General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsJust drove a large hand-made sign into the heartland
Last edited Fri May 4, 2018, 01:40 PM - Edit history (1)
(And I came out alive).
I taped four manila folders together and wrote a big bold sign that stretched all the way across the bumper of my 2012 Honda Civic. Then I drove from NJ to Illinois and back to visit my son. This is what I wrote in all caps:
WHILE CITIZENS CLASH
THE 1% TAKES THE CASH
VOTE DEMS NOV. 6
And then for good measure, to really confuse the occasional evangelical, I squeezed into the corner:
"Love thy neighbor." Jesus
As I drove for two days west and two days east, I entertained myself by passing cars and trucks with a slowdown just as my sign became visible. I calculated that if 2-3 people per minute saw that sign, I reached 34,000 folks over the entire journey. Multiply that by the conversations I started and the cell phone pix uploaded on Instagram and Facebook. (I slowed down especially to aid the meme-making process).
There were no threatening gestures. My car was totally unscathed.
We're gonna win.
cpamomfromtexas
(1,245 posts)oasis
(49,339 posts)barbtries
(28,774 posts)on the way to DC for the Women's March we put my granddaughter's sign up in the back window of my car and people were thumbs upping us, honking, showing us their signs. the drive was alive with march goers. this also happened on the way to the Rally for Sanity back in the day: one car put a sign in their back window that said, "Sanity or bust"
thank you for your service.
DemocracyMouse
(2,275 posts)The culture is less effusive in western PA, Ohio and Indiana. But NOT having my tires deflated or a key across my paint job was welcome!
dameatball
(7,395 posts)lunasun
(21,646 posts)Hortensis
(58,785 posts)raven mad
(4,940 posts)Terrific idea.
arthritisR_US
(7,283 posts)PaulX2
(2,032 posts)I get some good looks, and an occasional thumbs down or middle finger.
At least they know their future.
cyclonefence
(4,483 posts)especially "Love thy neighbor"--Jesus. If we're smart, we'll quote Jesus on all our signs.
Mopar151
(9,975 posts)"Love thy neighbor!" is a damm hard road for some folks. And they need to be told why and how that makes it all the more important that they truly follow His word, instead of the word of "moneychangers" on TeeVee.
lastlib
(23,168 posts)Goin' around sayin "Blessed are the meek...and the peacemakers...and the poor.....", upsettin' the natural order of things around here....... And throwin' out the MONEY-CHANGERS! Those were IMPORTANT PEOPLE! They greased the gears of society, and so forth! He just tossed 'em like they was the pan-handlers!
ProudLib72
(17,984 posts)Smart message, smart addendum. I like it!
SWBTATTReg
(22,077 posts)Mountain Mule
(1,002 posts)I live in the "Heartland" and even my conservative neighbors are getting fed up.
BobTheSubgenius
(11,560 posts)And brave, to boot! Well done, you!
DemocracyMouse
(2,275 posts)KY_EnviroGuy
(14,488 posts)Great job, and inexpensive to boot. Much like a rolling billboard!
......... ........ .........
lunatica
(53,410 posts)Fantastic idea!
Put one on the back of your car too
Demsrule86
(68,504 posts)You rock.
Capperdan
(492 posts)Better than Fuck Trump, makes people think a little. I'm hoping "his base" is starting to realize how he is taking our country down.
DemocracyMouse
(2,275 posts)True Blue American
(17,981 posts)Obamacare sticker on my car. A new friend I was helping from Church get out more after the death of her husband.
She was behind me going into Church. She was horrified I had that sticker. I told her she might as well know, unlike most in the Church, I was a life long Democrat and admired President Obama. We continued on after that as I helped her go places.
Now,the Church and friend are History for me.
Now, I have a Thanks,FDR and union member sticker.
DemocracyMouse
(2,275 posts)True Blue American
(17,981 posts)I am not either,technically, but they took care of us,provided we got our fair share in the Auto bailout, made sure we were taken care of. For that I pay dues, voluntarily. They are still doing that.
My Son took early retirement because he was lucky enough to be in a Plant that had an Engineers Union.
There is no way I would ever cross a picket line. And am shocked at the Union members that vote Republican.
BigmanPigman
(51,571 posts)My neighbor was afraid my car would be the victim of my political opinions even though we live in a very blue area of CA so I left my Teachers Union CTA/NEA sticker on it since most people like teachers. Since then I have received so many compliments on them that I don't need the union sticker as a safety precaution anymore.
I did see a pick up truck with a tRump sticker, a confederate flag sticker, and NRA sticker and a bunch of others last week while driving. It stood out like a sore thumb. I wondered if he was fearful of Dems tormenting him like the GOP voters feels free to do to Dem's cars with stickers.
llmart
(15,534 posts)Your polling is at least as accurate than what we had the day and night before the election.
workinclasszero
(28,270 posts)Vinca
(50,237 posts)Sylvarose
(210 posts)People slowly waking up around here, but the "Love thy neighbor" was a good call.
True story. During the 2008 election when I worked the polls as the poll inspector, the Republican judge saw the bumper stickers on the back of my car. Among them were "Jesus was a pacificist." She was uber religious, even bringing her Bible to the polling place with her. Anyway, after the polls closed and we were wrapping up she asked me: "Are you mocking my Lord and savior?"
I replied, "No, I'm not mocking our, Lord and savior. The Beatitudes are my favorite teachings of Christ and passages of the Bible and among them, I've always revered 'Blessed are the peacemakers the most." She didn't have anything to say after that.
calimary
(81,139 posts)Hits 'em right where it should hurt, if they're REALLY believers, deep-down.
I LOVE the Beatitudes. That Scripture passage seems, at least to me, to wrap everything up about the Teachings of Jesus, just in a few beautiful, lyrical lines. He talks about being our Cornerstone. Seems to me that passage constitutes HIS own personal Cornerstone.
After all, Our Lord never said "Blessed are the warmakers."
renate
(13,776 posts)He honestly would not recognize what is being done and said in his name. It's like Opposite World.
Do they... not read their Bibles?
Jesus rode bare back on dinosaurs, had a Southern Cross bandanna tied to his forehead with two ammunition belts hung over his shoulders forming a cross of bullets across his bare chest - and an AR-15 with rifle sight at the ready resting in his lap.
Jesus was no pinko-commie-fag-librule, - he was a tough alpha male macho man.
Praise the Lord in heaven - and pass the ammunition.
Amen.
The_REAL_Ecumenist
(715 posts)she DIDN'T read it. I know people like that who are in the church every time the doors creaked open BUT following the tenets? Wouldn't know Anything outside of John 3:16 or the 23rd Psalms if it bit them on the "rusty dusty". Those types wear their beliefs like a brand new Blackglama stroller, a 13 carat ring, a 2K designer purse or a Bentley.
Pitiful & pathetic.
True Blue American
(17,981 posts)They feel that what they say and do at other times is fine as long as they sit in that Church.
I have seen too many think it is fine to cheat and smile,joke about it. Makes me sick.
The_REAL_Ecumenist
(715 posts)& understand what is in store for HYPOCRITES, LIARS, etc., they can still act this way. The only thing that explains it is that they "USE" Christianity in the same way others look at their membership in a social or country clubs. SMDH
True Blue American
(17,981 posts)They do not seem to realize the God they believe in is watching.
But to be honest most of it is for show to the world. They forget the part about, if you do it for the glory of man that is all you ever get.
MLAA
(17,254 posts)calimary
(81,139 posts)EXCELLENT.
It doesn't go negative. The advice of Christ is a VERY nice and relevant touch. Who could possibly take umbrage to this?
Good to hear the response you described. ALL of this is MOST interesting in a really positive way. The rhyme is good, too! Catchy!
WELL DONE!
SpankMe
(2,957 posts)...many on here had that same "Trump-couldn't possibly-win" enthusiasm in November of 2016, and I replied to as many as I saw warning not to count our chickens before they were hatched. I know Republicans are capable of unspeakable treachery, and liberals and moderates are not reliable voters.
I have the same hesitation and foreboding now that I had at the time. Unless we can get turnout, there will be no blue wave. And, of there isn't a blue wave, Republicans will sell their victory as an exoneration of their agenda.
As far as I'm concerned any sort of enthusiasm or hopeful thinking that this is somehow in the bag is completely unacceptable. We have to keep quiet, keep our heads down and get out the vote. Then, if we win, steamroll our agenda through just like the cons have.
People are pissed. But, with jobs numbers we saw today, are they pissed enough to vote?
True Blue American
(17,981 posts)Not prudent.
The_REAL_Ecumenist
(715 posts)conspiracy involving CRAVEN traitors in concert with with putin. Let's NOT get it twisted. The thing that wasn't seen by MOST people was the TREACHERY committed by trump, pence, MOST if not ALL of the republican party, flynn, manafort, page, stone, etc. etc. etc.
jalan48
(13,842 posts)Scurrilous
(38,687 posts)Girard442
(6,066 posts)...for a fraction of a second, put this real van Helsing image into my head.
Bad me. It's all good.
DemocracyMouse
(2,275 posts)TomSlick
(11,092 posts)Did you take a picture?
sharedvalues
(6,916 posts)Silver1
(721 posts)I would have signed my name.
Haggis for Breakfast
(6,831 posts)Follow the brave heroics of The Freeway Blogger out here on the Left Coast. Some of his work is inspirational. You can google him: Freeway Blogger.
Beartracks
(12,801 posts)But all I can do is buy you this beer...
=========
DemocracyMouse
(2,275 posts)Tracyjo
(729 posts)Thanks