Thursday, November 25, 2010

Garfield offends on Veterans Day, Davis provides apology

On Veterans’ Day, Americans take time to remember those who have sacrificed for their country. Davis, the creative mind behind "Garfield," is among countless Americans who honor anyone who has served, even if the strip that ran on Nov. 11 unintentionally might appear to suggest otherwise. The "Garfield" Jim Davis’ syndication company made a decision to run on Veterans’ Day seemed to make fun of the existence of a Veterans’ Day celebration, although Davis states that was not his intention at all. Source for this article – Garfield creator Jim Davis apologizes for Veterans Day strip by Personal Money Store.

Death of veterans not something Jim Davis celebrates

The "Garfield" strip for which Jim Davis has issued an apology wouldn’t have needed any attention at all if it had run on a day other than Veterans’ Day. It had been simply a case of unintentionally bad timing, splashed across the pages of newspapers nationwide. In the offending cartoon, Garfield threatens a spider with a rolled-up newspaper. The spider then makes a statement. The path to immortality is being discussed her:

"If you squish me, I shall become famous! They will hold an annual day of remembrance in my honor, you fat slob."

It doesn't matter too much since the spider gets squished by Garfield anyway. In the last panel, a teacher spider presiding over a class of little spiders asks the question "Does anyone here know why we celebrate ‘National Stupid Day?’"

'The worst timing ever’ was what it had been

Jim Davis said this. This had been in reference to Veterans Day having that strip. You will find no literal connections to veterans day he pointed out in a statement he made. He also explained that over a year ago he made that strip.

”I don’t use a calendar that lists holidays and other notable days, so when this strip had been put within the queue, I had no idea it would run on Veterans Day,” Davis evidently explained.

It doesn't make sense that Veterans Day would mean nothing to Jim Davis considering his brother served in Vietnam and his son served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

‘Garfield’ is the most widely syndicated comic strip within the world

The "Guinness Book of World Records" talks about "Garfield" in 2002. It said that "Garfield" had been the "most widely syndicated comic strip in the world" then. Garfield has made it into books and films as a cat. He has also made it into merchandise.

Articles cited

CNN

edition.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/11/12/garfield.ill.timed.comic/

Jim Davis on the process of making the fat cat

youtube.com/watch?v=vsisKmbVkIw



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