I am writing in regard to "Sexist strip makes job tougher" (letter, April 16). What the letter writer fails to see in satirical works such as the "Gunston Street" comic strip was the actual "outing of the stereotypical views that people actually have."

My argument would be that on TV, the show that did more for America’s perception of African-Americans wouldn’t be "The Cosby Show," which portrayed an African-American family, but "All in the Family," which portrayed the bigoted views held by so many Americans at that time. By showing how ridiculous such views were, it opened up people’s minds, which then allowed shows like "The Cosby Show" to even make it on the air.

Sometimes a comic strip is just a comic strip, but sometimes there is a message in there that begs to be understood and not just read.

The letter writer then asks how she could make it clear to soldiers that it is not OK to belittle someone based on being homosexual. How about showing them that it isn’t OK to belittle someone for any reason?

I, for one, am glad Stars and Stripes has the ability to print what it does, regardless of how politically incorrect it can appear at times.

Randall RiberaCamp Victory, Iraq

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