T-shirt Politics

For my birthday last summer, the lovely L. bought me this t-shirt. I loved it so much that I bought a long-sleeve version for my sister (hey P. – hope Rubes and the Little Sumo are doing well). As I have worn it over the past year, peoples’ reactions to it are a quick barometer of their political leanings. P. told me a story about the disapproving reaction she received at the grocery store in ultra-conservative Fairbanks, Alaska. I live in Norfolk, Virginia – a military town in a very red state. The first few times I was out and had the shirt on, I mostly received nasty looks and no one ever made any sign of agreement. Although the sentiment is offensive to only the most ardent of Limbaugh listeners, no one wants to get into a confrontation with a wingnut over three words. So even though I love the shirt, I always have a certain sense of trepidation when wearing it out in public. Today, it was an affirmation of my belief that Bush is, in fact, the Worst. President. Ever.

L., J., and I went to the Stockley Gardens Arts Festival today. The Arts Festival is a neighborhood art show that has been running for the past twenty-odd years, in a fairly affluent and conservative area of Norfolk. Politcally speaking, you have a healthy mix of lefty artsy types and the relatively wealthy and republican residents of the environs. A few minutes into our walk about the park, a woman walking past looked me in the eye and said “I totally agree”. For a moment, I had no idea what she was talking about until L. looked at me, smiled and said, ‘Did you hear that?”. I guess I was wearing my cluelessness on my face because she then said “Your shirt”. Oh yeah. It was first time a stranger had ever said anything positive about it. So that in and of itself was pretty cool. As we kept walking, another woman told me she loved it. A guy showing his work asked me where I got it. A Jim Webb for Senate organizer almost fell down trying to get to me when we walked by. And so it went. People were looking at the three words that say so much and were laughing rather than shooting the cold stares I had gotten used to receiving. So today at least, in my cul-de-sac of Virginia, George Bush is not a popular president.