Something that bewilders the rest of
the world about Americans is the odd mixture of national pride,
regional pride, and ethnic pride that we carry around. A mixture that
is depicted brilliantly in this WWII cartoon by Bill Mauldin.
When this cartoon was published in the
Army newspaper Stars & Stripes, the government
of Ireland lodged a complaint with the US ambassador, protesting that
Ireland was in fact neutral.
7 comments:
It's a confusing cartoon. I infer all 4 are American GI's, the finger pointer is a Texan and the guy pointed at has an Irish name. Why is Russia's brought into the mix? Unless the Texan's a commie to boot.
Never forget Uncle Joe was our best bud when the cartoon was probably made, so I doubt the Texan's a Commie.
Unless he's from Austin.
I have the same problem, I can't decode just what is going on. The speaker is the seated GI with the cigarette in his open mouth, the Irishman is the GI loaded with gear including a canteen labeled U.S., maybe the Texan is at the table, I have no idea who or what Russia has to do with the story and what is up with the extraneous woman walking through the door with a bottle under the Cafe sign - I figured I was just not hip to the point that Bill Mauldin was trying to make, and I used to read his cartoons a lot as a youth.
I guess it can be bewildering to Americans, too. The guy in the bull session is casually putting American ethnic groups and regional cultures (Irish-Americans and Texans -- both are pugnacious, and proud of it) on an equal footing in the war with nations like Russia.
I get it now, thanks for explaining it, Mumpsimus. Dang, I must be slippin' or something.
lol Ed.
Well, it is a confusing cartoon...my interpretation was the American melting pot, including Russians. But Ed reminded of our WW II link with the Russians. After a couple minutes, Lem's popped into my head.
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