Bigots and ribbon magnets
I've never been even remotely tempted to buy ribbon magnets for my car, but after reading this woman's bigoted post on Kos, I'm tempted to buy hundreds of them. I want to plaster them all over my suburban assault vehicle, so many that you can't even tell what color it is, and cruise around her neighborhood just to piss her off.
It's about those damn Support Our Troops magnets and the like. Please take them off your car.I am the wife of an army reservist. My husband has not been called to active duty, but could be at any time. Every day there is a possibility that my life as I know it could be drastically changed. I know other military families who are in the same situation, and I know military families whose lives have already been drastically affected. It is the sword of Damocles hanging over our heads.
All that being said, what in the world does slapping a magnet on your vehicle have anything to do with supporting our troops? Everytime I see one, particularly when it mixed in with the "W" sticker and the screaming American eagle decal, I am insulted. Many times, the yahoo whose got the sticker on his car is of military service age, but would rather talk tough than put their ass on the line.
If you really want to support our troops, start calling for accountability and truth from this administration. If you really want to support our troops, start bugging your congress critters for a smart and strategic plan of action to bring our troops home. If you really want to support our troops, examine your congress critter's voting record with respect to their votes on legislation the aides our active and veteran military. If you really want to support our troops, ask your congress critter (where applicable) why s/he has voted against legislation benefitting our military men and women. If you want to support our troops, put your money where your mouth is and enlist - I hear they just raised the age to 42 to placate the throngs of folks who want to join
But for gawdsakes, take the damn magnets off your car.
She never explains how the ribbons do any actual harm to anyone -- she just doesn't like them, and she seems rather insistent that we all take them off our cars. Allow me to gently propose a counter-argument, "Tiger-Mom." Let's see, how shall I phrase this? How about: "Fuck you." Yes, I like that. I'll put whatever the hell I want to on my car. You decorate your ride the way you see fit, and I'll do likewise. See, that's how American works.
You know what your problem is? You're a self-righteous bigot. You wantonly pre-judge and categorize people you've never met based on the fact that have a "Support the Troops" magnet. Yes, I'm sure that many ribbon magnet owners do indeed fit the stereotype you describe. I'm equally sure that many others are very much like yourself, and many others still have family members who are actually serving in Iraq, Afghanistan or elsewhere. Sorry you don't like the ribbons. They're not my favorite fashion statement either, in fact. But at the end of the day, it's really neither your business nor mine what other people choose to put on their car.
You have found your way to support the troops. Good for you. I mean that. But you go too far when you start believing your way (i.e., opposing Bush and opposing the war) is the only way. That's the very definition of bigotry. I find there is much such bigotry among the left these days. They seem to think that as long as it's not directed at blacks or gays that it's okay. Well, it's not.
(Hat tip: Jill)
Comments
You're brave, Barry. I consider myself a liberal and I avoid Kos and DU like the plague. Too much whining and conspiracy mongering for me.
Allow me to gently propose a counter-argument, "Tiger-Mom." Let's see, how shall I phrase this? How about: "Fuck you." Yes, I like that.
LOL
Posted by: Rachel | June 28, 2006 09:06 AM
half-agree with her reasons, half disagree with her. The magnet ribbons are a bit dopey--sort of like the "Baby on Board" things from the 1980s...what were we supposed to do when we saw one of them?
Posted by: fred | June 28, 2006 09:21 AM
reading this woman's bigoted post on Kos
Barry,
You are wrong. In fact very wrong. How can you call her post "bigoted"? It is obvious that you dont agree with her, but that does not make her post "bigoted". In fact, I think she makes a reasonable point if you take a look at the "whole picture".
The Iraq war us a war based on intentional deception by this administration. At least that's what many of us believe (probably the majority of the country by now). I dont blame her for being upset, being the wife of an army reservist who could be send to Iraq any moment.
All she does is proposing an alternative real support for the troops. She is right. The best way to support our troops is to bring them home. She has every right to say and write whatever she wants. All she does is to express an opinion that magnets in car dont help anyone. Based on what is she a bigot?
Posted by: Blue Wind | June 28, 2006 09:30 AM
Just because she (and you) opposes the war does not give her the right to dictate how we choose to adorn our vehicles. Forget "bigot," she's either an outright fascist or she has the most bloated sense of entitlement of anyone I've ever met.
Posted by: DaveC | June 28, 2006 10:07 AM
Well, I don't get the level of interest in her posting, to be honest. I mean, I agree that her position is kind of dopey, but then so are the magnetic ribbons which, as someone pointed out, do more to support the Chinese factory where the magnets are made than to "support the troops". And I guess maybe her post is bigoted, as BNJ defines it.
There are plenty of people like her and they are going to have an attitude about all kinds of things. I file this one, mentally, under "people who are ticked about something not really worth the energy".
Posted by: DBK | June 28, 2006 10:32 AM
...what were we supposed to do when we saw one of them?
Pressed ham.
Posted by: Roger | June 28, 2006 11:10 AM
she's either an outright fascist or she has the most bloated sense of entitlement of anyone I've ever met
Well, it sounds to me then that you need to meet more people before you draw conclusions like that and call people "fascists". Not only she is not a fascist, but she is absolutely right. Cheers.
Posted by: Blue Wind | June 28, 2006 12:21 PM
I personally think the magnets are a little dumb. And in what does displaying the magnet support the troops? Are all proceeds given to the USO or something? Somehow, I doubt it. Obviously, everyone has the right to display whatever they want to on their cars (I especially love the ones that tell me that I cannot be Catholic and this or that. Those are good); I just wish people would think a little instead of slapping on some stupid thing or another as a sort of ineffectual panacea for whatever ails them. I personally think the magnets are a little dumb. And in what does displaying the magnet support the troops? Are all proceeds given to the USO or something? Somehow, I doubt it. Obviously, everyone has the right to display whatever they want to on their cars (I especially love the ones that tell me that I cannot be Catholic and this or that. Those are good); I just wish people would think a little instead of slapping on some stupid thing or another as a sort of ineffectual panacea for whatever ails them.
Posted by: K | June 28, 2006 01:28 PM
I look at it differently than you all.
Many, if not most, reservists and national guard members entered into it for the extra cash. I am sure that when they did so, few had the idea that they could be placed in harm's way.
She is angry and afraid and is lashing out.
Posted by: mal | June 29, 2006 05:38 PM
Cynical,
That's exactly WHY I have one on my car...
Posted by: Butch | June 30, 2006 04:33 PM