This is Why I Draw

1-7-15-Bearman-Cartoon-Charlie-Hebdo-Cartoonist

This is why I draw

 

I draw to entertain,

I draw to make you laugh,

I draw to make you think.

 

I draw to make you question your own beliefs,

I draw to make you understand others’ beliefs,

I draw to make you stand up for your beliefs.

 

I draw to giveย attention to the unknown,

I draw to give meaning to the unexplanable,

I draw to give a voice to the unheard.

 

This is why I draw.

 

I do not draw to make you hate me. ย I do not draw to make you think there is no other option but to try and quiet my voice through acts of threats and violence.

My deepest condolences to those cartoonists and others who lost their lives today in Paris at Charlie Hebdo. ย Je Suis Charlie (I am Charlie).

 

Comments

51 responses to “This is Why I Draw”

  1. Nate Fakes Avatar

    I draw for a lot of the same reasons.

  2. Jande Avatar

    Thank you, Bearman. It makes me so sad that something like this seems to keep on happening. thanks for adding your voice and your cartoons to keeping the balance. You often make me laugh, when I “get’ the pop-culture joke. You’re a good man with a good heart and a weird sense of humour. Glad you put all that into cartoons, caus eI wouldn’t want to know the havoc your wreak in the world otherwise. ;`D Again, thank you.

    1. Bearman Cartoons Avatar

      Trust me my wife says I am all kinds of spastic (is that how you spell it?)

  3. Red Avatar

    Thank you.

  4. benzeknees Avatar
    benzeknees

    I am metaphorically holding up a pen!

  5. Dave Avatar

    Very well said Bearman.

  6. Tim Green Avatar

    This one really hit home, well done!

  7. Deb Avatar

    Thank you for drawing for such admirable reasons.

  8. Comedy Plus Avatar

    Amen to this post. You are spot on. Spot on.

    Have a terrific day and I like you just the way you are. ๐Ÿ™‚

  9. David Hurley Avatar

    Well said, Bearman.

  10. Mark Stokes Avatar

    Your aim is true, Bearman!

  11. lisleman Avatar

    Good post. I really don’t know but think some these people are born killers looking for an excuse to kill.
    “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” – great words and grand idea.

    1. Bearman Cartoons Avatar

      Sadly you are probably right

  12. Tony McGurk Avatar

    Great post Bearman. I never really thought about why I draw but you summed it up nicely

    1. Bearman Cartoons Avatar

      Keep doing what you do Tony

      1. Tony McGurk Avatar

        I guess mine have a different focus than what you do. I mainly started just to see if I could after being inspired by yourself, Bo Lumpkin & Jeremy Burkes. My comics don’t really carry any kind of message. I just do it ‘cos I enjoy it.

        “Keep doing what you do Tony”

        Changing URLs… I thought everyone wanted me to stop that…

          1. Tony McGurk Avatar

            Ha!!! I was pretty sure that site changing wasn’t what you meant

  13. Tim Avatar

    Bravo, good sir.

  14. G.B. Miller Avatar

    What was done in France was cowardly and despicable.

    A very well written and well thought out response.

  15. Binky Avatar

    It is terrible to think that people were killed for expressing an opinion, though I guess throughout history, many people have paid that price. It’s completely unacceptable in today’s society, of course.

    1. Bearman Cartoons Avatar

      It is not a price any should pay

      1. Tony McGurk Avatar

        Oh silly me. I didn’t realise about the France attack Now I realise where you’re coming from with this cartoon. I heard there was an attack but I didn’t know the details until someone mentioned at work yesterday what was behind it. I have a Al-Quaeda suicide bomber cartoon I posted on my 1st comic site, T.M. Comics years ago. I was gunna repost it the other day but after some serious considerations thought it may be unwise to do so because of the terrible things that have happened involving those terrorist extremists.

        1. Bearman Cartoons Avatar

          Yes Tony, this was my reaction cartoon to those events. Sad as it was I felt the need to both post the cartoon and say why I draw.

          Guess I am going to have to dig up that cartoon. ๐Ÿ™‚

  16. frigginloon Avatar

    ๐Ÿ™ is all I have

    1. Bearman Cartoons Avatar

      Sometimes that is all I need

  17. jynksie Avatar
    jynksie

    There it is. I’ve been rendered speechless by what has happened. I haven’t found any words of expression and you had them the whole time. [tips hat]

    1. Bearman Cartoons Avatar

      I like to keep it to myself ๐Ÿ™‚

  18. PIrate Mike Avatar

    Well said. And the shirt is great!

  19. Gruhn Avatar

    Have you done a google image search for Charlie Hebdo? Put on your seat belt. I don’t see anyone over here doing anything even close to what they have been doing. Nothing that would draw attention.

    1. Bearman Cartoons Avatar

      Gruhn, you never know. Something that seems benign to most people could set off someone.

  20. Jason Avatar

    The ability to look at ourselves and society in an objective and humorous manner is what keeps us all getting along. We’ve seen what happens when we cannot do so. It’s a tragedy.

    1. Bearman Cartoons Avatar

      I’d prefer always to censor myself than be forced into silence

  21. Bill Murphy Avatar

    Well put Bearman!