Bumper Sticker Meme
January 29, 2007 by mrschili
Lacking anything better to write about (sorry, I’ve got brain freeze), I’m going to tell you what’s on the back of my car. Try to contain your giddy excitement.
I drive a fun little VW Golf. I love the thing, and affectionatly refer to it as “the hockey puck.” Puck and I have been through a lot, and I try very hard to keep her in tip-top shape, both inside and out. When it’s not STUPID cold, she gets vacuum and Armor-All treatments fairly regularly, and I never actually stick anything to her exterior. All my decals are the cling-to-the-glass kinds. Here’s what I’ve got:
An “old school” Patriot’s logo. Not that there’s anything wrong with the NEW logo, mind you; it’s just not the one I grew up recognizing.
The Chinese symbol for gratitude. Before I put it on my car, though, I asked my neighbor, whose native language is Chinese, if that’s what it REALLY says. I’m just cynical enough to worry that they sell these things to us and they really say “Stupid Americans will pay good money for Chinese symbols that mean “Stupid American”"
The rainbow flag. Gay rights are very important to me (no one is free until ALL are free), and this was the first decal I ever got.
A decal for Gallaudet University. Long ago and far away, I wanted to teach English literacy and literature to Deaf kids, and I spent part of a summer at GU attending a seminar on literacy and the Deaf student. I learned a lot and, while I’ve pretty much shifted my focus away from Deaf Ed., I still have a deep and abiding love of their language.
A pawprint decal for my alma mater. I got both of my degrees from this school and, while I don’t have a typical nostalgia for my college, I do recognize the opportunities it afforded me. Starting, as I did, as an adult and never having lived in a dorm, I missed a lot of the usual college bonding experiences, but I still appreciate the top notch education I was given at the school and the amazing professors who taught me how to think and behave like an English teacher.
I only have one sticker on the back of my car. It is simple. Blue with white lettering. It is not associated with any campaign, though I received it while working on one. It simply says:
Bush Lied.
I love it and receive regular comments on it, mostly those in favor of my opinion, but even those who don’t are usually polite about it. I thought I would get a whole lotta greif from ignorant, unable to discuss without yelling types, but so far, so good. Recently, while driving on the freeway, someone pulled up next to me, honking and waving. I had no idea what they wanted…they pointed to the sticker and gave me a thumbs up and drove on by. Strange, but true.
I knew this, but today it was driven home to me that you teach English. That is really cool. You are lucky. I apologize for my many lapses in garmmar and punctuation.
I like the rainbow sticker. i need to get one for my car.
I have a lot of stickers.
No car, though.
My battered Subaru has only one sticker–one that my daughter got me when she visited City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco. It reads “HOWL if you love [heart] City Lights Books.” so far, nobody’s howled or expounded about the best minds of his or her generation.