November 11, 2010
Jim Davis Apologizes For Running National Stupid Day Cartoon On Veterans Day; Total Coincidence
Veteran cartoonist Jim Davis experienced one of the occasional nightmares that can beset even the most successful syndicated cartoonist: a comic strip posted to a date long in advance rolls out in a context that could be seen as insulting to some group or event or individuals the author would never think of insulting. Such is the case with
today's cartoon, which could be taken to suggest that Davis believe that Veteran's Day is a stupid holiday celebrated for meaningless reasons. In an e-mail sent to inquiring parties and posted on Garfield.com and in the comments section of the syndicate site, Davis wrote the following:
In what has to be the worst timing ever, the strip that runs in today's paper seems to be making a statement about Veterans. It absolutely, positively has nothing to do with this important day of remembrance.
Regarding today's Garfield comic strip , it was written almost a year ago and I had no idea when writing it that it would appear today -- of all days. I do not use a calendar that lists holidays and other notable days so when this strip was put in the queue, I had no idea it would run on Veterans Day. What are the odds? You can bet I'll have a calendar that lists everything by my side in the future.
My brother Dave served in Vietnam. My son James is a Marine who has had two tours of duty, both in Iraq and Afghanistan. You'd have to go a long way to find someone who was more proud and grateful for what our Veterans have done for all of us.
Please accept my apologies for any offense today's Garfield may have created. It was unintentional and regrettable.
Of secondary interest might be that Davis has the strip written almost a year ahead, which isn't a common thing anymore but seems perfectly suited to his gag-heavy strip.
submitted by Scoop Thompson
posted 12:00 pm PST |
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