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FREETHUNK BOOK!
The Complete Edition
By Jeff Swenson
160 pages, Jam-Packed
Purchase your collectable copy!
"JUGS, BEAVERS and EXPLODING BALLS"
by Jeff Swenson
First Cynic Comic Strip
collection now in print.
2004-2005
Buy it now for
below retail.
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| SKEPTICAL SMURFS |
| Adults could learn a lot from an episode of The Smurfs. They may use magic but they can still recognize empty-headed superstition. |
I use the On-Demand function of my cable setup a lot. I hate commercials. And admittedly I will turn something on while working on a project on the computer. I just happened to be in the nostalgic mood and chose an old episode of The Smurfs off of Boomerang's On-Demand selections. It sometimes amazes me when I come across "Freethunk" when I was least expecting it.
This particular episode is listed as Smurf 09: Smurf on the Wood. The Smurfs start out by engaging in more familiar superstitions such as walking under a ladder, waking up on the wrong side of the bed, and nailing a horseshoe above the doorway. All of these good luck and bad luck elements result in coincidences that re enforce the Smurfs' belief that they are true. Only Papa Smurf, who ironically enough uses magic, isn't fooled.
As the storyline progresses, Clumsy Smurf, while wishing for a kiss from Smurfette, trips over the ground carrying a rock which results in the large rock being thrown into the hollow of a tree. Smurfette comes over to see if he's alright and kisses him on the nose. Thus Clumsy associates his wish coming true with the ritual of throwing the rock into the hollow of the tree. All of the Smurfs start doing it, believing it is a wishing tree. They have just started a superstitious ritual.
More associations occur to cement the belief no matter how weak. Vanity Smurf (known as gay smurf in some circles) wishes he could be more handsome and after performing the wishing ritual looks in the mirror and decides that his wish has come true--because he is more handsome (according to him). Even Brainy is fooled, but of course we all know Brainy is a pompous idiot who only speaks nerd but doesn't think it.
If you can catch this episode I believe you will be amused even if you are not a kid. Much of what is pointed out in this Smurf episode is more rational than all of the nonsense spouted on the psychic shows and the "reality" shows about hauntings. If the Smurfs get it why can't everyone else?
And what's up with Smurfette anyways? Couldn't they find any more females? That poor girl must get tired... |
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