gee-whiz-what-a-coincidence number. This time around he's calling Charles Darwin "stupid" in the two-panel prologue, not to mention lecturing the nation's 13-year-old comic page readers (and yes, adults) about the "theory" (his quotes) of evolution and the folly of one who "allowed his Christianity to slip." Will any newspapers out there ever question this guy? Johnny Hart is being watched 5/3/2005 3:44:08 PM From R. CORT KIRKWOOD: Subject: Hart letter. "Why won't papers question Hart?" They do, Mr. Mendelsohn, they do. I don't know how many papers held Johnny Hart's amusing take on St. Charles Darwin (Mr. Mendelsohn was looking for "just one"), but about five minutes of searching would find more than one occasion when newspapers have yanked this virtuoso's cartoons. As an article in Time magazine reported, "The [Washington Post] says that it and other newspapers have spiked Hart's strongest Christian statements." One report had it that newspapers might drop the strip because of a cartoon for Easter, 2001. Don't worry, Mr. Mendelsohn, Johnny Hart is being watched.

[Pikamax]

Don't poke fun at Roger Ebert's religion I guess.

[LibWhacker]

[Patrick1]

So Ebert is reviewing cartoons now? Figures.

[Mark in the Old South]

Darwin was Church of England (Episcopalian here across the pond). Not much Christianity in that now-a-days.

[wideawake]

And why doesn't that heartless bigot retitle his strip "B.C.E."?

[newgeezer]

Thanks for posting this.

Ping.

[gcruse]

I suppose Hart will be slamming next that a$$hole Thomas Edison for cramming light bulbs down our throats against the will of a God who wouldn't have made it dark at night if he didn't have a good reason to do so.

[saveliberty]

Why would Ebert read the comics and BC no less? There isn't any gratuitous sex for Roger.

[Brilliant]

It's interesting that Ebert thinks that calling Darwin "stupid" is "political."

On what basis, I wonder? Afterall, I thought both political parties were equally religious... That's what the Dems keep telling us anyway.

[Military family member]

I guess I can see why someone might question it. It does seem a bit different from other strips of his in the past.

[Junior]

They're conflating "Christianity" with "creationism" again...

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[Borges]

[RadioAstronomer]

Looks like Johnny Hart's science education is lacking.

[dfwgator]

I question "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls."

[Thebaddog]

Ebert is as crazy as a loon, and then is an example of Darwinism in reverse.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Ebert isn't a free speech supporter? That's interesting.

[wideawake]

I suppose Hart will be slamming next that a$$hole Thomas Edison for cramming light bulbs down our throats against the will of a God who wouldn't have made it dark at night if he didn't have a good reason to do so.

Poor analogy.

You're letting your bias trump your reasoning.

[blues_guitarist]

Johnny B. Good!

[ken5050]

My alltime fave "BC"..was about 20 years ago..a two panel toon..First panel shows a guy hacking away at a talet..the balloon syas "New Years Resolution" The tablet is inscibed..I WILL NOT BE AFRAID OF WATER..Next panel, we see another guy in the distance yelling..TIDAL WAVE...