Osama Bert Laden?

What happens when good Berts go bad? Well, Recess is shocked and saddened to report that one of our most treasured childhood heroes, in light of recent events, has turned his back on Sesame Street and hetero life-mate Ernie in favor of well-known terrorist and giant jackass, Osama bin Laden.

Apparently, Muslim protestors in Dhaka, Bangladesh, wielding placards adorned with multiple images of bin Laden, didn't look that closely at the signs they carried in support of the Saudi-born millionaire. Tucked obscurely between two Osamas was the small yet unmistakable yellow, uni-browed, pointy-headed puppet, looking rather perturbed. Maybe it's the company?

Mostafa Kamal, the production manager for Azad Products who manufactures the poster, said the images were taken from the Internet and emails, and the presence of the Muslim Muppet was initially unnoticed. San Francisco artist Dino Ignacio was first thought responsible for the unlikely pairing. Ignacio created a website in 1998 called "Bert is Evil," in which he chronicled the misdeeds of the Sesame Street character alongside the likes of Hitler and O.J. Simpson in doctored photos (www.fractalcow.com). Ignacio denied all responsibility for the most recent picture, however, leaving the nature of Bert's relationship with bin Laden a mystery.

Sources say fellow Muppets are surprised and outraged by Bert's actions. According to Grover, "We all knew he was a little out there, but this is unexpected. I mean, the pigeons, the bottle caps, sure... but this is too much." The most poignant words, however, came from Bert's former companion Ernie: "It's just very upsetting to me. Just look at it. You've got this goofy, funny-looking, fluff-headed, brainless dummy joke... and right next to him... is Bert."

--By David Walters