I think stick figures would be more your style.

Grade School or Middle School?

Good work Brendan. I like it. If it were only true....that is, the part about nobody liking racism anymore. Too many people yet find it irresistible. Evil lynch-mobbers need love too...sniff-sniff.

Mary your comment comes off like something from a snotty 10th grader or an adult with no manners. No offense if it was intended to be complimentary with a sincere suggestion included.

Brendan, I appreciate your wide eyed optimism. I suggest that you learn a little bit about life and experience real life rather than your secluded liberal living room and pc set up in lily white liberal Portland suburbia. The issues the Klan stands for are to be reviled; as are those of the American Socialist Party and a host of other right and left wing extremists.

The point of the first Amendment is that speech, regardless how much it affronts us is just that, free speech. There are a few notable exceptions as noted by SCOTUS. Learn to be tolerant of opposing views regardless how whacked they may be. Learn. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

Did you notice how much was learned about the Iranian leader by allowing him to expose himself at Columbia? I hope the college crowd was truly listening.

And here I thought this was going to be another PC vs. Mac snark fest.

SAVE DEMOCRACY, VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT!!

YOU THE MAN, BRENDAN!!

My children attempt the same kind of rationale when asked why they did something, or why the should be made to do something. An attempt to put common sense on it's head, and hope you are to tired or agitated to persue the issue.

Now, is it a Republican debating tactic, or just childish behavior??? Maybe Bill Krystol & Brit Hume could elaborate!

Happy Thoughts;

Dan Grady

Kurt- you're crazy...tolerate hate speech? tolerate the KKK? Never! Just because these nut-jobs have the right to spew their hate and vile message, doesn't mean that I don't have the right to laugh at their ridiculousness and curse them. It was perfect that the students at Columbia laughed at the Iranian leader yesterday when he said that Iran doesn't have any gay people. It showed just how ridiculous he is. When someone advocates extermination of another group of people (or even the subjugation of one group of people to another), that's not "free" speech or an "opposing view" and it should NOT be tolerated.

I thought it was a brilliant cartoon. It reminded me of something similar i used have up. It was an editorial cartoon titled "Jerry's Kids" and pictured Jerry Falwell (R.I.P.) and two hooded characters on his lap. I added the subtext "Death to Extremists" (for the knee-jerks out there, the sentiment was meant to be ironic).

There's freedom of speech and then there's just plain ... rudeness...

Kudos, Brendan!

Perhaps he's trying to address two somewhat contradictory positions, which is why I like it. Should intolerance be tolerated? If so, in what circumstances? It's an important debate for liberals to have, one that I understand has been recently tackled in American Fascists, by Chris Hedges.

Good one, Brendan.

For another perspective ...

"...let them stand undisturbed, as monuments of the safety with which error of opinion may be tolerated while reason is left free to combat it." Thomas Jefferson (slave owner)

I listened to and watched Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, at least parts of what he said. It was something to see. This guy really has his talking points down. I don't think the subject of gay people came up, so nothing to laugh at there. He effectively rebuffed criticisms Rose posed to him. Dude is super cool under pressure. He might be crazy, but people really need to be able to listen and see guys like him to understand why and how such people can be so persuasive despite the repressive nature of their ideas and actions. He really appears to believe what he says.

I don't think the subject of gay people came up

Yes, it certainly did. From today's NY Times...

"Mr. Ahmadinejad...showed his colors when, asked about Iran’s repression of homosexuals, he declared: “We don’t have homosexuals like in your country” — setting off hoots and derisive laughter."

Nice, pointed cartoon. And you can imagine that guy in a kufi, or a collar, instead of the hood, brandishing just about any religious symbol at Blacks, or gays, or lesbians - anyone they claim their imaginary gods or goddesses happen to hate...

The solution is to keep working towards our American, Enlightenment ideal of equality of opportunity for all - an ideal agreed upon by real people, without any supernatural mumbo jumbo. Every person should enjoy basic civil rights, no matter what your ridiculous, evidence free, generally nasty and intolerant deity has to say.

JTT -you miss the point entirely. Yes, the only way the first amendment can mean anything at all is to allow folks such as David Duke, the Iranian President, Jerry Falwell, flag burners, etc the right to spew their hate filled messages so that they can be held up for the ridicule that they so richly deserve.

Of course I understand now that the only correct progressive stance is to tolerate acceptable speech. How silly of me.

Oregon Bill, thanks for bringing up Pres Ahmadinejad's comments from the Columbia U presentation, but I meant that I didn't think the subject of gay people came up on the Charlie Rose interview, although I wasn't sure. I wonder if other people find this guy as amazing as I did. He seems to be very smart and very sure of himself. He knows how to put his ideas in a very pretty little package that probably allows people with some inclination to subscribe to those views, an accompanying inclination to throw logic and balanced reason out the door.

On what Kurt Chapman's comment above responds to: A generation of people can sometimes be so offended by certain acts or expression of ideas not necessarily representing a significant threat to national security that they feel compelled to thoroughly expel it from the public view. They see it, hear it, and because they've generally experienced it on a relatively personal level, become so sick of it that they feel compelled to consider compromising freedom of speech just to spare themselves further discomfort of ever seeing the act or expression again.

When compromise of freedom of speech succeeds, the next generation comes around and they basically don't have a clue, because all the nasty stuff has been prettied up and locked away in pictures and books. That's when things can really start to get ugly.

Steven Maurer....ever the over puffed up, overly tense, left wing loon looking to slap down someone they don't understand......Mary was commenting on Brendan's lack of artistic ability and juvenile cartoon theme. NOT Racism my friend. Take a vacation at a nice Spa where they provide relaxing massages and allow you to soak your head twice a day in mineral water. You'll come out more moderate and be campaigning for Hillary by Halloween.