An Open Letter to Those With the “W” Stickers

[RareLubbockDem]

Isn’t it time?

There comes a point where things are all too clear. That time came and went long ago, but as I write this, the obviousness is even clearer. Nonetheless, you still have the yellowed, tattered “W” sticker on your back windshield. So now, be true to yourself. Be true to your children or the children of your friends and family. Be true to your country. Isn’t it time?

Scraping and peeling that sticker shouldn’t be too hard. A razor blade and perhaps some nail polish remover will remove all traces of it. There’s no shame in making a mistake, as long as you can take the steps to rectify it. Isn’t it time?

It’s somewhat understood why you left it on your vehicle so long. It’s no different from a diehard fan that unabashedly supports the team even after being repeatedly and continually disappointed and embarrassed. Admittedly, there is some level of respectability in that. There’s something to be said for standing by your team through thick and thin, but this is different. You’re not rooting for a hometown team. You’re not rooting for bragging rights. Considering what’s at stake, isn’t it time?

And again, using the sports analogy, it’s understandably hard to admit when you’re wrong. It’s hard to secede. In many contexts, you might be taunted or derided for supporting the obviously wrong choice as long as you did. Not here. Not now. It’s too important for pettiness. Although good sportsmanship may not be what you’re used to or what you’d expect, that’s what you’ll find. This is no sport.

There’s no need for a grand ceremony about it. Do it in your garage with door closed. Do it after dark at the car wash if you must. I’ll even help you, and not say a word as I do it. Isn’t it time?

And no, no one really cares if you want to leave your sticker on your vehicle. No one is threatened by it, nor is anyone convinced or influenced by it at this point. Leave it if you must, but at least be aware that it really says more about you than it does anything else. For your sake, if for nothing else, isn’t it time?

It would be too easy to list the reasons why it’s time. The reasons are obvious. If you’re not aware of the reasons by now, perhaps you never will be. Someday your vehicle will be in a scrapyard, the “W” barely visible. Those who see it will never understand how anyone would put such a thing on their car.

It’s time. Don’t cower any more. Don’t be weak. Don’t be ignorant to your situation and the situation of those around you. And when your pride consumes you, think of the future.

Obviously, this isn’t about a piece of sticky-sided vinyl. It’s about what’s right. It’s about what you stand for, what you believe in, and what you should not, cannot, and will not tolerate.

It is time.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

1. past time

waaaay past time

[tanyev]

2. Print it out and stick it under windshield wipers!

Excellent.

[RareLubbockDem]

3. too funny...

i actually thought of that as I was writing it.

[rateyes]

6. Do it. It's great. nt

[tanyev]

7. You probably have to look at them as often as I do.

*shudder*

[verse18]

8. I'll put one on my Repug

coworker's car. We're Social Workers and she guzzles the Kool-Aid.

[AspenRose]

13. Wow, now THERE's a rarity

A conservative social worker! (Working on my MSW)

[RareLubbockDem]

15. My thought too

My wife's a social worker and I can't imagine how a social worker could be a republican, not with what republicans have now defined themselves to be.

[Mabus]

20. A friend of mine graduated with an MSW last year

and a number of her classmates were conservatives bordering on fundies. They were there to, in my friend's words, "cash in on the faith-based initiative money at their churches." :shrug: All I know is the thought made me uncomfortable.

[SHRED]

4. You're either for the "W" sticker,...

...or you're against terrorism.

[rateyes]

5. Great letter, and now that you've preached to the choir....

send it as a LTTE to every newspaper you can find online and in print! There still are a couple of real patriotic Republicans that need to read it. It's a convincing letter!

[RareLubbockDem]

9. maybe this is something for the research forum, but.....

how can you find out what newspapers would be likely to print an online LTTE, especially if you're not from the area? I can tell you, the paper here in Lubbock TX wouldn't print this (and if they did, I might have my house burned down...) but there has to be a resource of other places.

Anyone have any insight? I think it'd be good for all of us to know about it.

(forgive me if i've posted in the wrong forum for this kind of question...)

and ps, you guys/girls make me feel so good to know someone feels the same as I do about things....

[tanyev]

12. I've seen some out of area letters in the Dallas Morning News.

Worth a shot.

[RareLubbockDem]

17. thanks for the tip and

I just submitted it. We'll see.....

[uncle ray]

30. "alternative" type papers

no you might not reach the biggest repug audience, but the alternative weeklies usually seem to publish many letters from out of towners who claim to have vacationed there once or heard the name on a tv show and loved the town.

on edit: oh yeah, in my town you could send it to the Colorado Springs Independent at csindy.com i believe.

[Justice Is Comin]

10. Or I would

suggest you look at Farenheit 9-11 now and then go out and get an impeach sign and put it to the left of your Bush sticker.

[Nitrogenica]

11. Put that sticker in your Archives, along with the reports on global

warming written with money from big oil Companies, that report on evolution written by religious extremists, that study of trickle down economics written by the wealthy, and most of all that inspirational outlook on foreign policy written by the Project for the New American Century.

Maybe 20 years from now when we're still cleaning up the mess you can crack open that Archives and reflect on how much damage your vote in 2004 did to America and the world.

The money's gone, trillions of dollars.
Our image is destroyed.
We're divided and weak.

Were we like this in 2000? NO!!

And who has been in charge of every branch of government? NEO CONS

Bush, Rush, Hannity, and O'Reilly have destroyed our Country.

[osaMABUSh]

14. Before I used to hate to see those W stickers because of Bush

and what Bush stands for (especially beore the '04 election). And how he might ruin this country with a 2nd term.

Now I see the W stickers and think "what a f**king ignorant, oblivious bastard with his head stuck up his ass" driving that car.

Before '04 there was some bit of understanding why a repuke might believe in W - but now? For Chrissakes get a life!

[Pryderi]

16. "W" sticker burning parties like the Comiskey’s Disco Demolition Night

[vademocrat]

18. "So that's what a fascist looks like" is my first thought these days

when I see any of the stickers. In the last couple of weeks I've seen several bush/cheney stickers. But I think it's down to the hard core true believers now. There's a woman at school who's solution for the middle east is to "nuke em all". Yep, she's got the b/c sticker on her side window.

[RareLubbockDem]

19. I'd almost be more comfortable if I thought it were all hardcore believers

in this part of the country. Unfortunately, I'm not sure that's true. It's more of the follower mentality here. Some of my friends actually have the stickers. They're not dumb people. Are they thinking people? Apparently not....

[marions ghost]

21. actually

I kind of like having the hardcore identify themselves in public...I give them a lot of...space.

[missouri dem 2]

22. Yes, I also like to keep an eye out for them.

[salin]

23. I saw one yesterday, in central indiana... on a shiny black suv

couldn't help but roll my eyes.... but then, when the traffic moved from one lane to two I saw that the black suv had been stuck in traffic behind a silver truck - with a W in a red circle with a line through it (the old no smoking type symbol), and had a Kerry Edwards sticker on its rear bumper. Had to laugh that the W person got stuck for a mile or so having to witness someones antipathy to bush (something that wasn't so visible in these parts several years ago.)

Love the sports analogy - as I get the sense that what bonded some rather unaware folks to W was the sense that "he is a winner" and folks like being on the winner's side. Not quite the same thing these days.

Oh and one thing I NEVER see in these parts anymore - no My Man Mitch signs or stickers to be seen... anywhere.

[shayes51]

24. I live in Alabama--mid-sized town.

I have to drive all the way across the county to go to work. I usually see at least a dozen or so W and other Bush stickers on cars, trucks, etc. Yesterday I saw NONE! In the past two weeks, I've even seen two FW stickers on pick-up trucks. Now, that's progress. Too bad things had to go completely to hell for some to see the light.

[rateyes]

25. Shop it as an editorial....

to different media outlets. Get paid for it!

[Catherine Vincent]

26. I think they should remove the W '04 sticker because

this is 2006 if anything. Apparently they are not embarrassed to show their support for the chimp.

[meganmonkey]

27. Yeah, but I smile whenever I see Kerry/Edwards stickers

still on cars from 04.

:shrug:

[Catherine Vincent]

28. same here

[doublethink]

29. That would be me .......

my Kerry/Edwards bumper sticker will never come off, never. It's right next to my 'Frodo Failed, Bush Has The Ring' one :hi:

[callous taoboy]

31. Totally agree, but these people are delusional.

Leave a fake prescription for anti-psychotic meds under their windshields instead.