Frog Applause by Teresa Burritt for September 13, 2009

Umbrage has been taken. ‘Don’t bother to respond anyone’ is a bit dictatorial, isn’t it? I think you’re way over the top Bob. You’re entitled to your subjective response to the strip, but to then conclude that their creator is cruel and insenstive (sic) is not supported by the evidence. frog applause strips can have a dark side but those of us who frequent this channel know what TD is doing. She picks up human sensibilities and attitudes, as triggered by particular words and images, and gleefully bangs them together. The result can be weird, inexplicable, tragically beautiful, funny or even oddly bland. I, for one, do not hold anything against her for efforts, even why they are not to my particular taste. Artists must be allowed to create, and those who attempt to to bully them with bilgewater are, frankly - oops … Bobly - boorish. If you read this strip as a piece of anti-Jewish propaganda, may I suggest you go exercise your constitutional right not to be offended. I don’t know of anybody called Amadinejab. Is it a stab in the arm from a scruffy bloke wearing an ill-fitting jacket? Oh, perhaps you be thinking (but not spelling) of Ahmadinejad? Who is not responsible for a single Jewish death as far as I know. His views on historical accounts of the massacres of Jews during WWII are, granted, considered controversial. But in Ahmadinejad’s own words during his address to Columbia University in September 2007, he said, “I’m not saying that it didn’t happen at all. This is not (the ?) judgment that I’m passing here.” That doesn’t sound like a denial to me. With regard to Jews in general, he said in an interview with the BBC, “Some people think if they accuse me of being anti-Jew they can solve the problem. No, I am not anti-Jew. I respect them very much.” And the reality is that Jews in Iran, despite their small number, are guaranteed representation in the parliament. Life’s short Bob. And wonderful. And silly and chaotic. And tragedies do happen and we do need to deal with them. And we all have our dark side, and mine is frying breadfruit mercilessly in vats of oil until it screams “Eat me! Eat me!” And as much as I’m the softest soul to ever swing low from Sirius, sweet chariot of the heavens, I’m the last to wallow in oversensitivity. On on!