Jim Davis: Jim Davis: Garfield Creator Jim Davis apologized to veterans offensive Band Day
Cartoonist Jim Davis apologized Thursday for a Garfield strip that some veterans may be found offensive.
The strip ran on Veterans Day in newspapers across the country. It shows a spider dared plump orange cat to squash. The spider Garfield said that if he is killed, they will hold an annual day of remembrance in my honor. "
The last panel shows a spider-teacher asks her students if they know why spiders celebrate the "National Day Stupid."
Davis of Muncie, Indiana, said in a statement posted on his website that he did not know the band appears on Veterans Day. He said it was written a year ago and asked for the publication Thursday "the worst time ever."
"It's absolutely, positively nothing to do with this important day of remembrance," Davis said.
John Raughter, a spokesman for the Indianapolis-based American Legion, watched the tape and the statement of Davis after the cartoon was brought to his attention by a journalist. He said that an apology was not necessary.
"We have no reason to doubt his explanation of what happened," said Raughter.
Davis said his brother served in Vietnam, and his son is a Marine who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. He said he is grateful for the service of veterans, and called an offense "unintentional and regrettable."