Thoughts on Charlie Brown

[Neth Naneth]

Alright I had been reading a series but I finished it. I like to read for 10 or 15 minutes before I go to bed though and I had a Charlie Brown book so I started that. Anyway after ready this book of comic strips half way through I just can't but think about all this stuff that I didn't as a kid.

Why are people so mean to Charlie Brown, he is always so nice?

Are we suppose to like Lucy, she down right mean to Charlie Brown, bossy to Linus (no wonder the kid has a blanket insecurity) and that kid that always play the piano finds her to be really annoying. Is she like that to Charlie Brown because the piano kid doesn't like her or is she just plain mean?

You think Charlie Brown would be happy that he has an unique dog but seems upset about the fact that Snoopy is a genius.

What does it all mean?

Any thoughts?

[KaraBoo]

What a coincidence!

I think he's jealous of the attention Snoopy gets. And Snoopy is so freakin cool, isn't he?

I think we are supposed to like Lucy because she is the bully so many identify with. (Not at MDC but society at large...the bully is strong, etc.) Schroeder, well, she's bossy to him cuz she likes him and society tells you that if you like someone at that age, be mean to them. Like the idea that boys hit girls they like. Schultz is painting Lucy with his idea of a typical older sister to younger brother, I think.

I don't like to censor my child but I am having a hard time watching the ole Peanuts Gang with her. Like you, I didn't notice all that stuff when I was kid but see all this religious, societal stuff in the episodes/comics now.

Charles Schultz was thinking of his own childhood, I suppose, with fond memories. But that era is passed and we have moved beyond, or I wish we have, into an era of understanding, gentleness and tolerance. However, if our children pick up on the things we didn't, isn't it great that they have parents to talk to about it?

Last night, for example, my dd was watching the Thanksgiving episode and remarked that the Pilgrims seemed so nice and why wouldn't the cartoon tell us what really happened...