Found this little note from China in my inbox this morning:
“Dear Sir or Madam:
We are the European & American Contact Department of The Organizing Committee of the 6th World Cartoon Conference which is considered as the summit of animation and comic industry and art of the largest scale in Asia. During 3-6 October 2004, the 6th session will be staged in Beijing, China. The theme of the exhibition is “Comic and Nationality Nature in 21st Century”, we genuinely invite your company to participate in the conference.”
China: the land of free expression and cartooning. Right.
Tony Walsh was also invited to the conference. I think his response sums it up nicely:
“Hey, Chinese government–how about you allow your citizens to draw, animate, write, or think freely? How about you get the hell out of Tibet and stop bullying Taiwan? The Olympics may be cuddling up to your iron fist, but all you’re going to get from me is a kick in the nuts.”
Well said Tony. Now, where’d I put my steel-toed boots?