Veterans Offended: Garfield Creator Apologizes for Ill-Timed Strip
- Posted on November 12, 2010 at 8:10am by
Scott Baker
- Print »
- Email »
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Cartoonist Jim Davis apologized Thursday for a Garfield strip that some veterans may have found offensive.
The strip ran on Veterans Day in newspapers across the country. It shows a spider daring the pudgy orange cat to squash it. The spider tells Garfield that if he is killed, “they will hold an annual day of remembrance in my honor.”
The final panel shows a spider-teacher asking its students if they know why spiders celebrate “National Stupid Day.”
Davis, of Muncie, Ind., said in a statement posted on his website that he didn’t know the strip would appear on Veterans Day. He said it was written nearly a year ago and called the publication Thursday “the worst timing ever.”
“It absolutely, positively has nothing to do with this important day of remembrance,” Davis said.
John Raughter, a spokesman for the Indianapolis-based American Legion, looked at the strip and Davis’ statement after the cartoon was brought to his attention by a reporter. He said an apology wasn’t necessary.
“We have no reason to doubt his explanation of what happened,” Raughter said.
Davis said his brother served in Vietnam, and his son is a Marine who has served in Iraq and Afghanistan. He said he is grateful for the service of veterans, and called any offense “unintentional and regrettable.”
___
http://garfield.com/comics/todayscomic.html
Popular Stories
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 591 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 415 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 415 Comments
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 379 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 376 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 415 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 415 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 379 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 151 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know 100 Comments- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 303 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 415 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (81)
LukeAppling
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 10:19amIn order to save money any newspapers I read could drop all cartoons except Peanuts. Charles Schultz is still relevant after all these years. Garfield is not even in the same league with Snoopy.
Report Post »Smoovious
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 1:11pmwell, of course not… Snoopy is a dog… Garfield is a cat… totally separate leagues completely.
Report Post »fixx420
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 9:32amIf one is looking to be offended, one can always find justification.
Report Post »seanpatriot
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 9:31amOh gimme a break, it was funny. If any vet really got offended by this they need to get thicker skin. This country has become a country of whiney putz’
Report Post »truthwinz
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 9:26amWhat IS the intent of the strip if NOT to insult SOMEone? It’s just not clear who is to take offense.
Report Post »I don’t get it….. It certainly isn’t funny in any way.
richfromflorida
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 1:23pm@Truthwinz, do you think humor always insults someone? Do you also think that Roadrunner cartoons insulted coyotes?
Report Post »Amerigo Vespucci
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 9:18amTiming aside, the strip is not funny and makes no sense. Spiders don’t go to school. Seriously…
Report Post »capecodsully
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 10:54amHow do you know spiders don’t go to school, ever follow one when he leaves his house in the morning?
Report Post »ChazzArtist
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 9:11amDid anyone notice the date on the comic strip? It says 11/11.
Report Post »http://chazzartist.blogspot.com/
cjherin
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 9:29amI think the date is put on the strip by the syndicate, not the artist. What I’m surprised about is that Davis draws the strip a year in advance.
Report Post »AmerNDN10
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 9:05amI didn’t see anything offensive about the cartoon either, it’s a Spider talking about being stupid that they hold a day for it in their lives. lol Some folks just look way way too DEEP for meanings that aren’t really there. :o/
Report Post »randy
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 9:04amI Don’t believe him, But protect his right to say anything he chooses.
Report Post »StonyBurk
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 10:23amI don’t believe you-but you have a right to your dementia as well.
Report Post »richfromflorida
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 9:03amThis was actually the first Garfield strip I have laughed at in years. Funny.
Report Post »fixx420
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 8:56amI’m a vet, i’m not offended. Some folx have thinner skin than Nancy Pelosi.
Report Post »knuckle dragger
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 8:55amTake it from “Your Name Here”
Report Post »It was no accident…..It was a bias media.
Flagwaver
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 8:49amBeen there, done that. My first novel had to be pushed back from it’s publication date. It had a scene where an Army Lieutenant made the decision to drop a couple of high-rise buildings to prevent the onslaught of a horde of aliens. It was originally set to be published on September 17th, 2001. They pushed it back to November, instead.
Report Post »cavblade
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 8:45amDavis, your alright in my book. As for the newspapers who made the editorial decision to run this cartoon on Veteran’s Day (I believe intentionally), you’ll have your own “Stupid Day” soon.
Report Post »DrBeatle
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 8:41amAs someone who has written op-eds I know, from my experience, that the wrter has no control over when an article is published or what the title of the article says. It seems reasonable that the same may be true of cartoons. Give the guy the benefit of the doubt.
Report Post »338lapua
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 9:00amIf this comic had appeared on any other day, it would have been cute and rather funny. I just see the usual suspects doing their usual routine of trying to bring down someone sucessful/hurt someone vulnerable(the news editor). I think everyone was/is an adult in reviewing this situation and I am heartened by that.
Report Post »DSTSS2010
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 8:39amMr. Davis is not to blame, Like he said, the comic was written a year ago. The newspapers made the choice to be ignorant Leftist/Communist jackasses.
Report Post »Sledgehammer
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 8:35amJim, it’s Garfield, we all know he needs an attitude adjustment, it’s all good!
Report Post »hempstead1944
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 8:32amThis cartoon is not suitable to wrap your garbage in….
Report Post »Marylou7
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 8:27amI wouldn‘t doubt that the newspaper did it on purpose but I believe Davis’ explanation of his side of this situation.
Report Post »VoiceofReason
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 8:34amexactly!
Report Post »drbage
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 8:24amI would tend to believe Mr. Davis. If you live in a city that still has two dailies, often you see different versions of comics running on the same day. Further, given the left-leaning media, I question if the choice of Veterans’ Day for this strip was not a conscious editorial choice since they could always use the excuse that they did not draft the comic strip. Also, unintentionally perhaps, Mr. Davis comically might be exposing how things are being taught in our increasingly indoctrinaire schools.
Report Post »EP46
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 8:20amThis is so stupid I can not express my thoughts. Get real, we love Garfield. Why does everything have to be destroyed !!!
Report Post »StonyBurk
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 10:19amI think I’m going to keep it in a file I keep -with my favorite misunderstood Cartoons–i.e Johnny Hart -B.C. is routinely being targeted for having caused some supposed offence or other. The Outhouse
Report Post »joke that got the Islamic terrorist Hooper’s attention is contrast to this Garfeild. IMO
VoiceofReason
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 8:18amThe importance question is why newspapers choose to run it on Veterans day.
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 8:31amIf it’s the St Pete Times, I call it a communist paper. Hadn’t looked at the story from that perspective – thanks.
Report Post »Your Name Here
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 8:17amDoes anyone want to bet that the editor chose that strip for that day on purpose to cause an embaresment?
Report Post »We all know you can’t trust the main stream media and this smell of their methods.
Country
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 8:28amYep, and what as Jim Davis real intent? Sorry Garfield, I might have to nueter you.
Report Post »firstHat
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 8:34amWell, could you imagine the furor if it had been published on Martin Luther King Day? Yes, it was the publisher‘s choice to publish it on Veteran’s day.
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 9:50am@COUNTRY
What was his intent? It was a strip with a mild joke. The joke was outlining that the spider was being stupid by daring Garfield to smash him. Even the other spiders thought he was stupid, they named a spider holiday after him.
What does this have to do, at all, with Veteran’s Day? Nothing. Not one dumb silly little thing.
We all run around telling the PC left to get a thicker skin, but then get all enraged over a comic strip that honestly wasn’t offensive at all, in any context (I’m a veteran, btw), and had nothing to do with veterans even with the wildest of twisting.
I suspect that political correctness isn’t the domain of the left, rather, it is the manifestation of every human beings proclivity to be offended whenever they think that their own ox has been gored, all the while they are goring the oxen of others.
Report Post »kindling
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 6:08pmI think you are right. It looks like another Lib attack against everything Conservatives care about. They are so narcissistic they have no care for others feelings and will demean them every chance they get. Sadly narcissists have poor senses of humor and see humor where there is none. They probably thought it would be funny to run this because it was not funny to their few conservative readers.
Report Post »Conserving Ink
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 8:17amAny comedian will tell you that humor is all about timing.
Report Post »_________________________________________________________
New post http://conserving-ink.blogspot.com/
GodfatherofBlog
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 8:15amThis is so offensive that it doesn’t deserve attention~!!!
Report Post »123gone
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 1:13pmI‘m proud to be a vet and I didn’t feel the comic strip slighted anyone !! Sorry, if you are so thin skinned, but GET OVER IT. It makes you sound like a whining liberal.
Report Post »Blacktooth
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 4:27pmEverybody is offended! Everyone, all the time, and over all matters of no consequence. Grow up!
Report Post »hifi74
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 10:49pmTaken out of it’s full context, I can see how someone could get upset about it, now given the full context and the immediate “whoa wait, that was not how I planned that” apology it’s fairly safe to say that he was just hit with a bad case of timing by whomever decided to publish that particular strip on that partcular day
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 8:14amAnd I’m sure he is sincere. Thank you for your family’s service to our country and all others who have served or are serving now.
Report Post »kamin
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 8:23amI agree. I had posted his strip on Facebook and someone drew my attention to the apology. There’s no reason to doubt his explanation so I deleted it.
Report Post »Marcobob69
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 8:33amJust bad timing to print this on Veterans Day? I wonder. I’m sure Mr. Davis would not have wanted this to be printed on that day, but someone with an agenda(wonder who that could be?)must have! Progressive’s crap never ends. Somebody made the decision to run this strip on this day, that is the person that veterans should be upset with.
Peters
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 8:37amEP46 . . . “Why does everything have to be destroyed.”
It’s the liberal way . . . It’s how a minority gains power and control . . . Just ask George Soros.
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 8:49amSomeone definitly caused it to be published specifically for veterans day; whoever it was they should be at the least given a good tail chewing (dignified, not necessarily polite) or if needed even firing of their job.
http://www.artinphoenix.com/gallery/grimm
GhostOfJefferson
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 9:24amWhy did he apologize? There’s nothing at all there even related to veterans. Nothing.
Geesh.
Report Post »StonyBurk
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 10:14amI served nearly 8 yrs as an Army Medic (69-77) call me stupid but I read the toon and did not come away believing it was a slam on the Day -nor on Veterans. Sounds to me like somebody was having a bad PTSD day.
Report Post »ishka4me
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 10:35amif the artist wrote the comic strip a year ago and submitted it then, we can assume the agency responsible for submitting strip did it intentionally
CatB
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 1:20pmI would give him the benefit .. if he hadn’t signed it with the date 11-11 …. maybe he doesn’t know when Veterans Day is ? How old is this guy?
Report Post »jds7171
Posted on November 12, 2010 at 6:57pmWhat’s so offensive about that? I am a veteran and it doesn’t sound to offensive. People need to stop getting hurt over little things. I can see where some of the resemblance is, but still.
Report Post »Rational Man
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 8:05amI am so sick of every sissy boy and emotionally disturbed woman being offended by any and everthing, I could just scream. If the wind blows, they get their feelings hurt. If someone had not explained it to me, I would have never associated that comic with vets or Veterans Day. I think it’s a real stretch. IMO
God bless all our bravest and best! We love you and are proud of you! Thank you for your sacrifice and service!!
Report Post »