Is this going too far?

[teenagebambam]

So yesterday, I was headed home, and I was behind an SUV, and they had a bumper sticker that said "Marriage = Man + Woman", along with the requisite "Support Our Troops" yellow ribbon magnet, and "God Bless America" sticker, and dashboard crammed full of faded Beanie Babies. Usually such things don't bother me - I mean, how could they and me still be sane? - but yesterday I was gripped by the urge to follow the car, not for confrontational purposes, but just to see where they were going, and what sort of person(s) got out.

I didn't obey my urge, as I had a grocery bag full of groceries that needed refrigeration. But I got to thinking....what if I printed up a bunch of pamphlets, a nice friendly little message for people with hateful bumper stickers, about how I'm gay, and my partner and I have been together 12 years and likely have a stronger relationship than you since the only thing compelling us to stay together is our own commitment, and how we're both Christians, and both work in churches, and both teach children, and essentially, how people like us are ALL AROUND and so you better just get used to it....

Is that crazy talk?

[Jara sang]

1. I'm going to go to U.S.M.C. recruiting office

and get abunch of "sign up" applications and start putting them on the windshields of Hummers that I see parked around town.

[SouthernDem2004]

6. Er, there is no such thing. All paper work is handled by a recruiter.

[MountainLaurel]

20. Actually, no

You can get enlistment forms on the Web, and some DUers carry them for just these purposes.

Here's your link:
http://usmilitary.about.com/library/pdf/enlistment.pdf

[SouthernDem2004]

26. I stand corrected.

[ET Awful]

2. I'm going to get a bunch of stickers printed up that say

"It takes more than a sticker to support our troops."

I think they'll come in handy :)

[babylonsister]

3. Peaceful coexistence! Print up your friendly pamphlets!

'Edumicate' the masses! :silly: I think you're entitled to your opinion and to spread it, as long as you're not threatening, and clearly you aren't. And welcome to DU!

[whistle]

4. You can try to distribute these pamphlets you are suggesting...

...anonymously, but these people will find you and your partner, even if it takes the rest of their lives. I do like the idea of marine enlistment applications on the windshield. In fact one on each side, driver and passenger would cover all of the bases.

[mmonk]

5. That's

crazy correct. They can't make you disappear with bumper stickers.

[lectrobyte]

7. You teach children? That will make them track you down. LIfe is

too short as it is. Choose your fights carefully.

[teenagebambam]

9. Even more shocking....

...I teach private music lessons. I'm teaching children ONE ON ONE! Sometimes IN A CHURCH! Let me tell you, it's a golden opportunity to spread the militant homosexual agenda and recruit young people into my deviant lifestyle.

[teenagebambam]

10. PS....

....last year I sang at B*sh's prayer breakfast. AT THE WHITE HOUSE. I tell you, I'm everywhere!

[Ian David]

31. Make sure you include your appearance in the Whore House, too.

Did you get to meet Jeff Gannon?

[lectrobyte]

13. Hey, don't take my comments the wrong way -- from your original

post, I was thinking you were a school teacher, and figured you didn't need or want the hassle at work. I have printed some of these out to give to the more radical Bushies at work when they start up with some of their Rush-fed crap.

http://usmilitary.about.com/library/pdf/enlistment.pdf

Can I get a copy of the agenda? It would be handy for those arguments when someone brings up the subject, I could whip out my copy and say, no, the twin little girls on the Simpsons are not part of the agenda...

[teenagebambam]

14. I'm sure you're agood person, but....

....we can't hand out the agenda to just ANYONE. Radical overthrow of the sanctity of marriage requires a certain strength of character. Plus there's a swimsuit competition.

[lectrobyte]

16. Speaking of sanctity, that's where I usually try to start on a personal

level -- if they are a chickenhawk warrior fundie, I try to get them going towards Matthew and new testament topics, if they are "marriage defenders", I ask them about divorce laws, adultery, etc.

[Ian David]

33. I would just take the free brochures at the post office and other stores

Why waist your printer toner when the army is printing them for free.

In fact, I had been thinking of taking them and disposing of them, but the idea of putting them on Bushbot windshields is better.

And I can always throw-away whatever I don't use.

[GOPBasher]

8. It seems like a good idea to me. Why not? n/t

[Wright Patman]

11. I have been thinking

about why this issue has gained such traction in recent years and provided such a windfall of voter support from the destitute masses for the ultrawealthy multimillion and billionaires running the GOP.

I think white racism, believe it or not, plays a role. This country has been inundated by wave after wave of immigration since Reagan's amnesty of 1986. There are perhaps 20 million illegal aliens living within our borders at this moment, most of whom are not Caucasian.

The whites realize they are about to be outnumbered in what they had always considered "their" country (forgetting who was here before they were, of course). Anything which causes a loss of reproductive fecundity of their race (which is already reproducing at a far lower rate than the Hispanics, for instance) hastens the day when these whites will be a minority. In Texas the day is rapidly approaching.

Never underestimate the power of racism. It is why the Democratic Party lost its majority to begin with. And LBJ predicted it even as he signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law. He did "the right thing" but he knew that the South anyhow would be lost to the GOP forever within a generation and so it was.

[ScreamingMeemie]

12. I think it's a great idea BUT, I wouldn't make a comment about a stronger

relationship. That's stooping to their level of attack. While I agree that you probably do have a stronger relationship...they may be deeply bonded, by their stupidity.

Go tbb!

[DoYouEverWonder]

15. Ever since I started putting these cards

on fundie Bushbot cars




I feel so much better. I just try to make sure no one is around when I do it.

?mnb

[dddem]

17. I don't think it's crazy,

but I don't think it's very effective either. I can't imagine feeling like I had to justify my marriage to anyone, or to defend myself over something that isn't hurting anyone. I'm so sorry you have to go through this. Those bumper stickers bother me too, but I don't have to live it. I enjoy passing vehicles like that so they can clearly see my "straight but not narrow" bumper sticker on the old station wagon (it's right over my "I'm proud of my student of the month"), I'm guessing it really pisses off some people!
I remember reading somewhere that 65% of Americans don't care about gay marriage, but the 35% who do are more vocal and therefore are more effective in getting their message out. That's when I found my voice. Anyone who supports equal rights for all Americans needs to start saying so - loudly. I'm sick of all the hate and bigotry. My kids deserve to grow up in a country where there is respect for each other. Please know that there are those of us who support your right to equal treatment, and want for all Americans to be able to have what you seem to have found - the opportunity to live in love (but without all the grief!)
Peace.

[teenagebambam]

18. Oh, I do know....

.....and appreciate your good wishes. In fact, I would say that about 99.9% percent of the people I come into contact with on a daily basis are of the "don't care" variety, and I seldom feel the need to "defend" myself to anyone. Which is why, I guess, when I see something like the aforementioned bumper sticker I do a double take and think "WTF?!?".

I myself had a bumper sticker that pissed people off, but it got stolen. It said "Jesus is Coming - Look Busy".

[dddem]

19. The truth is,

I talk a good talk about tolerance and acceptance, and respecting other people's beliefs, but secretly, I LOVE pissing people like that off! Your bumper sticker is great!
Peace.

[Ian David]

34. I go well out of my way to be seen be those people

And here is a note that was left on my windshield




And here is where you can buy that note on eBay

Note that some Republican FReeper left on my windshield
Proceeds go to Parents & Friends of Lesbians & Gays

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=1467&item=5580438287&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
Tiny-Url Link: http://tinyurl.com/8e3zt

See this thread for more:
Notes that have been left on my windshield
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=1776172#

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. Don't give them your name

These fools will try to contact your employer and make your life miserable. Other than that, I think it's a great idea.

[Midlodemocrat]

22. I saw the same bumper sticker yesteday leaving the grocery store.

I pulled up to the car, and the woman had her window down. I gestured towards the back of her car and said "hey about that bumper sticker"...she turns towards me and smiles and says, "isn't it great?" I replied "Well, you know what, the day after all those people were married in San Francisco in same sex marriages, I woke up and my marriage was still intact!! Why the hell do you care who someone else marries? What the hell is wrong with you?" And then I drove away, leaving her with a stunned look on her face.


God, that felt good. I want to do it again.

[dddem]

23. Yay for you!

We need to start being more vocal about our support. You should be proud of yourself!
Peace.

[Midlodemocrat]

25. I was and still am damned proud of myself.

I am sick of staying quiet while these fuckwits take over my country. Equal rights are equal rights.

[teenagebambam]

24. I bet

Maybe I'll try it. Though after commiserating with my sister, my scheme has evolved into creating a series of tracts of the Jack Chick variety, covering all sorts of subjects....

http://www.chick.com/catalog/tractlist.asp

[Ian David]

35. Yes! I was thinking along those lines, too! Call them Chicken Tracts?

[flygal]

28. Excellent response!!

I'm dreading going back to the states this summer and seeing the "battle of the bumper stickers". I hear my home town is a sea of yellow ribbons and W stickers. blah.

[MsTryska]

27. you could evangelize in pamphlet form

i'd say don't bother explaining your situation - you have no reason to explain yourself to these wackjobs.


here's a better way:

follow this link - and grab some of these bible verses. print them up, and sign it with soemthing like "a concerned liberal christian" or "your brother in Christ" or soem such thing:

http://www.churchofchristashland.org/Bulletins/hatred.htm

[Shell Beau]

29. If it is true, how can it be crazy talk?

People have their beliefs no matter how screwed up they are. They make up stuff to make them feel better about what they believe. I would say this person isn't worth your time. They are probably stuck in their own little messed up world and you are better off not even wasting your time.

Just my two cents, though.

[Ian David]

30. I had the same sort of idea. I say go for it!

[Bouncy Ball]

32. I saw a great billboard on I-35 in Dallas last night.

It said "Be careful whom you hate, it just might be someone you love..." and it was put up by PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays).

I thought it was great, and went with what you are saying.