Pat Oliphant for February 15, 2012
Transcript:
Doctor: I'm sorry, Madam, but your child exhibits distinct sings of becoming a U.S. member of Congress! Woman: Oh, God, doctor! What can be done? Doctor: I recommend retrospective contraception treatments, beginning immediately... sometimes it works. Child: I object! That is not in accordance with my closely held beliefs! Doctor: Ah, yes, of course - this is an election year. Punk: Now, there's a concept!
Richard S. Russell:
Mark Twain said so much about the absurdities of life and people got their chuckles at the time, but I’d really like to know how much was changed as a result. What does humor do except make things temporarily bearable?
Sometime scientists should try to develop a laugh bomb and hurl those at our enemies. Maybe editorial cartoons would be considered as hand grenades.
Here’s another subtle aphorism from Mark Twain, in “Pudd’nhead Wilson’s New Calendar”:
“Let me make the superstitions of a nation and I care not who makes its laws or its songs either.”
I wonder if in today’s cartoon, the word “retroactive” would be have been more suitable.Don’t know if it’s original or not, but a friend of mine told me once his teenage son blurted out in exasperation, “I didn’t ask to be born!” To which my friend replied, “Well, if you had I would have said No!”