BuzzFlash Reviews

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Kirk Anderson, who posted barbed, ironic political cartoons on BuzzFlash for awhile, writes:

Senator Pat Roberts summed up our War on Terror-era discomfort with excessive freedom when he said: "I am a strong supporter of civil liberties, but you have no civil liberties if you are DEAD!" Banana Republic agrees with a stodgy old corpse from grade school history class on this one. On that whole liberty 'n' death thing, Patrick Henry thundered: "Give me liberty, or give me death!" And now, in less perilous times, our politicians whimper: "Take my liberty, if it risks my death!" Tell me, who's the patriot?

Indeed, who's the patriot?

Anderson created a mirror reflection of America under the Bush years, run by Genelissimo Wally. Anderson writes:

BANANA REPUBLIC follows the mischievous death squads and hilarious junta hijinks of Amnesia, a zany Third World dictatorship that is the polar opposite of America! In Amnesia, Generalissimo Wally engages in roughhousing practices we would consider low-class in our own country, such as torture, warrentless surveillance, and imprisonment without charge! Why, even secret prisons are not unheard of! Unlike the advanced American system, the Amnesian regime only serves the wealthy elite, not the peasant classes; in fact, politicians openly take money from wealthy businessmen with direct financial stakes in pending legislation! From the Amnesians' overflowing prisons to their state propaganda, from their crippling foreign debt to their questionable elections, from their privately contracted paramilitaries to their millions without basic health care, you'll be chuckling, "Thank God we don't live in a banana republic!"

Meet idealistic Rita and jaded Diego, a peasant couple struggling against Generalissimo Wally's devilish death squads. Rita clings to the hope that reform can come by working within the system, putting her faith in Amnesia's only state-authorized opposition party, the hopelessly spineless Los Cause (motto: Standing up for something risks losing your seat for nothing). Diego is convinced less dainty options will be necessary to change the roguish state, and flirts with the insurgency, SHIV (Security & Honor through Indiscriminate Violence). Get to know Generalissimo Wally, the reluctant dictator caring for his beloved people like a stern, yet big-hearted, abusive father. Don't forget Cesar, the national guardsman trying to fit back into civilian life with prosthetic bazookas for arms, and get ready for some hilarious junta hijinks!

Anderson rejects the notion that he's a radical cartoonist:

"Is Banana Republic a radical cartoon about a rogue state America? Hell no; Banana Republic is a wholesome, patriotic, traditional values cartoon about a rogue state America.

For all its melon-balling of political dissidents' eye sockets, Banana Republic is really a wholesome, motherhood, apple pie kind of cartoon. Kidnapping and rendition? Banana Republic suggests maybe trying the Rule of Law. Domestic spying and indefinite detention? Banana Republic heartily recommends the Constitution. Crony capitalism and state corporatism? Banana Republic advocates the Free Market. The cartoons collected here advocate dangerous ideas like democracy, clean government, nonviolence, due process... Hell, Banana Republic makes Family Circus look radical.

Sounds good to us, and the cartoon quality and droll, sardonic humor are all too painfully true as we look back on the nightmare known as the Bush disaster.

BUZZFLASH REVIEWS