Date: Mon, 11 Sep 1995 15:44:30 -0400 From: [g--l--n] at [bgnet.bgsu.edu] (Metroplex) Subject: ftp 536 THIS IS FIT TO PRINT NUMBER 536: Influenced by the ravings of a handful of rabid right-wing nuts, a few snide science-fantasy writers started maligning Freemasonry about 20 years ago. Their novels sell so well that now even comic books authors have decided to ape their act. I'm giving my soap box to two Freemasons today because i share their concern at DC's decision to slander an essentially noble and charitable social fraternity. (To make my own position in this quite clear, i should add that i personally owe a great debt of gratitude to Freemasonry-my grandfather's life was saved from the Nazis by his brother Masons-and i myself am a member of a Co-Masonic order.) Michael P. Higgins, Senior Warden of Prudence Lodge #1066 F&AM , writes: "While there are probably a limited number of the Masonic brethren who read comic books-we are all old fogeys after all-everyone should take note of a new comic book coming out from Paradox Press which includes some pretty drastic hits on us. "The book is called The Big Book of Conspiracies and the ad for it includes artwork depicting J. Edgar Hoover as (a) a 33rd degree Mason and (b) involved in what seems to be a cover up of the Kennedy shooting with another 33rd degree Mason, most likely Earl Warren. Other ad art shows a figure, presumably Jack the Ripper, with a Square and Compasses in the background. "Paradox, an imprint of DC Comics-the Superman people-say the book 'makes no claim to absolute truth.' Even so, it appears to present some of the most scurrilous slanders about our fraternity that have long been part of the paranoid sub-culture of this country. "The really obnoxious part of this is that teenagers are the largest group of comics readers, so spreading this stuff among that target audience can only hurt Freemasonry in the future. Since the book is written by a fairly popular author with a fan following that will likely buy anything with his name on it, I expect these lies to receive an unprecedented boost among the very group which we have to reach in the future for our future brothers. "It is unlikely in the extreme that we can do anything about this. Trying to stop this book from seeing print is well beyond our power, even if we were so inclined-but everyone should, IMHO, take the time to write or call DC Comics and protest the gratuitous support being given to our detractors, under the guise of entertainment. "I suggest everyone concerned contact Ms. Jenette Kahn, President and Editor-in-Chief, DC Comics, 1325 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019 and ask her to include a notice in future editions (or however it could be done) stating that the anti-Masonic myths included in the book are not only lies but also harmful to a beneficent and honorable fraternity. Also, anyone who has contact with Time Warner, the folks who own DC Comics, should, once again IMHO, do the same. "Please recognize that this comic will be spreading these fables to a segment of the population which is unlikely in the extreme to even come in contact with such drivel if it did not appear in this format. In years to come, we will find much more resistance to our growth and survival if attacks like these are allowed to pass unchallenged. "DC has a constitutional right to print this stuff. We have the same right to protest their doing so. They are exercising their right. If we do not do the same, we will have no one but ourselves to blame." Sam Sarmad, another Freemason, adds: "Maybe a better way to respond would be to have some talented people create a comic book depicting Freemasonry's actual role in the history of U.S. For example, let them depict the Square and the Compasses in a lodge while people are dressing in Indian attire in preparation for the Boston Tea Party (I hope our British brothers would not get touchy about this), or show the Founding Fathers who were Masons taking part in drafting the Constitution and the Bill of Rights." How about it, DC? Care to tell the truth about Paul Revere and the Sons of Liberty? How about James Madison or George Washington? These men were Masons and we owe our nation's very existence to their efforts. ==== Fit to Print appears in print each week in Comics Buyers Guide and is available via e-mail. Tell your friends! To subscribe to Fit to Print via e-mail send a request with the words "Subscribe FtP" in the subject header and your address in the body of the message to [g--l--n] at [bgnet.bgsu.edu.] You will be added to the list and receive the next available issue. Back issues are available. FTP to cerebus.acusd.edu and look in the Comics/About Comics/Comics News/Fit to Print directory. FtP is also available on the World Wide Web at http://www.scar.utoronto.ca/~91mithra. Responses are welcome and should be directed to [g--l--n] at [bgnet.bgsu.edu.] Fit to Print is Copyright Cathrine Yronwode. All rights reserved.