The Great Volunteerism Conspiracy

I received an odd message from a reader who calls himself Normal Norm. He objects to the storyline I'm doing about Gramma heading off to work for Habitat for Humanity Int'l. in Thailand.

From Norm:

"Since you became political and Obama's mouthpiece on "volunteering" you are no longer entertaining. Perhaps you yourself should go build a house somewhere international for Habitat and leave you (sic) characters alone."

(Well, Norm, I am, in two weeks. But enough about me...)

Add to that a message received from Greg Evans (Luann) regarding a unified effort on the part of cartoonists this month to depict volunteerism, and I'm beginning to wonder about the quality of the character of some of my fellow Americans. 

From Greg regarding our week of volunteerism cartoons in mid-October:

 I want to apologize to any of you who got the kind of irate email I got last week. It never occurred to me that this effort would be viewed with a political skew and that it would be perceived as "kowtowing to Big Government." I just thought we were doing a good thing, not being "commies." So sorry.

Being part of a generation often criticized for being selfish, I'm mystified to now be called a political mouthpiece and a commie. But hey, it's a free country...

 

Comments

[Illanoy Gal]

What can I say, Jan, except that you will have to just ignore posters like Normal Norm. He obviously is one of those people who, when President Obama said to school kids that they should stay in school, denounced him as trying to indoctrinate school kids. Volunteering, whether at the local level or at the international level, is just what is needed in this world today. Working together gets more done than fighting ever did. Just remember, "Illegitamus non-carborundum". Don't let the Norms of the world grind you down.

;-)

Love the strip and am looking forward to the Thailand adventure for Gramma.

[Gregg Tardiff]

I really didn't associate your story arc about Habitat as part of the bigger volunteer focus of some other comics. I suppose good writing is not that which screams at you to pay attention to it's lesson. On the other side of the coin, I feel that Greg Evans/Luann is a bit "in the tank" for Obama, and it shows any time he mentions him.

[George]

I sent a private note, but want to reiterate, I am sadden by those poor folks like "Normal" Norm, who I find not normal at all, but simply a poor lost sheep listing to the corporate ramblings of the like of Glen Beck, Rush Limbaugh, and the other Faux New clowns getting rich for their hate spewing.

[Jan Eliot]

I didnt say it earlier, but I really appreciated all the kind posts about this topic. Sometimes I let the naysayers get me down, and I shouldnt. Thanks to all...

[Jan Eliot]

Thats because its only coincidentally part of the volunteer movement. Im actually going to Thailand, and wrote this story line as a way to cope with deadlines and benefit from the real experience Im going to have. Ill be building a Woman Build house in Chiang Mai in mid-November. As it happens, the story fits nicely into the current effort to promote volunteerism. Nice when these things dovetail!

[Trudy]

Jan,
I have totally enjoyed your comic strip and Gramma going to Thailand to volunteer. Whether we volunteer locally or internationally it is a wonderful way to show others we care. My husband and I have been to Guatemala with the Cascade Medical Team three times and not only do we provide medical care but build stoves in village homes and install water filtration systems.
You obviously love what you do and you do it well so don't stop. Let the negative opinions of others roll off your back and keep on going. Can't wait to find out where Gramma is going next and only wish my husband and I could join her. Have a great year!