Buddha Cartoon
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Michael Ramirez’s July 6 editorial cartoon depicting Al Gore rubbing the stomach of the “jolly Buddha” or Buddha of prosperity was intended to link the vice president to the fund-raising scandal at Hsi Lai Buddhist Temple. But it also trivialized the Buddhist tradition by reinforcing the stereotype that the jolly Buddha is central to the religion. Actually, it is part of the folk tradition of Buddhism which--though certainly a part of popular faith--is a far cry from the central image of the compassionate and serene Buddha.
I wonder if Ramirez would caricature Moses, Jesus or Muhammad to make a political point.
BENJAMIN J. HUBBARD, Chair
Department of Comparative
Religion, Cal State Fullerton
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