Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: What! You too? I thought I was the only one.

-C.S. Lewis

Tuesday, July 05, 2005

Ribbon Magnets

I fail to understand the contempt from some of my fellow liberals directed toward the magnetic Support-The-Troops decals as well as those who put them on their cars. What possible reason, other than to alienate Joe and Jane Sixpack, could they have for doing this? The magnets are totally innocuous, completely well-intended, and utterly unworthy of any wasted breath. They are what they are: an expression of support for the sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform. Do some people affix them to their Hummer, belching fossil fuels, in a blatant attempt to out-patriotic Bob across the street? Of course. Does this describe the majority of people who have put them on their cars? Let me hazard to guess that it’s not even close. Let’s make sure we keep that broad brush on the palette until we really need it, ok? This is exactly the kind of thing that makes the Sixpack family say, “you know, those Republicans seem to be totally inept at following up on any of their campaign promises, but maybe they have a point when they call those liberals anti-American.” And really, if we’re going to get this worked up over bumper decals (BUMPER DECALS!?!?!), what else could they call it?

This blog is based on a true story.