The following appears in June's issue of Harper's. It is from a lecture by the Iranian Education Ministry given by one Hassan Bolkhari.
"There is a cartoon that children like. They like it very much, and so do adults - Tom and Jerry. It is still shown throughout the world. The cartoon maintains its status because of the cue antics of the cat and mouse - especially the mouse.
Some say the main reason for making this appealing cartoon was to eradicate a certain derogatory term that was prevalent in Europe: the Jews were termed "dirty mice." Tom and Jerry was meant to change the Europeans' perception of mice.
It should be noted that mice are very cunning and dirty. Tom and Jerry displays the exact opposite image. The mouse is very clever and smart. He kicks the poor cat's ass. Yet this crulety does notmake you despire the mouse. He look so nice in the minds of Euopean children, and to show that the mouse is not dirty.
If you happen to watch this cartoon tomorrow, bear in mind the points I have raised and watch it from this perspective."
Gee, never did quite see it this way. Maybe the Fritos I ate all those years watching the cartoon in question jammed and short circuited my brain. God, how could I have been so stupid! Of course, that explains everything. Yeesh.
First of all, Tom and Jerry stinks. Second, the cartoon was intended for a North American audience. Still, I feel bad for those European kids. Third, Tom is an idiot thus making Jerry look smarter. Fourth, Iranians need to get out more.
I wonder what's his take on Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner; Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd; Itchy and Scratchy?
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