This week includes the holiday Easter.  To some, it means the Easter Bunny and candy.  To others it means just another day.  And to others still it means the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ.

     Every year for the past several years, the late cartoonist Johnny Hart would do an Easter themed comic in his B.C. newspaper strip.  To Many Christians it was a delight, seeing what the B.C. characters would say regarding the Resurrection.  To those of other religious backgrounds, it was sometimes appauling.  Some newspaper editors even removed the strip from their papers that day for fear of upsetting some readers.

     Hart was able to speak of his faith because he had clout in the syndication industry.  B.C. had become a top-selling strip for years before Hart chose to place his Easter message in his strip.

     This year, however, will be the strip's first year without its creator.  And it raises some questions.  Will the new cartoonist, a family member of Johnny's, place an Easter message in the comic?  Will the syndicate carrying B.C. allow him to? And will people complain about it?

     I, for one, really hope to see a message this Sunday.  Freedom of speech, freedom of the press and freedom of religion are guaranteed by our constitution.  We have the right to express ourselves -- our thoughts, our hopes our beliefs.  Who we are is determined not only by our genetic makeup, our ethnic background and our familial environment, but also by what we believe.  We are spiritual beings and here in the U.S. have the right to express our views.

     Many a newspaper columnist has told us their views on any number of controversial topics, without censorship.  Sometimes we agree and sometimes we don't.  So, what's the difference in a comic creator telling us what they believe?

     I'd rather live in a country where people are free to say, "Happy Hanukkah," "Happy Kwanzaa," "Happy Ramadan" or "Happy Easter," depending on the season.  It doesn't offend me that others are celebrating their beliefs which may be different than mine, because we have that right.  We ALL have that right. 

     So, enjoy the week.  Celebrate, if you wish.  From me, "Happy Easter."  I'm celebrating an empty tomb.  Because I have the freedom to.

Ps. This Sunday, if you wish, check out  B.C. at:

http://www.gocomics.com/bc/?ref=ql_cmcs&campid=0&ssns=9&

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