B.C. Comic Islamophobic? You decide.
The situation:
A recent installment of the comic B.C., by Evangelical Christian Johnny Hart, has three panels each depicting and outhouse with the traditional crescent moon window in the door and a crescent moon in the sky. In the space between the first two panels, shaped like an "I," is the word "SLAM." In the final panel, a voice bubble has the words "Is is just me or does it stink in hear?"
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has issued a complaint alleging that this comic is in reality a velied attack on Islam. Johnny Hart denied any intention of making a comment on Islam.
The comic in question:
SLAM
Media analyses:
Johnny Hart & B.C.: Slam on Islam?
Civil Society: Some See Slur Against Islam in a 'B.C.' Outhouse Cartoon Strip
'B.C.' cartoon seen as slur of Islam: Muslims allege veteran artist Hart made cryptic attack
Menaced by polysemites
Most incisive comment (from the final link above):
...I agreed of course that Islamophobic cartooning was the most pressing issue of the week, in my usual shallow way I'd become distracted by some of the day's more trivial stories - the 11 Hindus burnt alive by a Muslim gang in Bangladesh, the 13 Christian churches torched by Muslim rioters in the Nigerian town of Kazaure, and the 27 Turks and Britons murdered by Muslim terrorists in Istanbul.
My analysis:
Yes, I believe that the comic was probably a commentary on Islam and that it was probably intentionial. It could have been unintentional, arising from Johnny Hart's subconcious feelings of hostility toward Islam, but that would require me to believe the post-modern theories of literary criticism that I was taught studying literature as an undergraduate student and which, though fascinating and intriguing, I am not prepared to fully accept.
If the cartoon is a comment on the current state of affairs in the Islamic religion, it is not offensive to the religion itself and it raises some important issues (see Identifying Muslim moderates) about a religion whose name has been invoked in dozens of terrorist atrocities over the past several years.
I have a great deal of respect for the Islamic religion and spent a year living in an Islamic country, Malaysia, where I learned a lot about the value of prayer and fasting from Muslims. Islamic nations are a natural ally of the Vatican on many family issues at the U.N. However, serious concerns about the state of that religion have come into clearer focus since September 11th, 2001. Blindly repeating that "Islam is the religion of peace" and reminiscing about the imagined glory days of Islamic Spain do nothing to address the issues raised.
Furthermore, if the comic were indeed an attack on Islam, it was incredibly mild and subtle compared to the anti-Catholic sentiments of many comics that appeared after the priestly abuse scandals of 2002, in which bishops and priests are called the "Axis of Evil," children are nailed to crosses, the Holy Father is depicted as a demon, etc. [For a comprehensive list, see the Catholic League's 2002 Annual Report on Anti-Catholicism.]
The situation:
A recent installment of the comic B.C., by Evangelical Christian Johnny Hart, has three panels each depicting and outhouse with the traditional crescent moon window in the door and a crescent moon in the sky. In the space between the first two panels, shaped like an "I," is the word "SLAM." In the final panel, a voice bubble has the words "Is is just me or does it stink in hear?"
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has issued a complaint alleging that this comic is in reality a velied attack on Islam. Johnny Hart denied any intention of making a comment on Islam.
The comic in question:
SLAM
Media analyses:
Johnny Hart & B.C.: Slam on Islam?
Civil Society: Some See Slur Against Islam in a 'B.C.' Outhouse Cartoon Strip
'B.C.' cartoon seen as slur of Islam: Muslims allege veteran artist Hart made cryptic attack
Menaced by polysemites
Most incisive comment (from the final link above):
...I agreed of course that Islamophobic cartooning was the most pressing issue of the week, in my usual shallow way I'd become distracted by some of the day's more trivial stories - the 11 Hindus burnt alive by a Muslim gang in Bangladesh, the 13 Christian churches torched by Muslim rioters in the Nigerian town of Kazaure, and the 27 Turks and Britons murdered by Muslim terrorists in Istanbul.
My analysis:
Yes, I believe that the comic was probably a commentary on Islam and that it was probably intentionial. It could have been unintentional, arising from Johnny Hart's subconcious feelings of hostility toward Islam, but that would require me to believe the post-modern theories of literary criticism that I was taught studying literature as an undergraduate student and which, though fascinating and intriguing, I am not prepared to fully accept.
If the cartoon is a comment on the current state of affairs in the Islamic religion, it is not offensive to the religion itself and it raises some important issues (see Identifying Muslim moderates) about a religion whose name has been invoked in dozens of terrorist atrocities over the past several years.
I have a great deal of respect for the Islamic religion and spent a year living in an Islamic country, Malaysia, where I learned a lot about the value of prayer and fasting from Muslims. Islamic nations are a natural ally of the Vatican on many family issues at the U.N. However, serious concerns about the state of that religion have come into clearer focus since September 11th, 2001. Blindly repeating that "Islam is the religion of peace" and reminiscing about the imagined glory days of Islamic Spain do nothing to address the issues raised.
Furthermore, if the comic were indeed an attack on Islam, it was incredibly mild and subtle compared to the anti-Catholic sentiments of many comics that appeared after the priestly abuse scandals of 2002, in which bishops and priests are called the "Axis of Evil," children are nailed to crosses, the Holy Father is depicted as a demon, etc. [For a comprehensive list, see the Catholic League's 2002 Annual Report on Anti-Catholicism.]
Redeemed by Our Savior, I work out my salvation with fear and trembling in Pohang, South Korea, where I live with my wife, daughter, and son and teach English at a science and technology university. Baptized a Methodist and raised a Missouri Synod Lutheran in Buffalo, NY, I spent six years as a guest of the Anglican Communion before being received by the Grace of God into the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church on the Feast of Saint Andrew, my patron, anno domini 2002.
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