Dear Editor: Bring Back Non Sequitur

The number of newspapers dropping Non Sequitur over a lapse in judgment is approaching double digit dozens. Now fans and readers of Wiley‘s comic are expressing disappointment in the newspapers’ actions and requesting the return of one of their favorite cartoonists.


Halltoons by Ed Hall

 

I hope you will reconsider! Non Sequitur is probably one of the most enjoyable comics in the newspaper…The artist who produces Non Sequitur is innovative, unique and totally interesting. He has apologized and said it would not happen again. I guess his word is not enough for those “people who know who they are” out there who can’t stand anything different or thought provoking

Please do not discontinue “Non Sequitur.” It is the best comic strip on the page.

Good grief! Is everything offensive? What kind of sheltered life are we leaving to the poor snowflakes among us? Be bold! Resume publishing Non Sequitur and add Mallard Fillmore!

 

 

Many of the responses mentioned Mallard Fillmore and Doonesbury, though not in the positive manner as the reader above.

I am appalled at your decision to drop “Non Sequitur” from your comics!! Apparently your “decency” is limited toward people who don’t like President Donald Trump, as you continue to offer “Mallard Fillmore,” which is nothing but barely veiled insults to anyone not following the right-wing ideology and anyone who opposed Trump!

Sorry to see that the comic “Non Sequitur” will no longer be ran by The News & Observer. Yet, the N&O still allows “Mallard Filmore” to spew it’s venomous, hate filled half truths everyday.

I see you will no longer publish the “Non Sequitur” comic strip because of a “profane phrase aimed at President Trump.” In all fairness, shouldn’t you also discontinue publishing the “Doonesbury” and Joel Pett cartoons? Or at the very least, maybe you can place the “Doonesbury” strip on the op-ed page and Pett in the comics section. Just saying!

You gotta be kidding me! You are removing the comic strip “Non Sequitur” because, in your opinion, it contained an anti-Trump item? Really? How about all the negative articles you publish daily? How about the Sunday strip you call a comic cartoon, “Doonesbury”?

 

Others suggested a temporary, not permanent, punishment.

“Non Sequitur” was my favorite comic, and I’m sad to see it removed from the newspaper. Couldn’t the State Journal just give the cartoonist a timeout with a bottle of whiteout and bring him back after time served?

I was initially only puzzled by the BDN’s cancellation of Wiley Miller’s “Non-Sequitur” comic strip. That puzzlement has turned to anger, not at the profanity in the strip but at the overly aggressive response of the paper.

Please give “Non Sequitur” a second chance.

These days, as newspapers grow smaller due to higher costs and lower readership, there are few cartoons worth reading, and it is unfortunate that the PB has canceled one that has been a favorite among adults for over 25 years. I do not support the cancellation; perhaps, a 30-day moratorium would be more appropriate.

 


Non Sequitur is humor, fantasy, parables

 

Some are replying with their pocketbooks.

By removing this single comic from your newspaper, you have lost a loyal subscriber.

Today will be my final StarNews. I am more offended by the mutual disrespect shown daily in your anonymous “Buzz” than by any number of “offensive words” hidden in comic strips.

 

To be sure there were those who agreed with the decision made by newspapers.

Thank you for maintaining the decorum of your comics page.

 

Those who disagreed.

It is unfortunate that Wiley’s art is being cast aside due to a scribble in a comic frame.

The offense you mentioned was trivial at best. I missed it entirely until it was gratuitously pointed out by the PC police; even then it did not offend me.

 

And those who demanded the drop before the paper officially did so.

This loyal reader is requesting Non-Sequitur be pulled from the Diversions ASAP.

 

While some understood but will miss Non Sequitur all the same.

Last weekend the comic artist Wiley Miller made the mistake of actually writing out what he was thinking and the N&R has responded both quickly and appropriately…“Non Sequitur” outstripped other comics by being both well-drafted and able to pull the veil off many of our current absurdities. Just going to have to rely on “Doonesbury” until it, too, gets axed for crossing some other PC line.

 


above: today some newspaper subscribers missed the beautiful art of Wiley.

 

More than a few compared the comic to the very public tweets and statements of President Trump:

Please return “Non Sequitur” to the comics page. Cartoonist Wiley Miller’s supposed crime of slipping vulgar language into his work is no worse than what comes over the president’s personal Twitter feed on a nearly daily basis.

I am deeply disappointed in the Tribune-Star for its decision to pull “Non Sequitur” from the comics. Yes, Mr. Wiley used a vulgarism, but our pussy-grabbing President has so debased common courtesy in public discourse I can scarcely imagine anyone was shocked.

That obscene man is what the writer should be concerned with, not an expletive so common in the international lexicon that it has lost any shock value.

Since the Journal decided, effective Feb. 12, to discontinue the comic strip “Non Sequitur” for perceived offensive language directed at President Trump (“Journal drops offensive comic strip” Feb. 12), I assume you will not be hypocritical and will also discontinue printing and quoting the president when he routinely does the same, aimed at many different people (and countries).

Perhaps those newspapers could also refuse to publish the vulgar tweets, vulgar name-calling and vulgar policies that define Trump.

 

Wiley speaks Truth to Power.

[Wiley] is actually speaking for a large group of Americans.

 

Some accuse the newspapers of unnecessary censorship and cowardice.

The N&O has reached a new journalistic low in self-censorship with its decision to drop “Non Sequitur” from its comic pages…But you can’t stop there — Dennis the Menace has some very troubling themes concerning corporal punishment of children, and Blondie indulges in blatant and dated stereotypes of women. The N&O has got a lot of work ahead of it to make its comic pages inoffensive to its readers!

After careful rereading of my favorite comic strip in the Bangor Daily News, I find the BDN’s censorship offensive. What happened to freedom of speech and protection of satire and humorous expression of political differences?

It does seem rather spineless and petty that The Sun would remove one of the smarter and more insightful cartoons from its publication.

 

 

For some fans it’s the editors’ lack of knowing the good comics from the bad.

Bless your heart, I know you can’t help not having much of a sense of humor. You need to leave the comics alone — quit changing them — and do not remove “Non-Sequitur.” I need to see how the bears will again try to trap the humans.

 

The Dallas News published a quintet of letters damning, praising, and suggesting replacements.
The San Diego Union-Tribune also published a number of letters both pro and con.
Daytona Beach News-Journal letters run the gamut from dismay to approval to a paper wimping out.

 

But, by far, most of the letters bemoaned the loss of an excellent comic and supported Wiley.

I am writing to you to express my dismay and anger that you are canceling the comic strip Non Sequitur.

I feel it is a shame to lose one of the best comics in your portfolio.

I was heartbroken and angry to see you decided to discontinue running the comic strip “Non Sequitur” by Wiley Miller.

Most unfortunate, especially since the strip was almost the last thoughtful one you run.

I was disappointed to see that the Times-Standard pulled the very popular and timely Wiley’s “Non Sequitur” cartoon segment from the comics page.

Wiley is one of the best.

Bring back Non Sequitur! This comic strip by Wiley Miller is by far the most insightful and often the funniest in the paper…Please do not give me yet another reason to consider canceling my subscription.

I am appalled the State Journal would choose to cancel “Non Sequitur,” probably the funniest comic strip in the paper.

 

One of my all-time favorites                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

6 thoughts on “Dear Editor: Bring Back Non Sequitur

  1. Bring back Non Sequitur! You have replaced something cerebral with drivel and continue to run the thin Mallard Filmore. There are some of us who read the comics for the serious comments that they make with humor. Sorry but Wallace the Brave doesn’t cut it. The “Old Reliable” has become the unreliable.

  2. WIley’s issue was one of attempting to “sneak” in his already firmly known position as to where he stood. Frankly, what he did was shallow, immature, and basically placed him into the same level as those he finds objectionable. However, even though he and I may agree on about the number of subjects as his two brothers in the cafe… I think the newspapers are also being about as mature right now. Whatever happened to the various stages leading up to termination after one error in judgment?

  3. Honestly–I missed the scribble the first time I read the coics. When I heard about the kerfuffle, I dug the funnies out of the recycling bin and went back and searched for it. After finally finding it, it was difficult to make out exactly what it said (and my girlfriend never did figure it out!).

    I wonder how many of the people objecting actually saw it?

  4. Bring back Wiley! His humor helps get us through each new outrage without falling into utter dispair

  5. I agree that the Non Sequitur cartoon using political vulgarity by Wiley Miller would be offensive to a number of people; however, it should not be a basis for the Daytona Beach News-Journal and other newspapers to cancel this otherwise excellent cartoon. Rather than cancel the cartoon, it would seem newsworthy to go back in history and print political cartoons from the beginning of our nation until now. It would be educational, sell more papers and prove the value of reading print. Freedom of the Press must not be suppressed in any manner, nor by any political leanings. To do so will bring about anarchy. There is a reason our founding fathers made Freedom of the Press our very First Amendment; it is the bulwark of liberty.”Thomas Jefferson” The Editors of our newspapers have a duty to support, not cower to this obligation.

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