The mother of cartoon bears has died. In 2005, I wrote an obituary for her husband, Stan Berenstain, hereabouts. It responded to a semi-famous column by Charles Krauthammer (“I hate the Berenstain Bears”) and described the Berenstain Bears book Old Hat New Hat as a classic of conservatism.
The version of the Krauthammer column I read was "Drown the Berenstain Bears." Hard to forget that, especially if you agree with him.
And my recollection is confirmed here:
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Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThey were both named Jan? And the link doesn't work.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHe meant "her husband, Stan Berenstain"
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseRest in Peace ... from a long-time admirer of the Bears.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseCharles is wrong about the Bears, I think. The stories are not "post-feminist" at all. Indeed, they are so traditional they seem quaint. Dad works, mom stays at home. They kids are respectful of their elders. They are expected to do their chores and homework. They are expected to be polite and well-behaved. Each story comes with a built in lesson about proper behavior for kids. A few years ago I would have thought them too "corny," but now as a father of young kids, I appreciate them. That goes for the TV show too.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHusband's name was Stan.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseCount me with Krauthammer. Papa Bear was just another child, and Mama Bear treated him like one. Why not have a story entitled, "It's okay to disrespect your Father."
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI had a bunch of books with the golden spine growing up, most of them were Berenstain Bears books. I saw some in a book store in Tokyo a few weeks ago (they still have bookstores in Japan!), there have the golden spines here too.
As a side note my captcha is a "describe this brand with any word(s)" one and it is MTV logo. My descriptive word(s): unwatchable
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI got that one, but some of these brands , I must confess, I don't recognize. I must not watch enough TV.
In our house we have a few Berenstain Bears books, my son loves them. The Berenstain Bears Don't Pollute, however, is decidedly unconservative. Al Gore would blush at the absurd scare tactics deployed in that book.
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