Rusty Saber: Charles Schulz's career draws to a close

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Some things need no identification. You see them and you know exactly what they are and what they stand for. The stopwatch ticking away on the screen means "60 Minutes," the CBS news magazine. You know Mike Wallace, or some other reporter, will likely be asking questions of people who don't want to answer them. If "60 Minutes" is out to nail someone or some organization to the wall, you know hardball questions will be asked; softball questions if the producers favor their subject.|ret||ret||tab|

The Mercedes Benz three-point star logo is immediately recognizable. It means expensive, well-crafted German luxury cars. In fact, a recent worldwide poll found the Mercedes logo to be second only to the Coca-Cola logo as most recognized; McDonald's Golden Arches was third. Like Mercedes and "60 Minutes," the Coke and McDonald's logos stand alone. They immediately bring to mind soft drinks and fast-food hamburgers.|ret||ret||tab|

There's little likelihood that "60 Minutes," Mercedes Benz, Coke or McDonald's will close up shop anytime soon. |ret||ret||tab|

But, good grief, a symbol as recognizable as these has gone away.|ret||ret||tab|

I don't know if America's Team was a claim first used by baseball's Atlanta Braves or football's Dallas Cowboys. Both have loudly proclaimed to be America's Team in their respective sports, but a lot of Americans didn't know it. There are people whose favorite teams are whomever the Braves and Cowboys are playing. |ret||ret||tab|

But the round-headed kid with the zigzag shirt, and the other Peanuts characters surely are as recognizable to Americans as Coke or any of the rest, and can rightly lay claim to being America's Comic Strip. |ret||ret||tab|

Charlie, Lucy, Linus and his blanket, Snoopy, Peppermint Patty and all the rest of the kids who think and talk like adults were born in 1950. Miraculously, they didn't age one bit during their nearly 50 years of life. They have retired along with their creator, Charles Schulz, the only artist who ever drew the characters. As we all know, Schulz retired himself and Peanuts after nearly 50 years so he can concentrate on his fight against colon cancer.|ret||ret||tab|

There are comic strips older than Peanuts. For instance, Mary Worth has been sticking her nose into other folks comic-strip business for 60 years; however, five different artists have drawn the strip. Although Mary's looks have altered as clothing and hair styles changed, her age has remained 60, which makes her 120. And there are other comic strips whose characters never age, but I don't know of any so endearing as the Peanuts characters.|ret||ret||tab|

Half a century ago Charlie Brown was the same round-headed kid who never changed his shirt as he was on the last day of his cartoon life. Somehow Charlie, his playmates, his dog, even the backyard birds, touched us all. We looked at Peanuts and saw ourselves. We learned much about the differences between right and wrong from the gang.|ret||ret||tab|

First The Far Side retired; then Calvin and Hobbes. But good grief, Charlie Brown can't retire! |ret||ret||tab|

How can springtime arrive without Charlie Brown out there on the pitching mound come rain or come shine, with Snoopy at shortstop, and Lucy in the outfield. If baseball is the harbinger of spring, and it surely is, then Charlie Brown surely is the harbinger of baseball. I wouldn't want to face the world come spring if there were no baseball. I don't know if I can face it without Charlie.|ret||ret||tab|

By the time you read this, much will have been written about the passing of this national icon. Schulz has always said that Charlie Brown, who never wins, is his alter ego. He never wins a baseball game, Lucy never lets him kick the football, the Great Pumpkin never comes to the pumpkin patch on Halloween and the little redheaded girl never notices him. |ret||ret||tab|

Truth be told, Charlie Brown is no loser; he's a bright little kid who has yet to develop a sense of self-confidence. Give him a few years and, watch out world, here he comes! Likewise, considering the esteem in which Peanuts is held, Charles Schulz is no more of a loser than is Charlie Brown. I do wish that Charlie Brown could have gotten something going with the little redheaded girl before he and his pals rode off into the sunset.|ret||ret||tab|

You're a good man, Charlie Brown. So are you, Charles Schulz. You have been our moral compass for 50 years. I'm rooting for you to beat cancer.|ret||ret||tab|

(Joe McAdoo is former chairman of the communication department at Drury College and a Springfield public relations consultant.)[[In-content Ad]]