Charlie Brown's Football

Most Americans are familiar with Charles Schulz's classic Peanuts cartoon from the 70s, and if they are familiar with the cartoon series, they know all about Charlie Brown's Football. Every October there is a new strip following the same plot: Lucy is holding a football and she asks Charlie Brown to kick it, Charlie Brown explains that he will not kick the ball because he has fallen for this trick before and refuses to do so again. However, usually after a long speech, Lucy convinces Charlie Brown that she has changed and that this time she will NOT pull the football away from him. Charlie Brown than runs at the football, ready to kick it as far as he can, and at the last minute Lucy snatches the ball away and laughs as Charlie Brown falls flat on his back.

Charlie Brown's football was first introduced in the 70s, when many U.S. citizens viewed the federal government as corrupt and manipulative. This scorn fell mainly on intelligence agencies such as the CIA and FBI, who had repeatedly broke the law in the name of national security by spying on and wire tapping U.S. citizens. This playful interaction between Charlie Brown and Lucy alludes to the process of American politics. In politics, a figurehead promises the American public that a certain measure will be beneficial to all Americans. People are wary at first, as like Charlie Brown they have fallen for this before, but eventually the majority of the public is behind the figurehead. Finally the measure is carried out, usually without the outcome that was promised to the public.

In addition to the obvious satirical elements captured in the comic, one of it's most powerful tools is repetition. Every October, from when it was first published to now, there is a peanuts cartoon of Lucy pulling away the ball from Charlie Brown. The audience sympathizes with Charlie Brown, because every October there seems to be some political movement that they have been ridiculed by. That is why the comic remains relevant and powerful, as it obvious reflects the constantly turbulent politics in America.