America's Original Sin

I'm not really sure what this means. You sometimes hear of slavery or racism referred to as "America's Original Sin." I've been reading a lot of Cornel West lately and I'm beginning to wonder if either "manifest destiny" or imperialism/colonialism/mercantilism aren't our "forbidden fruit," we fought for our independence from Brittan, but couldn't wait for those opportunities to be the big man on campus- Mexican War, Spanish-American War, WWI, oil and influence. 

Of course, being a bleeding-heart  liberal, I could believe that any of Martin Luther King's big 3 evils are our corporate sins- Materialism, Militarism, and Racism. 

I believe it was Republican President Calvin Coolidge who said that the chief business of America is business and that "The man who builds a factory builds a temple." Too bad manufacturing is pretty much dead now days, I suppose if Cool Cal were around today he'd consider Goldman Sacs a temple. Conservatives like to go on about our Christian heritage, but they forget to mention that the Pilgrims were working for the London Virginia Company or that the Jamestown settlers were working for the London Company. It would be great if America were really founded on Biblical morals and religious freedom, but let's face it, gold, tobacco, competition for global trade, cotton, and slavery all played pretty hefty roles.

Anyway- just trying to provoke critical thinking. It's been a long time since I either drew a cartoon or collaged a piece of satire like this. Have fun being provoked. Happy National Cartoonist Day.

Sheep in Wolves's Clothing

Prophet, Priest, and PIRATE

I don't mean to undermine anyone's faith or to promote heresy, but when I read Jesus' Words, especially in Matthew 5 and Luke 6, I see something radically different than what televangelists, radio prophets and Republican politicians espousing. Scurvy, bilge-sucking, sons of biscuit-eaters!

Jesus is our prophet, our priest and our king- and calls us to be the same , representing God to the world, interceding for others to Him, and leading by example. But when you're a bit of a rouge, you've got little choice but to weigh anchor and hoist the mizzen without the benefit of letters of Marque as a corsair, don't ya?!

If you've never visited my other blog that focuses on issues of faith and prayer- take a look at "Prophet, Priest, and PIRATE" over at http://malloryprayer.blogspot.com

Oh, but beware, if you lean far to starboard, you may not like it there. Just like this blog, I lean more to port on the Pirate blog too. And if you'd rather not mix your politics and religion, better to stick to the ale and avoid the grog, land lubbers!

Here are some of the least political topics-

Bible Studies and Hot Topics

• Advent Devotions
• Fruit of the Spirit (Galations 5)
• Lenten Reflections
• Potent Quotes
• Sheep in Wolves' Clothing (cartoons)
  
• Spiritual Armor (Ephesians 6)
• Spiritual H.A.B.I.T.S.
• Studies of The Lord's Prayer
• Study of Matthew 5
• Study of Philippians
• The Prayer of Jabez

Introducing a brand new feature!

For a while now I've been thinking that I should create a venue for religious commentary. My column says it's about "sex, politics, and religion," but it never deals with sex and only rarely deals with religion. I do have a religious blog, http://malloryprayer.blogspot.com that ends up dealing with politics a lot. But not in cartoon form. So, here's an attempt. Just like with Mal•Adjusted, I can't promise anything, but I'd like to try to start drawing at least one a week. Look for them on Mondays (since Sunday is the day I'm most likely to be inspired either by the Lord, or the loony hypocrites who claim to follow Him.

These first two are pretty political in fact, being a donkey and an elephant. I'm afraid that you'll also find "h in wolves's Clothing" a little esoteric, that's because I want to encourage readers to think- and in the case of these first two, to look up a verse in Scripture. Because the best thing that any teacher or minister can say to you is "don't take my word for it, look it up!"

Here, I'll help you out THIS time- Ecc. 5: 10-15 is a great admonition for shallow, materialistic, upwardly mobile, day traders with a penchant for mortgage backed securities!

Whereas Ecc. 6:11 is something someone on the Straight Talk Express might say to someone more nuanced to let them know that they're not someone they'd like to have a beer with while watching hockey or NAASCAR.

Cartoon for the July 3 PRESS

Summer with 3 kids is a lot crazier than you'd ever imagine. I swear I'll try to draw some more maladjusted cartoons soon. I don't think "successful" freelancers have lives. I don't know how they do it. If you are fortunate to cartoon for a living, you can escape everyone and everything and just take care of it. Sure, I'm a teacher on summer vacation, but there was the workshop to get re-certified to teach web design, and the truckloads of yearbook proofs and the school website, and the cheer camp... not to mention all my own family's activities. This is a great hobby, but if I'm really going to make a go at making it more than a hobby, I guess I'm going to have to be more disciplined and either stay up later or get up earlier.

Some "non-profit" prophets could profit from reading their Bibles more closely

I love drawing Senator Chuck Grassley. We may not see eye to eye on all things political, but we seem to agree theologically. But more importantly to a cartoonist, he reminds me of an ancient tortoise, maybe Chester Turtle from the Bugs Bunny cartoons- slow and deliberate, with real heavy eyelids and a great turkey waddle of a neck.

Pledge of Religious

Holy Rollers

Way back in college (a Lutheran college no less), I had a problem with the hypocrisies of the religious right (which is neither).