A dozen readers criticized the Star for not running a “Doonesbury” comic last Sunday about masturbation. Two readers applauded the Star’s decision.
Managing Editor Bobbie Jo Buel chose not to publish the cartoon because she said it’s an inappropriate topic for a part of the paper that young children read.
Jim McCabe extended “kudos” to her. “My family and I look forward to enjoying the result of similar decisions in the future.”
Thomas Wheeler also supported the decision. “Thank you for having the surprising good taste and sense to not run the ‘Doonesbury’ strip on the rather inappropriate topic of . . . ‘self-dating.’ ”
On the flip side, Brita Miller said: “Kids these days are far more sophisticated and see things on television. Why should the Star choose to censor at this point, when we have a society like it is? Like it or not, the Star should publish whatever Garry Trudeau decides to put in. The guy is brilliant.”
John Weeks said he understood “that it can be hard to draw the line; however, this ‘Doonesbury’ cartoon should only offend a narrow segment of your reading public.”
Said Christopher White: “Somehow I am not impressed with the Daily Star’s efforts to protect me from one of human’s hierarchical needs (sex). Thanks for at least telling your readers that censorship occurred and where we could find today’s cartoon.”
Asked Shirley Kosek: “First of all, how many children actually read your or any other newspaper? And if they did read it, wouldn’t asking their parent(s) about something they didn’t understand be a good thing?”
Jim Forbes said: “It strikes me that you might really have pulled the strip because of something far more likely to offend folks than the mention of the ‘M-word,’ and that thing is the way the character who mentions the ‘M-word’ is dressed. I love the strip.”
Peter Bengtson said he looked up the comic online and “thought it was OK but not real funny. I think your editors were wimps not to run it.”
Homer Thiel asked: “It is all right to have endless stories in your paper about death, violence and our lying administration – all of which have the potential to make a child ask their parents difficult questions, ‘Why did Bush lie about WMDs? Why are soldiers dying in Iraq?’ But an adult cartoon discussing an adult issue gets censored.”
Elsa Dunn said, “My husband and I (ages 79+ and 72+) found the strip innocuous and not worthy of abridging free speech.”
Peter Vokac said: “One does not read the Arizona Daily Star for cultural cutting-edge information. . . . Frankly, I think the people who are deeply concerned about shocking younger readers these days are distinctly out of touch and very much in need of a life.”
More missing
Tal Shaked on chess, Peter Rexford on stamp and coin collecting and the Sunday Dear Abby advice column have been discontinued. Dear Abby continues Monday through Saturday. The move makes room for a broader range of content, said Features Editor Maria Parham.
Tape vs. film
Dick Mayers pointed out the distinction between “filming” and “taping” after seeing the words used incorrectly last Sunday in a story about the attacks on the World Trade Center. Tape is electronic. Film requires a film camera and then development of the film.
Worth repeating
* Cox and Comcast cable subscribers trying to find KOLD, Channel 13, must tune to Channel 7.
* An “N” in the TV listings denotes new programming. “R,” for repeat, has been dropped.
* Radio stations and their type of programming appear in Sunday’s TV Week on Page 49.
