The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Thursday, June 20, 2024

Comment of the Day: Responding to Tuesday’s Briefing, our friend Bob Cuff writes: “Tuned in this morning and was struck, again, by the synchronicity. The Rushdie quote about people who should regret their lives and an Axios article about our “post-shame” society. The passage about the stars not looking back or caring made me think of all the shame and guilt religion has heaped on us over the millennia. It occurs to me that the genius (not a word I use lightly) of the shameless is that they have figured out that shame is for suckers, at least on the big stage of national and international affairs. There are still many, many places where the part of our society that calls itself religious is eager to continue shaming and brutalizing their fellow humans for out of wedlock pregnancies, being gay and other “sins” that we are heir to. But the big dogs know that only works for the little people (who buy their sneakers, NFT’s and bullshit – to borrow a phrase from someone’s campaign speech). Not sure shame was/is the best way to maintain civil order and the role these toads want their religion to play in modern society is certainly not going to do it unless you consider the Handmaid’s Tale a DIY manual. Jesus, we are fucked. But must still labor on, under the stars.”