Comic on an Anti-War Footing

Earlier this month, the leftist L.A. Weekly ran a story on black cartoonist Aaron McGruders syndicated comic strip, The Boondocks, that detailed the strips skepticism toward Americas war on terrorism. Thats how a leftist weekly would see it, anyhow, but its far more than that. Its a hateful screed against America and its president.

The Boondocks might seem an unlikely polemic, given that its main character, a black nine-year-old named Huey Freeman, is nowhere close to being old enough to vote or even drive. But the militant Huey is not a typical child, either. The typical child, after all, doesnt hold up an Al Sharpton for President!! sign, as Huey did in a strip this past autumn.

Many of McGruders war-themed strips have been satirical (e.g., the FBI investigates the possibility that the psychic Ms. Cleo had foreknowledge of the September 11 attacks; apropos of the titles television networks have given their war coverage, Huey suggests America Stops and Thinks About Why Some People Hate Us).

Other strips, however, have been quite literal and ought to be assessed in the same manner as one would assess an opinion column, since this is the intent of Mr. McGruder. To read his statements is to see what a radical he is.

One strip consisted of a letter to Rep. Barbara Lee, the only member of Congress to oppose the resolution authorizing military force against terrorists and their allies, commending Lee for her courage in [her] lone stance against Bushs warmongering. Only an America-hater would view the desire to seek justice against the slaughterers of thousands of your countrymen as warmongering.

Then there was the Thanksgiving Day installment, in which Huey, at the dinner table, says his own special version of grace: In this time of war against Osama bin Laden and the oppressive Taliban regime, we are thankful that our leader isnt the spoiled son of a powerful politician from a wealthy oil family who is supported by religious fundamentalists, operates through clandestine organizations, has no respect for the democratic electoral process, bombs innocents, and uses war to deny people their civil liberties. Amen.

Whoa. Lets take that broadside apart, phrase by phrase.

The spoiled son of a powerful politician After 9/11, not even hardened liberals subscribe to this tired mantra. Most have been extraordinarily impressed by the gravitas of this man. Most, that is, save for the fringe.

from a wealthy oil family... Ah, class warfare. Where would we be without it? (And shouldnt Bush be praised since he was a bust in the oil business?)

supported by religious fundamentalists The American-religious-right-as-equivalent-of-the-Taliban argument has arrived in the comic pages.

operates through clandestine organizations If McGruder means intelligence services, well, so has every president since the launch of the republic. Or maybe hes alluding to Skull and Bones?

has no respect for the democratic electoral process Yet another person who just cant get over Florida.

bombs innocents So theres no difference between the deliberate murder of civilians and the unavoidable death of civilians during a military action - just like bin Ladens been saying.

and uses war to deny people their civil liberties. Ramsey Clark, call your office.

Before you dismiss The Boondocks as obscure dont. Its in 250 newspapers with a combined circulation of 30 million. Even if only ten percent of those subscribers read the strip, it still would have a far larger audience than, say, The OReilly Factor.

The motivation for McGruders stand on the war may be found in something he told the Weeklys David Ulin: I was talking with a friend of mine just last night, and he put it very succinctly. He said, Were born into this world with an inheritance. We come in carrying part of what went on before us, and black people inherit a war. We inherit a struggle.Thats what Im doing. Im conscious and aware of an ongoing struggle, and Im making a definitive choice to be on one side.

Lets be clear: That one side is anti-America, no matter whos leading the attack on America, and no matter how many Americans black Americans hes killed.