Auchtoon!

Originally published in the Grand Rapids Press, July 2, 2011

Here’s the thing: I’ve been an American all my life, and I still don’t really understand our obsession with handguns and the visceral need for some to possess them. I think it all likely stems from fear. Fear built upon fear built upon fear over time. And now it’s a societal instinct to get firearms when we feel a threat. I don’t think the answer is to ban handguns. Banning stuff in America typically doesn’t work very well. We like the stuff we like, legal or not. Honestly, I don’t know exactly what to do. But if I were a politician and could create a well-intentioned but completely unenforceable law (the type of reactionary laws that get people re-elected), it would be this: If I wanted to buy a handgun, I would have to wait one week. And during that week, I could do anything I wanted except watch TV news. And if — after that one week of not stewing in the worst of human behavior — I was still fearful, then, yes, I could buy the gun. (Plus, there would be a background check on me. Because who in their right mind would sell me a gun if I had a criminal background? Um, right?…)

I’m sure you all know about the guy in Grand Rapids who snapped last week and killed seven people and then himself. It was a horrible thing. But instead of wasting our energy and money stocking up on weapons or trying to get rid of them all, maybe we should concentrate on improving the health support structure to identify and treat mental illness. Which is to say, reduce the fear for everybody.

Originally published in the Grand Rapids Press, June 25, 2011

Originally published in the Grand Rapids Press, June 18, 2011

As a Detroit Pistons fan, it’s important for all of you to know that I was hatin’ on LeBron James long before it became popular. James and his Cleveland Cavaliers were beating on my Pistons for a number of years, and I took that personally. Similarly, I was way ahead of hating Michael Jordon and his Chicago Bulls significantly before the world turned on him. (If I’m going to embrace the unpleasant human foible of hating somebody I’ve never even met, well, at least I’m not trendy.) Oh, and I still hate Danny Ainge.

I don’t know Bernard Taylor, but I don’t hate him. Taylor is the current (for now) superintendent of Grand Rapids Public Schools. Recently he has been a final candidate for superintendent of some higher profile school systems — one of which was Cleveland. How ironic! (And by “ironic” I mean “coincidental.”) At this point, the Grand Rapids school board is understandably concerned about Taylor’s intentions and loyalties. So as a favor, I decided to draw a cartoon to warn him of how not to announce his future decisions.

For somebody so apparently hateful, I sure am a nice guy.

Originally published in the Grand Rapids Press, June 11, 2011

Originally published in the Grand Rapids Press, June 4, 2011

If you haven’t already seen or heard about the Grand Rapids LipDub, you can check it out here on YouTube. It really is a very, very impressive community effort and a convincing counter to Newsweek magazine’s online article last winter that listed Grand Rapids as one of America’s “dying cities.” Leave it to an editorial cartoonist to find a negative in the positive. But honestly, “American Pie” can be such an earworm!

Originally published in the Grand Rapids Press, May 28, 2011

If I drew this with any sanctimony, it was gone yesterday when gas prices, which had edged down to around $3.80 after the Memorial Day weekend, shot up to $4.19 in West Michigan. I was very much like Uncle Sam in panel 4, except I was directly appealing to a higher authority to smite the bastards who might be profiting from this crazy leap….

Originally published in the Grand Rapids Press, May 21, 2011

This is a cartoon I originally did for the Grand Rapids Family magazine back in 1999 when the Da Vinci horse was brought to Meijer Gardens. A print of this color version is going to be auctioned tonight at a fundraiser event for the American Heart Association. If you happen to be there, remember that money is no object — you must have this piece!

Speaking of bidding, there’s still time to bid on eBay on the NF Doodles. Go to: http://shop.ebay.com/nfinccharity/m.html

Originally published in the Grand Rapids Press, May 14, 2011

It’s National Doodle Day! Doodle Day is a fundraising event to benefit NF, Inc., an organization dedicated to providing support to individuals and families affected by neurofibromatosis (NF). Neurofibromatosis is a genetic disorder that affects one in every 2,500 births. NF is more common than Cystic Fibrosis, Muscular Dystrophy and Huntington’s Disease combined. Funds raised from the Doodle Day auction will go to support education, advocacy, coalitions, and research for treatments and a cure. For more specifics and links, check out: http://www.doodledayusa.org

I did two drawings this year — a regular cartoon and an editorial one. Auctioning begins on eBay starting today and goes through May 23. Check out the gallery and make a bid!