Muslim-American Political Cartoonist Khalil Bendib Presents New Book at Berkeley Event

August 30, 2007
Berkeley, California

After briefly composing himself outside the Mudrakers Cafe on Telegraph Avenue this evening, Algerian-born Khalil Bendib greeted the unexpected wall-to-wall crowd waiting inside by energetically waving little American flags and announcing, tongue-in-cheek, his intention to run for President.

Of course, no one thought the political cartoonist known for his humor and eager to promote his new book was the least serious, especially when he declared that his campaign slogan would be "Fez for Prez."

Still... setting aside all other objections... "a Muslim for president?!" In America?

"Why not?" answered Bendib in half-jest effecting an amused attention in his listeners.

In a world in which nations endlessly war, criminals and idiots rule, and the greed of a few knows no satiety though the mass of persons simply desire health and opportunity-- in such an absurd world, Bendib's proposal seemed utterly sensible.

As he went on to describe the novelty of being a Muslim U.S. president, and his imaginary platform in detail (which turned out to be more revealing of a man of warmth, good common sense and decency than of one merely looking for laughs), it became ever clearer to his listeners that Bendib's real concern is with discovering the more profound aspects of the world in which we live and finding a way to translate his discoveries about it in a way we all can understand.

His way, of course, is through his art which finds its form in the political cartoon.

After a presentation of some of the cartoons that appear in his new book, Mission Accomplished, Khalil Bendib autographed copies of the book and answered a few brief questions.

Indybay: Mr. Bendib... you're going to be appearing at some other locations in the near future?

KB: Yes, and you can go to my website to see the schedule. It keeps getting updated. Tomorrow I am going to Chicago. For a big conference there. I am going to give a speech there.

Indybay: What is that about?

KB: It is the Islamic Society of North America. It is a large conference. There will be about thirty or forty-thousand people there.

Indybay: What would you like people to think about when they are looking at your cartoons? What approach do you think they should have?

KB: I just hope they are open-hearted enough to be touched by them and [to] maybe think. I always try to challenge their ambiance, misconceptions, and prejudice-- and just ignorance in general. We are all ignorant about something. But in this country we are mislead by the upper-media which have a strong agenda.

Indybay: Before you were a cartoonist, what was your background ?

KB: I was always an artist and cartoonist. I was never anything else.

Indybay: Do you have any favorite cartoonist?

KB: Not any more.

Indybay: Not any more? Why is that?

KB: Because... over the past 15 years or so things went so far to the right that even my favorite cartoonists didn't cut it anymore for me.

Because in my opinion they took the easy way out. And they refused to challenge the status quo... or just themselves were not able to see the depth of our problems.

I feel I am alone, pretty much, among the cartoonists that are widely syndicated.
Pat Oliphant, I really loved because he is such a great artist (and he is still a good cartoonist), but he doesn't really take on the hard, hard issues and I feel I have to do that myself. In all honesty.

Indybay: Thank you for answering these questions.

KB: My pleasure.

Khalil Bendib's Main Website: