Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss! Here are 6 Cartoons that are Still Relevant Today

Dr. Seuss is known for his cartoons and his stories but these six satirical cartoons are even more important today than they were back in the 1940s.

Theodor Seuss Geisel changed the world with his cartoons. You may know him better as Dr. Seuss. Today is his birthday (he was born March 2nd 1904.) In honor of it, in the US it’s National Read Across America Day (#DrSeussDay).

But Geisel wasn’t always just a children’s book author. During World War II, he did political cartoons. And in honor of his birthday day, suddenly these cartoons from Seuss are resurfacing.

And when you see them, it will make sense as to why. They are very pertinent to today’s political status in America.

Illegal Immigrant problem

In this one, we see that the ‘foreign children’ didn’t matter back during World War II. And much like the Syrian Refugee crisis, they don’t seem to matter to Donald Trump either.

“And the Wolf chewed up the children and spit out their bones … but those were Foreign Children and it really didn’t matter.” Image dated Oct. 1, 1941, via Dr. Seuss Political Cartoons/Special Collection and Archives, UC San Diego Library.

Nazi Swimming Pool

My favorite thing about this cartoon, which is making fun of Americans who wanted to stay out of the war, is the fact that in the 1940s, the idea of a ‘Nazi’ was already something inherently bad. Today it seems as if people are having moral dilemmas over whether or not it is okay to punch a nazi.

Newsflash, it is always okay to punch a nazi.

“The old Family bath tub is plenty safe for me!” Image dated May 27, 1941, via Dr. Seuss Political Cartoons/Special Collection and Archives, UC San Diego Library.

Stop All U.S Progress

For the last 8 years, it felt as if Obama was trying to make the United States a better place. Then Trump took over the office and everything got pushed back to the dark ages in regards to progress.

Funnily enough, this cartoon makes sense still. Again, it was created in the 1940s.

“Stop all U.S. progress.” Image dated Oct. 24, 1941, via Dr. Seuss Political Cartoons/Special Collection and Archives, UC San Diego Library.

Trust

This cartoon was another aimed at those who assumed that the war in Europe would totally not impact American interests. But looking at it through the glass of 2017, it reminds me of the current battle between the president and the media.

We’re supposed to just trust what the president says, not question anything, even when we can clearly see that it is a lie. And really, this cartoon strangely captures that idea.

“Relax, Sam, I assure you the express turns off right here!” Image dated Sept. 9, 1941, via Dr. Seuss Political Cartoons/Special Collection and Archives, UC San Diego Library.

The Boys and Girls In the Cellar

Just pointing out the hypocrisy of Trump’s America doesn’t seem to be enough for his supporters. So here is a cartoon that does it very clearly and makes it easy to understand.

“The Guy Who Makes a Mock of Democracy.” Image dated July 30, 1942, via Dr. Seuss Political Cartoons/Special Collection and Archives, UC San Diego Library.

Ostrich Bonnet

Back during World War II, America stuck their head in the ground until it hit our soil. This time, our country is falling apart but people are pretending that nothing is wrong. Honestly, the world during World War II and America right now haven’t changed too much.

“We Always Were Suckers for Ridiculous Hats.” Image dated April 29, 1941, via Dr. Seuss Political Cartoons/Special Collection and Archives, UC San Diego Library.

These cartoons are a great representation of what America was during World War II and what we’re still like in 2017. Honestly, we changed only to take about forty steps backward with Trump. So to honor Dr. Seuss on this, his birthday, let us remember what he tried to satirize and be better for him.

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