How Archie's Gay Friend Proved the Internet Can Do Good

[2ndAmForComputers]

The Internet is often described as a festering pit of electronic hate, but in the same way your gut is a festering pit of bacteria -- the vast majority are harmless, and you're actually better off for having them around. Ninety percent of people might be assholes, but we're all assholes about different things. So when one group declares themselves the voice of the majority, they get stomped like a goomba in Mario's biker bar.

The American Family Association aren't just a recognized hate group, they're cartoon villains that escaped into the real world. They're driven by hate, choose actual comics characters as their enemies and still fail humiliatingly and publicly. They think of themselves as righteous crusaders, because they're exactly the sort of assholes who still use the word "crusade," but they're really Gargamel from the Smurfs: fighting ridiculously soft fictional targets just because they're the same gender and happy together, and still managing to lose.

Their latest target is Archie comics character Kevin Keller. Kevin loved his friends, respected his parents, served his country, did his duty, returned home and married his true love. If you object to any part of that story, you are measurably insane. Especially when your objection is leaping at that happy ending, claws outstretched and screaming "WERE HIS TRUE LOVE'S GONADS ABOVE OR BELOW THE PELVIS?"

And like many unpopular insane people, the AFA have invented imaginary friends to agree with them.

Continued at http://www.cracked.com/blog/how-archies-gay-friend-proved-internet-can-do-good

[TlalocW]

1. It's interesting how Archie comics have changed

Maybe they used to take commissions from religious groups to create Archie stories with religious content; maybe the people who used to be in charge were more evangelical, but I remember a few comics dealing exclusively with Christianity, and I've read Archie comics from the 60s when my sisters collected them to modern times, and very few stories ever touched on religion. Even the Christmas stories were pretty secular - focusing more on unselfishness and being good to your fellow man as the reason for the season.

Of the Christian ones I remember the two that stand out were one where it was pretty much just tried and true accept-Jesus-as-your-savior message that have been seen elsewhere. The other one was much more conservative and took place in the old west with Archie as Sheriff. I remember a few panels where the school-marm (Betty) was complaining about disruptive children being sent to her school from other towns (a little under the table criticism of busing and integration 30 years too late).

TlalocW

[William769]

2. Recommended.

[eShirl]

3. rotfl! recommend

Especially when your objection is leaping at that happy ending, claws outstretched and screaming "WERE HIS TRUE LOVE'S GONADS ABOVE OR BELOW THE PELVIS?"