Wednesday, May 30, 2007
DR DUCK
A note from James Waterton:
Earlier last month, I visited the War Remnants museum in Saigon. Pretty much as you’d expect - the victors write the history, of course. Amongst the propaganda and genuinely interesting exhibits, there was a display of posters created by the various socialist Solidarity-with-North Vietnam movements from around the world. Check out the Australian lefty effort:
I couldn’t help but notice that the Australian Left is still using the same visual gags forty years later - making the “S” in U.S. a dollar sign! How witty!
Progressives generally aren’t. Speaking of ’Nam-era Australians, Michael Leunig is now Dr Idiot:
Australian Catholic University will award celebrated newspaper cartoonist and National Living Treasure, Michael Leunig with its highest honour, Doctor of the University (Honoris Causa), at its annual Melbourne graduation ceremony for Arts & Sciences students this Tuesday 28 May ...
ACU National Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Sheehan AO said Mr Leunig possessed the rare ability to demystify the human condition through his engaging cartoons, which were often challenging or thought-provoking, but always ultimately hopeful and positive.
“From his earliest days as a writer for radical press, to his current incarnation as a cartoonist for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald newspapers and author of more than 20 collections of art, poetry and prayer, Michael Leunig has stirred the social conscience of Australians with his sometimes quirky, but always insightful drawings,” Professor Sheehan said. “Michael has the innate ability to challenge the worst of human folly through his colourful and irreverent art, while still expressing all the joy, fun and emotional poignancy of human life. It is this talent that led the Archbishop of Canterbury to refer to him as a ‘most penetrating spiritual commentator’.
“As with all artistic expression, Michael’s work is sometimes misinterpreted or misunderstood, but his champions far outweigh his critics.”
His champions outweigh his critics? We have a scientific consensus!
(Via Dr Jeremy H.)