I'm not so much confused...
...as I am bewildered and mildly amazed and hopeful.
Rachel and I went to Jake's game on Friday, and I overheard some other parents talking about gas prices and such. And then they went on to talk about the Iraq War, and they kept adding sarcastic remarks like, "It won't cost much...There are WMDs...Gas prices will fall...The Iraqi people will love us..." and so on.
They were saying the sort of things that I expect to hear from my progressive friends. But I'm 97% sure that these very people voted for Bush in '00 and '04. And I'm also sure that they only recently came to hold these new beliefs. And I'm wondering if people like these can take the next progressive step and vote for Obama. And I'm also wondering if there's anything I can do to help them step in what I consider to be the right direction.
When I was in Texas, (I never got around to that food post, did I?) we went to lunch at a BBQ joint. And I overheard two older men talking. One said, "I don't know about this Obama."
That was encouraging to hear in South Texas, that he was even being considered. But he went on, "I heard he has ties to terrorists." I kept my mouth shut.
And his friend said, "What? Where did you hear that?"
"Well, it was on Fox News something about he might have ties to terrorists."
"What kind of ties?"
"Well, I didn't see the whole thing, it just said he may have ties to terrorists."
And then I couldn't restrain myself and said, politley, "Excuse me, but can you repeat that?" And he did. And I said, "That sounds like nonsense to me. That's like saying Bush has ties to terrorists because his family did business with the Bin Ladens."
And when he said, "Oh, well OK then, that's good," I took it to mean that he believed me.
I talked with Rachel about this, and asked, "I understand how Fox News works, and how someone like this would believe what he barely heard, but why would he believe me?"
Rachel said, "Well, you had a nice shirt on."
If I could, I would put on a nice shirt and talk to everyone in Texas willing to listen.
I had to go to Wal-Mart today. I know, I know, nobody has to go to Wal-Mart ever. But factoring in everything, Wal-Mart was the best choice for what I needed today. Crafts stuff for Rachel, a battery cable for the Hotel Yorba Courtesy car (which is running again, by the way), underwear, socks, and, since the spa store was closed, bromine tablets. And while I was there, I got my fishing license.
Anyway, I was at Wal-Mart - and they had a whole section of T-shirts and hats with environmental slogans on them. The were in a clearance section. Now I haven't been to Wal-Mart in a month or so, so I am only guessing here, but I have to assume that these items were once out with the other T-shirts for NASCAR, Raiders, Dickies Brand, and so on. It's sad that they didn't sell and were put on clearance. But let's be positive here- it's very encouraging to see them there at all.
Sure, there's some irony in that these were probably made in a third world sweatshop and boated, flown, and trucked halfway around the world to end up selling for $5.00. But it's still encouraging.
My favorite one said, "Protect The Environment...Duct Tape Can't Fix Everything."
Is there anything wrong with thinking the right things for all the wrong reasons?
Rachel and I went to Jake's game on Friday, and I overheard some other parents talking about gas prices and such. And then they went on to talk about the Iraq War, and they kept adding sarcastic remarks like, "It won't cost much...There are WMDs...Gas prices will fall...The Iraqi people will love us..." and so on.
They were saying the sort of things that I expect to hear from my progressive friends. But I'm 97% sure that these very people voted for Bush in '00 and '04. And I'm also sure that they only recently came to hold these new beliefs. And I'm wondering if people like these can take the next progressive step and vote for Obama. And I'm also wondering if there's anything I can do to help them step in what I consider to be the right direction.
When I was in Texas, (I never got around to that food post, did I?) we went to lunch at a BBQ joint. And I overheard two older men talking. One said, "I don't know about this Obama."
That was encouraging to hear in South Texas, that he was even being considered. But he went on, "I heard he has ties to terrorists." I kept my mouth shut.
And his friend said, "What? Where did you hear that?"
"Well, it was on Fox News something about he might have ties to terrorists."
"What kind of ties?"
"Well, I didn't see the whole thing, it just said he may have ties to terrorists."
And then I couldn't restrain myself and said, politley, "Excuse me, but can you repeat that?" And he did. And I said, "That sounds like nonsense to me. That's like saying Bush has ties to terrorists because his family did business with the Bin Ladens."
And when he said, "Oh, well OK then, that's good," I took it to mean that he believed me.
I talked with Rachel about this, and asked, "I understand how Fox News works, and how someone like this would believe what he barely heard, but why would he believe me?"
Rachel said, "Well, you had a nice shirt on."
If I could, I would put on a nice shirt and talk to everyone in Texas willing to listen.
I had to go to Wal-Mart today. I know, I know, nobody has to go to Wal-Mart ever. But factoring in everything, Wal-Mart was the best choice for what I needed today. Crafts stuff for Rachel, a battery cable for the Hotel Yorba Courtesy car (which is running again, by the way), underwear, socks, and, since the spa store was closed, bromine tablets. And while I was there, I got my fishing license.
Anyway, I was at Wal-Mart - and they had a whole section of T-shirts and hats with environmental slogans on them. The were in a clearance section. Now I haven't been to Wal-Mart in a month or so, so I am only guessing here, but I have to assume that these items were once out with the other T-shirts for NASCAR, Raiders, Dickies Brand, and so on. It's sad that they didn't sell and were put on clearance. But let's be positive here- it's very encouraging to see them there at all.
Sure, there's some irony in that these were probably made in a third world sweatshop and boated, flown, and trucked halfway around the world to end up selling for $5.00. But it's still encouraging.
My favorite one said, "Protect The Environment...Duct Tape Can't Fix Everything."
Is there anything wrong with thinking the right things for all the wrong reasons?
posted by Eric Soderstrom at 6:17 PM
1 Comments:
Hmm... I am thinking that 1) The shirt is funny & 2) You probably won't be convincing anyone from south Texas by wearing a nice shirt from Wal-Mart.
I am truly amazed that the people that had complete faith in Mr. Bush now have such doubts. The facts didn't seem to hold sway over them a few years ago. Oh well - I should just be thankful that people can change their thinking.
It sounds like the democrats should have a stronger hold on congress with this year's elections. Hopefuly, they will try to balance the budget at some point. I know Iraq will be the main focus, but I still don't like our country putting a few extra trillion on the credit cards.
Hope all is well - btw - what day do you/did you become old?
-Joe
Post a Comment
<< Home