If there is any comic strip that can claim to not be political, it is Peanuts, which is why reruns of this much-loved venerable strip are still running in our daily papers, strips that first appeared about a half-century or more ago. And yet, yesterday’s strip seems utterly timely.
I think this cartoon is a representation of a broad political awakening of many people who in other times have been willing to stay on the sidelines. I live in Newport Oregon, a small coastal town with a population of just over 10,000 people. The womens march attracted over 1,000 participants. The largest protests I had observed over the last 20 years of living here seldom had more than a handful of people. Ron Wydens town hall packed the venue and was standing room only. The crowd at that event was overwhelmingly in support of the positions Ron has taken and will take. He received more than one standing ovation.
“I think this cartoon is a representation of a broad political awakening of many people who in other times have been willing to stay on the sidelines.”
as of Feb 17th 1970 that is…
Considering that 1970 included riots on many college campuses (including Kent State, where 4 people were killed by National Guard troops), the Stonewall riot, a quarter million people demonstrating against the Vietnam war, and Woodstock, I think the times were not that much different.
Vietnam saw America’s sons be sent into the meat grinder en masse.
That it took a whole lot more damage to make the suburban middle-class take it to the streets back in the day is testament to the fact today’s public is more woke than ever, and it warms my heart.