Athenian
Original: Athenian on Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal
Transcript
Panel 1:
Voice (off-panel): Which modern democracy is the most Athenian?
Word balloon (pointing to a city street where two women walk): America
Panel 2:
A woman with red hair: Some countries are just as intellectually vibrant as us. Some countries are just as violently stupid as us.
Panel 3:
The red-haired woman (now standing in front of a large American flag, hand on her chest): Only ONE modern nation could both produce AND execute Socrates.
Panel 4:
A woman with dark hair: It's not EXACTLY the same. Athens didn't let women vote.
The red-haired woman (cheerfully): We'll get there! Don't give up!
Votey:
The red-haired woman (in profile, speech balloon): We are a people who don't believe in limits!
Voice (off-panel): Which modern democracy is the most Athenian?
Word balloon (pointing to a city street where two women walk): America
Panel 2:
A woman with red hair: Some countries are just as intellectually vibrant as us. Some countries are just as violently stupid as us.
Panel 3:
The red-haired woman (now standing in front of a large American flag, hand on her chest): Only ONE modern nation could both produce AND execute Socrates.
Panel 4:
A woman with dark hair: It's not EXACTLY the same. Athens didn't let women vote.
The red-haired woman (cheerfully): We'll get there! Don't give up!
Votey:
The red-haired woman (in profile, speech balloon): We are a people who don't believe in limits!
Alt text
A four-panel SMBC comic. Panel 1: an off-panel voice asks "Which modern democracy is the most Athenian?" as two women walk down a dim city street; a label balloon answers "America." Panel 2: a red-haired woman says some countries are just as intellectually vibrant as the US, and some are just as violently stupid as the US. Panel 3: she stands proudly before a giant American flag, hand over her heart, declaring that only one modern nation could both produce AND execute Socrates. Panel 4: a dark-haired woman objects that it's not exactly the same because Athens didn't let women vote; the red-haired woman cheerfully replies "We'll get there! Don't give up!" Votey: a close-up of the red-haired woman in profile saying "We are a people who don't believe in limits!"
Transcribed by Claude Opus 4.8.