Uncategorized

by

Star Trek: IDIC

“Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations.”

Celebrating the differences that make us great and accepting those differences was one of the key concepts in the original Star Trek. So I’m glad to see that the official Star Trek merchandise now includes pride symbols.star-trek-voyager-pride-delta-t-shirt-white_670

There have been complaints, of course, because there are who claim to be fans of Star Trek who really aren’t, because they don’t get the whole theme of the show. In fact, for most of science fiction (apart from dystopian stuff), when you look to the future, you see more acceptance of different cultures, not less.

When Star Trek first began 50 years ago, it was a shock to see a female officer, and even moreso to see a black female officer. Well, yes, she was in charge of “communications” which, in many episodes, made her just a glorified receptionist, but then there were those where Uhura went on those missions alongside the men, fighting right beside them. Every once in a while, we’d get other female officers and even a black admiral or two. “No way the future would be like that!” some people claimed in 1966, never imagining that within their lifetime it would be unusual not to see people like that in power.

We clearly haven’t reached the goal of true equality, but like the Vulcans, we should always strive for infinite diversity in infinite combinations.  Live long and prosper.

by

Editorial cartoon: Nut job

wasserman

Dan Wasserman

by

No, Bill Clinton did not commit perjury

“You damned liberals complaining that Trump needs to be impeached! Why didn’t you want Bill Clinton impeached when he committed perjury — a felony!”

Look, I’m aware that conservatives have a reputation for ignoring facts when they get in the way of their world view — evolution and climate change aren’t real, trickle-down economics works, sexual orientation is a choice — but not only was Bill Clinton not convicted of perjury, he couldn’t be.4571618_orig

Yes, the House impeached him, because he lied about a consensual sexual affair he had with another adult. “Lying under oath is perjury!” they all scream. But no, it isn’t.

Perjury requires lying under oath about something relevant and material to a criminal investigation. If under oath you say your favorite color is blue when it’s really yellow, you’ve lied — but if your favorite color has nothing to do with a crime, then you haven’t committed perjury.

Adultery is not illegal. There was no “criminal investigation.” Republicans investigated both Clintons, over and over again, trying to find something — anything — they could get them on, and this was the only thing they could come up with. And impeachment doesn’t require anything more than enough politicians willing to impeach you.

Bill Clinton was never charged with perjury. No DA would file such frivolous charges, since clearly he hadn’t committed a crime. Is he a liar? Oh, absolutely. But he lied about something that really isn’t our business.

Meanwhile, Trump pretty much admits to Obstruction of Justice — an actual, real crime that has huge impact on our legal system — and Republicans yawn.  Since the GOP controlled the House under Clinton and Trump, and since they happily went after Clinton for his alleged non-crime, then surely they should be bringing impeachment charges against Trump for something much more severe right?

What? They’re not? Why, that would mean that they’re a bunch of lying hypocrites who are placing party above country!

(NOTE:  I know Bill Clinton is old news, but people keep bringing it up to distract from Trump. So feel free to bookmark this and send it to your Republican friends when they bring it up.

Not that it will matter. As we know, facts never convince them.)

by

Editorial cartoon: Alarmed

cjones06082017

Clay Jones

by

Wonder Woman Once More Surprises Hollywood

Hollywood: “It’s clear that audiences want movies with female heroes.”

No, dammit, we just want good movies. When will you learn?

wonder-woman-1-1475246469

For years you said, “Audiences don’t want science fiction movies” and you pointed to how they never made any money. Then Star Wars came along, and you said, “Aha! I guess audiences changed their minds!”

Animated films? “No one goes to see them.” Then Little Mermaid is a huge hit. Aha! People want animated films!

Pirate movies? “Nobody wants to see pirate movies, they always bomb.” Pirates of the Caribbean is a hit? It’s so nice how people have adjusted their views on pirate movies.

“Audiences don’t want movies with female superheroes!” was Hollywood’s call until this weekend. “Look at how Catwoman and Elektra bombed!” Somehow the concept that the reason those earlier movies didn’t do well was because they sucked never crossed their minds.

Hollywood’s stupidity is most apparent when it comes to using main characters who aren’t white. “White audiences won’t go to see a movie with an ‘urban’ sensibility!” they say.  (“Urban” is their code word for “black” — as if there are no white people living in cities.) Seriously, Hollywood, this may come as a shock to you, but I can relate better to a story set in an “urban” environment than I can with a story about a bunch of rich, white people in an English countryside in the Victorian days, but for some reason Hollywood never considers that.

So I am also anxiously awaiting the release of Black Panther next year, and if it’s any good, I predict that Hollywood will respond by saying, “You mean people want to see movies with black heroes?”

No, you dimwits.  We want to see good movies.

 

by

Editorial cartoon: Seat at the table

18813637_10211850203504815_7365993667143947162_n

Jim Pavlidis

by

Editorial cartoon: The Orb!

ows_149566742261312
Steve Sack

by

Editorial cartoon: Dr. Trump

Twoparty

Brian Carroll

by

Peter Pan in Pink

Tired of politics today. Here’s a cute (and true) story for “Throwback Thursday.”

When I was around nine years old, I played a Lost Boy in the Virginia Museum Theater production of “Peter Pan.”

The first scene we were in involved us running around on stage, looking up and seeing Wendy flying into Neverland (off stage). “It’s a bird!” one of the Lost Boys would say. “It’s so big!” another would say. “Look how white she is!” I’d shout out.

peterpan

Me in costume backstage, doing my homework before the show

So we practiced and practiced and then the show opened and every night, I felt like an idiot saying my line. You see, in the scene, we’d take arrows and shoot them into the air and then Wendy would come down on her wires and land on the stage, where we’d realize she was not a bird. And there she would be, for everyone to see, dressed in the pink gown the costume designer gave her.

So one night about a week into the performance, when it came to my line, I shouted out “Look how pink she is!”

I was surrounded by laughter. I peeked into the audience but then realized it wasn’t coming from there — it came from the stagehands. You see, after performing a play so many times, everyone knew everyone else’s lines and it runs like clockwork — but I had thrown a wrench into the clock.

The show continued on, and after the performance, the director came up to me, while everyone was watching, and kneeled down before me. I was scared that he was mad, but he smiled and said, “Keep the line.”

So I marveled at Pink Wendy for the rest of the performances.

by

Editorial cartoon: Treed

lk051017_color1

Mike Luckovich