Springing it On You: Humor Times’ 24th Anniversary Issue

The Humor Times celebrates its 24th Anniversary

We’ve been poking fun at the powers that be here at the Humor Times for nearly a quarter of a century now!

Humor Times premiere issue24 years ago, on April Fool’s Day (of course), we published our first issue. In it was a four-page summary of the Gulf War, which was just concluding. The cover featured a cartoon by Joel Pett which conflated the two big issues of the day, as editorial cartoons often do, to comic effect: The Gulf War, then known as “Desert Storm,” and the Rodney King beating in L.A., which provoked terrible riots that spring.

The more things change, the more they stay the same, eh? We’re still in Iraq and still fighting wars in the middle east, and with Ferguson, still rioting over race issues and police violence.

In fact, whenever I go over back issues of the Humor Times (available for purchase, email us at the address in the staff box below), originally titled the Comic Press News, I am struck by how persistent the issues are. You would think we could make more progress in a quarter of a century, but as we all know, there are very powerful forces that oppose change. Unfortunately, those forces, backed by the obscenely rich, seem to be getting stronger, not weaker. And whenever there are profits to be made with the status quo, you can bet change will be difficult.

But that’s no reason to quit trying. As Margaret Meade said, “Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For, indeed, that’s all who ever have.” And the strong spirit and determination of people all over this country and the world fighting for progress should give us all hope.

Anyway, thanks for reading the Humor Times, and I hope you will share it with friends, and give subscriptions as gifts to everyone you know who appreciates political humor.

I’d also like to give a big shout-out to our business backers, with out whom we could not have published for all these years. Please check out the ads in this issue and patronize these fine businesses!

As I said, April 1st is our official birthday. According to folklorist Jack Santino, “Explanations for the origins of April Fool’s Day are many, and often as foolish as the day itself.” But there are two things we can say with some certainty about the origin of the day: the celebration is most likely a rite of spring; and it was well established by the middle of the 16th century.

So, like that enduring tradition, we hope to continue for many more years, and with your support, we will. And happy spring to you!

James Israel
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