Some thoughts on Calvin and Hobbes and 9/11For those of us who are adults, reading Calvin and Hobbes reminds each of us of our childhood, in one way or another. Many of us cherish our memories of a time of innocence that included seemingly endless summers filled with freedom. And we miss those days now, because we all had to become adults and take on so many responsibilities. We can never go back. Nevertheless, we do still have the freedom to decide to what extent we will pursue the joys of childhood in our adult lives, through curiosity, imagination, spontaneity, creativity, simplicity, freedom of expression, genuine relationships with others, the joy of learning, laughter, and so on.For those of us who were adults in the United States on September 11th, 2001, today reminds each of us of exactly where we were and how we were feeling when we first learned of that terrible tragedy. But it also reminds us of what our lives were like before that fateful day. We lost some of our adult innocence and freedom on that day, and we can never fully undo the changes that have taken place as a result. Nevertheless, we still have the freedom to decide to what extent we will allow terrorism to cause us to be controlled by fear – whether it be the fear of another attack, the fear of people who are different from us, or other irrational fears that are sometimes exploited by those who are in power.Calvin and Hobbes is set in the pre-September-11th world, from 1985 to 1995. Exposing ourselves to a little bit of that world each day, as we enjoy following the adventures of Calvin and his best friend, can be a good reminder that we should think about our pre-9/11 lives, and strive to incorporate the positive aspects into our post-9/11 lives as much as possible.Soon it will be 8:46 AM Eastern time, exactly ten years after the first plane hit the World Trade Center. Shortly after that, hundreds of firefighters and police were rescuing victims and directing people out of the buildings. Please take time to observe at least a moment of silence today. Remember all whose lives were lost, as well as their families and friends whose lives were forever changed. Remember the great heroes of that day: those who survived, and those who did not. Also remember the great sacrifices made by so many people after that day, especially our service men and women and their families.Finally, here are some words of Charles Schulz that are as relevant today as they were 53 years ago:Peanuts (1958)
All the platitudes do not change the reality that Calvin, as a child, understands what most Americans, as adults, do not. You are not free because you say so, vote for whoever the ruling class allow you to vote for, or shoot things or destroy other countries that don’t value military strength over civil society. As long as we don’t get this the terrorists win, as they are all over the world right now. Today should be a memorial to our foolishness, no more & no less.
Gee, nobody remembers 7 Dec like this. Mom tells me of cold 8 hour U-Boar spotting shifts on the rocky New England coast. What have we done, report a bearded man with a handbag as were went on with our lives and boarded the plane, I haven’t seen them ration pistachio nuts. Nobody is carpooling or taking the bus. Guess we really don’t care. Let the government fix it.
Another expose’ by Hobbes the Impostor. Try to remember, most people who read this comic page are here to have a chuckle, and go on about their day.Yes, we ALL know what the date is, and we will ALL remember it in our OWN ways. We don’t need some self-appointed, egotistical person telling us what we should all do today (“Please take time to observe at least a moment of silence today.”) C & H was pre-9/11 but post 12/7. Do you write such things on 12/7 also, or remember it personally? Do you think we have forgotten what day it is? Your pandering for attention and praise gags me. We have our own minds.
With reference to Rogue53’s personal attack against me today, my contributions to this web site are intended for the benefit of others who appreciate them and find them to be helpful. I put a lot of thought into them for that purpose, and they are not done for self-centered egotistical reasons, or as a pandering for attention and praise, as he claims. There are many people in this world who genuinely care about others and will go out of their way to help them. There are also a very few who don’t understand that, and who continually ascribe selfish motives to the actions of others.
Fine Hobbes, the Impostor, don’t respond to the questions, and don’t get the point. We ALL have our OWN way of remembering things, and your comments are generally soliciting praise for yourself. You get what you want. You’re receiving your reward in full presently. Most people, who are not interested in praise for self, will do those things you mention in regard to helping others without letting the right hand know what the left is doing. Your attempts are for public praise. I see you succeed with some. Others have their own minds to rely on.
This is the 10th anniversary of the worst terrorist attack on this country in our entire history of existence. You wouldn’t think someone would have to say that to you but apparently . . . they do. :-(
So YOU need to be the one to get over it . . . not the rest of us who choose to remember and honor those who perished on that fateful day 10 years ago!!!!!
Continue to fall in line with your leader people. I guess you all needed someone to tell you how to feel. I know how I feel about what happened then, and I don’t need some egotist to tell me what or how to feel or act. You all seem to think I don’t have concern or empathy for those who suffered the most from that act. Fact is I do. But I don’t see the need to use a comic strip to promote my views and solicit the praise of others. Some of us help others without seeking praise for it. Hobbes isn’t one of them. But that’s fine, continue to follow his scent. Have you once seen him offer a solution? No.. Simply regurgitating things we all may feel, but don’t see the need to be a pharisee on the corner.
Well done Hobbes. You say well what others think, but can not express. Carry on !
For the rest of us … Charles Schulz stated what Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young repeated in the 70’s“Find the cost of Freedom buried in the ground. Mother Earth will swallow us; lay your body down.”
@ Rogue53 – How long has your glass been half empty ???
Dogsniff:It worked for you in “Shoe” because you used the asterisks immediately before and after standalone words. It didn’t work in the example that you sent me, because the asterisks are embedded into a string of characters.For example, the following won’t work because there is a character before the first asterisk:A*Test*But when I put the first asterisk ahead of the first character, it works:ATest
In general:The first asterisk should either be at the beginning of a line, or have a space in front of it. The second asterisk should have a space after it.There should be no spaces between the asterisks and the word that you want to display in bold.
Dogsniff:I saw all of the follow-up discussion on the “x”, and I agree that you weren’t breaking any written rules. But your cleverness was breaking unwritten rules, as well as our hearts, causing indescribable trauma for those of us who had become addicted to seeing Marg as the first posting every day. Now that the new system no longer allows you to use this technique, I sleep much better at night. That’s because I no longer stay awake at night to be entertained by watching you put in an “x”, or to try to put in my “x” before you put in yours.
Please, people. At least a modicum of decency and respect seems in order. Hobbes’ sentiments seem quite genuine and heartfelt, and I take them at face value; I see nothing to be gained by attacking them as “self-serving”. The feelings expressed speak what I wish I could have said pretty darned eloquently. It’s a time to remember, but not one to dwell on. It is still, as it always has been, up to us to keep the “human” in humanity- and as aways, the best place to start is teaching our children understanding and tolerance.
rentier about 13 years ago
Yes, yes, Calvin, you are so right!
Hobbes Premium Member about 13 years ago
Some thoughts on Calvin and Hobbes and 9/11For those of us who are adults, reading Calvin and Hobbes reminds each of us of our childhood, in one way or another. Many of us cherish our memories of a time of innocence that included seemingly endless summers filled with freedom. And we miss those days now, because we all had to become adults and take on so many responsibilities. We can never go back. Nevertheless, we do still have the freedom to decide to what extent we will pursue the joys of childhood in our adult lives, through curiosity, imagination, spontaneity, creativity, simplicity, freedom of expression, genuine relationships with others, the joy of learning, laughter, and so on.For those of us who were adults in the United States on September 11th, 2001, today reminds each of us of exactly where we were and how we were feeling when we first learned of that terrible tragedy. But it also reminds us of what our lives were like before that fateful day. We lost some of our adult innocence and freedom on that day, and we can never fully undo the changes that have taken place as a result. Nevertheless, we still have the freedom to decide to what extent we will allow terrorism to cause us to be controlled by fear – whether it be the fear of another attack, the fear of people who are different from us, or other irrational fears that are sometimes exploited by those who are in power.Calvin and Hobbes is set in the pre-September-11th world, from 1985 to 1995. Exposing ourselves to a little bit of that world each day, as we enjoy following the adventures of Calvin and his best friend, can be a good reminder that we should think about our pre-9/11 lives, and strive to incorporate the positive aspects into our post-9/11 lives as much as possible.Soon it will be 8:46 AM Eastern time, exactly ten years after the first plane hit the World Trade Center. Shortly after that, hundreds of firefighters and police were rescuing victims and directing people out of the buildings. Please take time to observe at least a moment of silence today. Remember all whose lives were lost, as well as their families and friends whose lives were forever changed. Remember the great heroes of that day: those who survived, and those who did not. Also remember the great sacrifices made by so many people after that day, especially our service men and women and their families.Finally, here are some words of Charles Schulz that are as relevant today as they were 53 years ago:Peanuts (1958)
margueritem about 13 years ago
Thank you, Hobbes.
pouncingtiger about 13 years ago
Ditto, Hobbes.
JoanHelen about 13 years ago
Ditto, Hobbes. Have you read the 9/11 tribute in The Meaning of Lila this morning? It is really beautiful.
JoelJ about 13 years ago
A great 9/11 comic today is Over the Hedge, check it out.
GROG Premium Member about 13 years ago
It just isn’t the same. There are no breakables out in the yard.
Nice one, Hobbes.
Lizardo451 about 13 years ago
Excellent thoughts Hobbs.
Irrational fears. How true. Today’s parents would be arrested for allowing Calvin to be outside the home unmonitored.
Wish Watterson would come out with a book of new C&H.
njberman about 13 years ago
All the platitudes do not change the reality that Calvin, as a child, understands what most Americans, as adults, do not. You are not free because you say so, vote for whoever the ruling class allow you to vote for, or shoot things or destroy other countries that don’t value military strength over civil society. As long as we don’t get this the terrorists win, as they are all over the world right now. Today should be a memorial to our foolishness, no more & no less.
playjojo about 13 years ago
Well done Hobbs, thank you:)
Brother_James437 about 13 years ago
But it’s nat as much fun to do it outside.
mac47 about 13 years ago
Well said, Hobbes
Never forget
lewisbower about 13 years ago
Gee, nobody remembers 7 Dec like this. Mom tells me of cold 8 hour U-Boar spotting shifts on the rocky New England coast. What have we done, report a bearded man with a handbag as were went on with our lives and boarded the plane, I haven’t seen them ration pistachio nuts. Nobody is carpooling or taking the bus. Guess we really don’t care. Let the government fix it.
adubman about 13 years ago
“….Inside, outside….leave me alone….Inside, outside….no one is home….outta my brain on a train….5:15!”
(Not sure this applies, but came to mind reading C&H)
May the Heros & those whose lives were cut short RIP.
Number Three about 13 years ago
Woah Woah! Lay off the caffeine Calvin!Awwwwww, LOL.xxx
Bubba_Boo Premium Member about 13 years ago
Thank you, Hobbes. Well said!
rogue53 about 13 years ago
Another expose’ by Hobbes the Impostor. Try to remember, most people who read this comic page are here to have a chuckle, and go on about their day.Yes, we ALL know what the date is, and we will ALL remember it in our OWN ways. We don’t need some self-appointed, egotistical person telling us what we should all do today (“Please take time to observe at least a moment of silence today.”) C & H was pre-9/11 but post 12/7. Do you write such things on 12/7 also, or remember it personally? Do you think we have forgotten what day it is? Your pandering for attention and praise gags me. We have our own minds.
jkhandy about 13 years ago
What’s with Calvin and the guns and violence? Seems to be coming up alot lately. Is Bill transferring? Whatever it is, it’s not pretty.
ratlum about 13 years ago
On a sunny day like Calvin and Hobbes are enjoying how long do you think Calvin is going to sit still.
Hobbes Premium Member about 13 years ago
With reference to Rogue53’s personal attack against me today, my contributions to this web site are intended for the benefit of others who appreciate them and find them to be helpful. I put a lot of thought into them for that purpose, and they are not done for self-centered egotistical reasons, or as a pandering for attention and praise, as he claims. There are many people in this world who genuinely care about others and will go out of their way to help them. There are also a very few who don’t understand that, and who continually ascribe selfish motives to the actions of others.
rogue53 about 13 years ago
Fine Hobbes, the Impostor, don’t respond to the questions, and don’t get the point. We ALL have our OWN way of remembering things, and your comments are generally soliciting praise for yourself. You get what you want. You’re receiving your reward in full presently. Most people, who are not interested in praise for self, will do those things you mention in regard to helping others without letting the right hand know what the left is doing. Your attempts are for public praise. I see you succeed with some. Others have their own minds to rely on.
Gretchen's Mom about 13 years ago
This is the 10th anniversary of the worst terrorist attack on this country in our entire history of existence. You wouldn’t think someone would have to say that to you but apparently . . . they do. :-(
So YOU need to be the one to get over it . . . not the rest of us who choose to remember and honor those who perished on that fateful day 10 years ago!!!!!
Gretchen's Mom about 13 years ago
Tuesday, September 11, 2001
May we NEVER forget!!!!!
Gretchen's Mom about 13 years ago
I love the 9/11 remembrance over at the Pluggers site. If you haven’t already checked it out then you should.
Koolfunkygrrl about 13 years ago
YEAH!!!
rogue53 about 13 years ago
Continue to fall in line with your leader people. I guess you all needed someone to tell you how to feel. I know how I feel about what happened then, and I don’t need some egotist to tell me what or how to feel or act. You all seem to think I don’t have concern or empathy for those who suffered the most from that act. Fact is I do. But I don’t see the need to use a comic strip to promote my views and solicit the praise of others. Some of us help others without seeking praise for it. Hobbes isn’t one of them. But that’s fine, continue to follow his scent. Have you once seen him offer a solution? No.. Simply regurgitating things we all may feel, but don’t see the need to be a pharisee on the corner.
Koolfunkygrrl about 13 years ago
Calvin is cute, how can Hobbes say that he’s ugly…
Wiseguy411 about 13 years ago
Well done Hobbes. You say well what others think, but can not express. Carry on !
For the rest of us … Charles Schulz stated what Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young repeated in the 70’s“Find the cost of Freedom buried in the ground. Mother Earth will swallow us; lay your body down.”
@ Rogue53 – How long has your glass been half empty ???
Hobbes Premium Member about 13 years ago
Dogsniff:It worked for you in “Shoe” because you used the asterisks immediately before and after standalone words. It didn’t work in the example that you sent me, because the asterisks are embedded into a string of characters.For example, the following won’t work because there is a character before the first asterisk:A*Test*But when I put the first asterisk ahead of the first character, it works:ATest
In general:The first asterisk should either be at the beginning of a line, or have a space in front of it. The second asterisk should have a space after it.There should be no spaces between the asterisks and the word that you want to display in bold.Hobbes Premium Member about 13 years ago
Dogsniff:I saw all of the follow-up discussion on the “x”, and I agree that you weren’t breaking any written rules. But your cleverness was breaking unwritten rules, as well as our hearts, causing indescribable trauma for those of us who had become addicted to seeing Marg as the first posting every day. Now that the new system no longer allows you to use this technique, I sleep much better at night. That’s because I no longer stay awake at night to be entertained by watching you put in an “x”, or to try to put in my “x” before you put in yours.
:>)Hobbes Premium Member about 13 years ago
Thanks to Joan Helen and everyone else who pointed out cartoonists’ contributions today. A lot of good stuff.
larney45 about 13 years ago
Well said, Hobbes…well said.
bluskies about 13 years ago
Please, people. At least a modicum of decency and respect seems in order. Hobbes’ sentiments seem quite genuine and heartfelt, and I take them at face value; I see nothing to be gained by attacking them as “self-serving”. The feelings expressed speak what I wish I could have said pretty darned eloquently. It’s a time to remember, but not one to dwell on. It is still, as it always has been, up to us to keep the “human” in humanity- and as aways, the best place to start is teaching our children understanding and tolerance.
adubman about 13 years ago
@ Hobbs:
Thanks!! I think I got it!
wellhoney about 13 years ago
Ah! Mothers!!! what party poopers
hobbesviously about 13 years ago
Come on it’s a beautiful day and there are plenty of trees to be broken.
me23you52 about 12 years ago
:)
me23you52 about 12 years ago
Things were fun until mom came into this situation :(