Few of us having attained a certain age (which we shall not here define) will have forgotten Al Capp's "Lil' Abner" comic strip in which parody and satire attained a notable level of achievement. In addition to "Lil' Abner, the strip featured such personalities as Harry S. Rasmutruman (Capp's takeoff on President Harry S. Truman), pipe-smoking Mammy Yokum, the glamorous Moonbeam McSwine and Lil' Abner's own favorite comic strip character, the stumbling, bumbling Fearless Fosdick (Capp's spoof of a competitive comic strip character, detective Dick Tracy), ad infinitum.
We were reminded of another "Lil' Abner" character this week - one whose name now escapes us. As a suave, slick talking Soviet agent within the higher echelons of American government (this being, of course, during the "Cold War" era), he advanced the "perfect" plan. By taking the wealth of the United States and dropping it from the air on Russia, the Soviets would be so overcome by greed and materialistic ambition that they would all become capitalists and thus no longer represent a threat to the United States. In excited enthusiasm, the nation's politicians approved the plan and proceeded toward Russia with America's assets.
Regrettably, memory here fails as to the ultimate outcome of this particular parody - our final recollection being that of a large transport plane preparing to jettison the United States' financial resources over the Soviet Union.
Now to our more immediate point: In this week's adoption of HR #635 by the House of Representatives - a bill whereby official recognition was extended to both Islam and the Islamic world in terms of meaningful faith and integrity - is it possible that we ourselves, in a naivete somewhat similar to the political powers of Lil' Abner's column, are being "taken" by the ploys of some lacking full commitment to either American or traditional faith-related interests? The House resolution concluded with these words:
(1) "During this time of conflict, in order to demonstrate solidarity with and support for members of the community of Islam in the United States and throughout the world, the House of Representatives recognizes the Islamic faith as one of the great religions of the world; and
(2) In observance of and out of respect for the commencement of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal, the House of Representatives acknowledges the onset of Ramadan and expresses its deepest respect to Muslims in the United States and throughout the world on this significant occasion."
...this, it might be added, from the leadership of a nation wherein expressions of the Christian faith are becoming increasingly hampered and restricted.
Burl Ratzsch
