Thursday, 03 July 2008

  • Why I Like Charlie Brown

    pine by mr pine

    cbrown2 I like Charlie Brown.  You may say, "A lot of people like Charlie Brown,"  but what they mean by saying that and what I mean, I think are different in a way. Charlie Brown has always been known as the 'lovable loser' type, which may be a fair label to use on him.  But if that's as far as you go there is so much more that you don't see.  Comparing him one-on-one with the other Peanuts characters, there's nothing outstanding about him.  He's not as wise and worldly as Linus nor as talented and good-looking as Schroeder.  He's not as athletic and confident as Peppermint Patty or as intelligent as Marcie.  He's not half as shrewd as Lucy or as assertive as Sally.  In fact, he even plays second fiddle to his dog Snoopy who would murder him in a cool contest any day of the week. But to me, he is the most admirable and noble of all of them.  There is nothing false about Charlie Brown.  He works diligently and loves fully.  He serves humbly and speaks truthfully.  And although all the cards are stacked against him, he never compromises himself.  Heck, how would you feel if you were a kid and almost completely bald?  And have you heard him even once complain about it?

    When all his friends are trying to see how much they can get for themselves or are caught up in what everyone else thinks is acceptable (aluminum Christmas trees come to mind), he swims upstream and does the right thing despite the risk of ridicule and rejection.  How many times has he tried to kick the football as Lucy is holding it in place for him, and how many of those times does he land flat on his back because Lucy pulls it away at the last second?  YET he still tries every time like the last time didn't matter.  Is he stupid?  naive?  a victim?  I don't think so... Idealistic? - maybe.  Steadfast? - definitely.

    I think that growing up I felt so sorry for him.  I thought that if he would wise up and just go along with everyone else, he will be okay.  I thought that all the things I now find admirable about him were his fatal weaknesses.  God has a way of doing that whether it be in choosing a man with a speech impediment to lead His people out of Egypt, using an adulteress to humble the holier-than-thou Pharisees, or becoming a poor son of a carpenter born in a stable to save the world.  Now, Charlie Brown never went on to change the world per se, but I don't believe that is ever the intent of good character – just sometimes a result of it.

    I think that most people still feel sorry for him.  They don't see that of all of the Peanuts gang, he's the only one who really has it all together.  That little red-headed girl doesn't know what she's missing.  Don't feel sorry for him.  He has something very few people in this world has.  Integrity.  Feel sorry for the rest of the world for not being more like Charlie Brown.  Mourn the fact that the Charlie Browns of this world are seen as weak.  I know that whenever I read the comics, I will tip my hat to a guy that I can only hope to emulate.  I like Charlie Brown.

    What do you think about "Charlie Brown-like" characteristics?

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Comments (11)

  • TheSecretLifeOfPandas@xanga

    I love charlie brown.  :) it's true the little red headed girl doesn't know what she's missing.


    Hmm, I think that more people need his humility. 

  • CarmenDeBizet@xanga

    I saw the Charlie Brown specials when I was a kid and as a teacher, I would put on the DVD for our Holiday get-togethers.  I agree with you, Charlie Brown and the Charlie Browns of the world are underestimated and under appreciated.
  • MCTCanadian@xanga

    charlie brown is the man. one of my favorite characters next to linus 
  • show_me_your_glory@xanga

    I always related to Charlie Brown.  I had friends, but was never the popular one.  Not coordinated enough to be athletic.  Just kind of, well, plain.  Charlie Brown always encouraged me. 


    More people DO need to learn from his humility.
  • MrHighAndMighty@xanga

    Charlie Brown is great. Hes what keeps the Peanuts click together
  • organic_idiot@xanga

    I love this. Right away it commanded my attention.

    I like Charlie Brown because he's real. He's not some superstar that lets everything get to his head. He's real, he's honest, and even though he'll say "Good grief", there's nothing in the world he truly complains about. He just keeps on living, knowing that he may not be the most attractive, or intelligent, or what have you. He is who he is. And very humble about that fact as well.

    To say it simply - Charlie Brown is the man.
  • died4me_live4him

    I love how you tied Charlie Brown to the heros (and heroines) of the Bible. 

    Charlie B. rocks! lol

    God bless!
    Ellen
  • JandJinJapan@xanga

    Charlie Brown and I have a lot in common.  I was a skinny, loser-ish, constantly picked-on (especially in Jr. Hi. amf Hi. School), red-headed, glasses-wearing kid who tried and tried and tried, but still ended up second fiddle.  Amazingly enough, because of the love and call of Jesus Christ, I am well-established being the second fiddle.  I played D- and O-Line in High School and College Football, played right field in baseball, and was told by my weight lifting coaches that I did a good job spotting other lifters.  It has helped me to live up to the words of John the Baptist in the 3rd Chpater of John's Gospel:


    "He must increase; and I must decrease." (John 3.30)
  • BohemianLamb

    I had never really thought about it until now, but you are right. :) I'll never see Charlie Brown in the same light from now on, LOL. It puts a new spin on the holiday specials for me, now. Thanks for writing this!
  • w_wj_d@xanga

    Aw, I really loved this post. I've always liked Charlie Brown, but I've never admired him like I did Snoopy, Linus, Schroeder, and Woodstock (the bird can play the violin!). In fact, I see now that I did pity him, especially when it came to Lucy and her football.

    I also see now that I shouldn't pity him. I shouldn't put him on a pedestal, either, because he wouldn't have wanted that. I should just respect him and learn from him. I think he'd be happy with that. :)

    "Heck, how would you feel if you were a kid and almost completely bald?  And have you heard him even once complain about it?"
    That made me laugh out loud. :D
  • blessed_light

    I like how he never gives up.

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