Cartoons

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I'm bradley and it's my job to keep you from being the sucker at the table.

More than a few years ago (1986 if you want to be ticky-tack about it), Robert Fulghum wrote a book that became a massive best seller, unlike anything I have  attempted to write. It was called, "All I Need To Know I Learned in Kindergarten",  and in full detail, laid out the rules he learned in kindergarten, that are still incredibly useful, even today.

Well, kinda touches  nerve, if you know what I mean. Because I got to thinking about it - and realized, all I need to know, I learned from cartoons.

Number one - classical music and opera. As a kid, you couldn't get me to listen to classical music or opera if you duct taped me to a chair and force fed it through speakers. Nope, wasn't interested. Yet in more than one Warner Brothers cartoon (mostly Bugs Bunny but in others as well), classical music abounded. The Blue Danube, the Barber of Seville, the William Tell Overture - that's just a sampling of some of the culture Musical Director Carl Stallings snuck into various Warner Brothers cartoons. From 'The Rabbit of Seville' featuring the composition of Rossini with Bugs and Elmer in a full send up of the Barber of Seville, to 'What's Opera Doc?' to 'A Corny Concerto' again featuring Elmer, Daffy, Porky Pig and of course, my hero, Bugs  Bunny. 

Me? I could've cared less - but damn certain, I remember most , if not all of it, and to this day, can identify music that has people turning to me and asking, "Did you study classical music in school?' Of course, the reply is "No, I just watched a lot of cartoons." They scratch their heads and go away, which is what I wanted in the first place.

Number two - stand up to bullies. You never see Bugs Bunny back down to anyone, no matter how big, how tough or how important they may seem. No monster, no evil scientist, no muscle bound freak, no wrestler, no opera star, no one ever won in their battle with the little grey hare, not to mention what he did on a routine basis to Elmer Fudd and Yosemite Sam. No - Bugs taught us never to put up with crap from anyone - a lesson we seemed to have lost over the years.

Number three - how to be a true blue pal.  Rocky and Bullwinkle were as mismatched a pair as there ever was. Yet, their friendship couldn't be broken. They were always looking out for each other and they taught us to always be loyal and trustworthy with our friends. Rocky never abandoned Bullwinkle, and vice versa, no matter how rough things got.  We saw that and realized, hey, we need to be a true and trusted friend just like squirrel and moose. 

The other element of Rocky and Bullwinkle, which we did NOT understand as kids but do now - was the subtle political messages they inserted into the show. Of course, we saw the Cold War / Russian angle with Boris and Natasha. However,  there was the underlying satirical message when dealing with government officials like Captain Peachfuzz and that was - don't always trust authority. Maybe that's why we're so hard on the politicians we have today - not that they don't deserve it, mind you. 

Last one for now - learn how to listen to your friends. Quick Draw McGraw had his faithful sidekick Baba Looey always at his side. Quick Draw  was the tall sheriff who thought he knew everything - and acted that way. Baba would try to get a word in edgewise, only to have Quick Draw cut him down with his famous line, 'I'll-l-l-l do the thinnin' around here, Baba Boy." Turns out, that was not such a good idea. More times than not, Baba Looey had the right answer, and all too late, Quick Draw would learn that.  And so we knew and learned - maybe it was a good idea to listen to friends when they warn us that jumping off that ledge isn't such a smart thing to do after all. 

I will still stop what I'm doing if a classic Rocky and Bullwinkle, George of the Jungle or Bugs Bunny cartoon comes up. Because it's always good to get a refresher course in the basic building blocks of life. And those cartoons helped mold us into the generation we are today. Heyyyy - wait a second...

I'm bradley and it's my job to be your true blue pal and keep you from being the sucker at the table.