A Tribute to Charles Schulz

To say Charles Schulz had an influence on our lives is probably an understatement. I know he had an influence on me. Which of us, at one time or another, has not been able to identify with Charlie Brown as he struggles to make a decision only to end up on his back saying over and over again,"I could have been the hero, but instead I'm the goat." Whether it was trying to win a baseball game or kick a football, Charlie Brown never gave up. He just kept trying. While in High school I owned a 1953 Ford I called Charlie Brown. I even painted Charlie Brown's picture on the right front fender. That car wasn't good-looking, it wasn't fast, but it just kept going. I remember one of my favorite birthday presents was a book called PEANUTS TREASURY. I still have it.

One of my sisters used to carry her special blanket with her everywhere she went. Unfortunately her's was not indestructible like Linus'.There was always someone from the gang we could identify with. There was Lucy, Linus, Sally, Schroeder, Rerun, Pig Pen, Peppermint Patti, the little red-haired girl, Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Woodstock and more. Yes, the gang was really a reflection of all of us.

While some modern day cartoonists have chosen the "low road" by having their characters hurl moronic epithets and degrading insults back and forth, Mr. Schulz' characters expressed aggrivation, anger and irritation with phrases like,"Good grief!",or "you blockhead!", with an occasional "AARRGGHH!" Charles Schulz was able to portray our hopes, fears, aspirations, dreams and frustrations in a profound yet simple way. Maybe that was his true genius. May we never forget the Peanuts gang or the man who created them!