Reminds me of a cartoon I saw in the early sixties, which has stuck in my head ever since, when Eleanor Roosevelt died. An excited angel is looking over the edge of a cloud; caption was, “She’s coming!”
“Since Roger Ebert didn’t believe in God or heaven, this cartoon is insulting and inappropriate.”
However, Roger Ebert was born into and lived in a culture in which such tropes were and are part of the cultural background, believer or otherwise. If a cartoonist shows a public figure interacting with Santa Claus, it doesn’t mean that either the cartoonist or the public figure believes in Santa Claus. Besides, this particular image trades on art history not religious theory. I cannot imagine that Ebert would be either dismayed or surprised that cartoons such as this appeared.
Isaac Asimov was an outspoken atheist, as well as honorary president (for a time) of the American Humanist Association. After Asimov’s death, Kurt Vonnegut gave an address at his memorial thereat. Vonnegut opened his speech with the remark “Isaac’s in Heaven now…”, which got a big laugh (which was the intent). No insult to Asimov’s beliefs was intended, or received as such. Presumably not by Asimov, anyway, who was beyond such concerns (as is, now, Roger Ebert).
“In as much as you did it to the least of these, you did it to me.” Yep, that sounds liberal to me. But then I have only spent over a half century since seminary trying to help put that into action against bigotry. Blacklisting, exile so I could feed my family, a lifetime just either side of the poverty line – I have had it easy compared to what the really faithful have put up with.
^you people just don’t get atheism at all. The cartoon is a beautiful metaphor. no atheist or liberal think human (or real conservatives – not the neo tea-bagging kind) would find this offensive at all. even god, whatever that might be gives ebert the thumbs up. happiness all around.all you other people trying to be poo-sh?t about this are just so many sour grapes.
I’m a born-again Pagan, with an agnostic inclination verging on atheism. Hard to fit all of that on a card, though. Anyway, Ms. Ima, I did call on my recollection of my early Southern Baptist upbringing to remember that Jesus was big on rich folks giving it all up to follow him. I seem to recall his saying something about its being easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a republican rich man to get into heaven.
You seem terribly certain of that. I learned long ago to never be certain of anything, but one thing I’d bet on is that Heaven is where Liberals go, as they do the work proscribed by Jesus.Conservatives spread the selfishness and arrogance that was the hallmark of Satan. Consider that when you’re being so full of yourself.
frodo1008 about 11 years ago
I am both a Christian and a relative liberal, just as My Lord was. So your statement is not only false, but also insulting!!!
Christopher Shea about 11 years ago
Since Roger Ebert didn’t believe in God or heaven, this cartoon is insulting and inappropriate.
magicwalnut Premium Member about 11 years ago
Reminds me of a cartoon I saw in the early sixties, which has stuck in my head ever since, when Eleanor Roosevelt died. An excited angel is looking over the edge of a cloud; caption was, “She’s coming!”
McSpook about 11 years ago
Drop dead.
fritzoid Premium Member about 11 years ago
“Since Roger Ebert didn’t believe in God or heaven, this cartoon is insulting and inappropriate.”
However, Roger Ebert was born into and lived in a culture in which such tropes were and are part of the cultural background, believer or otherwise. If a cartoonist shows a public figure interacting with Santa Claus, it doesn’t mean that either the cartoonist or the public figure believes in Santa Claus. Besides, this particular image trades on art history not religious theory. I cannot imagine that Ebert would be either dismayed or surprised that cartoons such as this appeared.
Isaac Asimov was an outspoken atheist, as well as honorary president (for a time) of the American Humanist Association. After Asimov’s death, Kurt Vonnegut gave an address at his memorial thereat. Vonnegut opened his speech with the remark “Isaac’s in Heaven now…”, which got a big laugh (which was the intent). No insult to Asimov’s beliefs was intended, or received as such. Presumably not by Asimov, anyway, who was beyond such concerns (as is, now, Roger Ebert).
Jason Allen about 11 years ago
If you truly believed in God or Jesus, you wouldn’t spend so much time trolling the fora with rude and demeaning comments.
Rickapolis about 11 years ago
I think some of of the idiocracy posting here needs a thumbs up. Up what is obvious.
billywonka about 11 years ago
@Ms. Ima – Jesus was a Liberal – thank God!!
derlehrer about 11 years ago
hippogriff about 11 years ago
“In as much as you did it to the least of these, you did it to me.” Yep, that sounds liberal to me. But then I have only spent over a half century since seminary trying to help put that into action against bigotry. Blacklisting, exile so I could feed my family, a lifetime just either side of the poverty line – I have had it easy compared to what the really faithful have put up with.
videomathtutor about 11 years ago
Mr. Ebert was an atheist, so instead of honoring him, the cartoonist is insulting him.
dannysixpack about 11 years ago
^you people just don’t get atheism at all. The cartoon is a beautiful metaphor. no atheist or liberal think human (or real conservatives – not the neo tea-bagging kind) would find this offensive at all. even god, whatever that might be gives ebert the thumbs up. happiness all around.all you other people trying to be poo-sh?t about this are just so many sour grapes.
Packratjohn Premium Member about 11 years ago
I’m a born-again Pagan, with an agnostic inclination verging on atheism. Hard to fit all of that on a card, though. Anyway, Ms. Ima, I did call on my recollection of my early Southern Baptist upbringing to remember that Jesus was big on rich folks giving it all up to follow him. I seem to recall his saying something about its being easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a republican rich man to get into heaven.
McSpook about 11 years ago
You seem terribly certain of that. I learned long ago to never be certain of anything, but one thing I’d bet on is that Heaven is where Liberals go, as they do the work proscribed by Jesus.Conservatives spread the selfishness and arrogance that was the hallmark of Satan. Consider that when you’re being so full of yourself.