The t-shirt had no words. And neither did I.
I was at once both shocked and disgusted.
My co-worker (This one has no gun.) had the gall to walk the entire length of the long main corridor in the county courthouse wearing the f*cking thing. But here in a county a bit north and west of New York City, sadly, he might actually find some support. The offending garment is depicted below. (I had to sneak into his office to get this shot.)
Being speechless can be a real problem in my line of work. But even the history of this particular individual hadn’t prepared me for this. (His desk has bumper stickers that include “The road to hell is paved with liberals.”)
When I first noticed him wearing it, shortly after he came into the office, all I could say was a sarcastic “Nice shirt”. He made some brief reply, but I wasn’t really paying attention. My mind was swirling with questions.
But of all the questions that I would like to have answered, I would most like to know what set of circumstances would bring an intelligent, educated (attorney) individual to would wear such a garment. Clearly, this is something other than your garden variety wingnut.
I’ve worked with this individual for about 9 years. During that time I’ve had with him several political discussions that have lead to raised voices. So I know that a discussion about the shirt would likely (definitely) be a useless effort.
But still I wonder. Why would he wear it?
How could such an individual actually believe that further violence is the path to peace? I suppose that if you can eliminate enough people, “peace” will prevail.
Naturally, this individual wears a cross the size of my palm. The irony is apparently lost on him. Clearly, his cross is only an accessory and not a symbol of his faith.
I’m a fan of the Sherlock Holmes stories. I read all of the books and short stories some time ago. But something that has stayed with me is that where the expected explanations fail, one must look to those that are somewhat less likely.
So I’m guessing that aliens came by his house one day, abducted him and replaced him with one of their own.
Feel free to post your own explanations for his behavior.
Either that or dingoes ate his brain.
and up is down
you work with some seriously deranged cats b2
take care…the wheels are coming off
I think I’d have to wear a shirt that had a baseball bat + a wingnut = pest control, or something like that.
Not to be too confrontational, but those kinds of people bring out the best..or worst in me. I hope you keep a can of Raid in your office dude.
We had a pick up truck drive by the vigil last Wednesday… the driver was almost hangning out his door – so much so that we instinctively went to protect my kids. He drove by screaming, “FUCKERS! FUCKE YOU ALL, DIE YOU FUCKERS!!!”
Bush supporters strongly believe, “death to our enemies” and we’re are it.
Hmmm this guy seems to want to goad somebody, anybody to fight/debate…
Yesterday he sounded like he was thinking things over… but… now this.
I think Bush Supporters who are now questioning things can still be dangerous. Animals are at their most dangerous when threatened or wounded.
Be safe my dear friend.
My husband saw the shirt – and said the guy is just itching for a fight. Like a guy who pours gas down the hallways and dares all to light a match.
Thanks DJ, but this is a different guy, not the one with the gun.
In a courthouse no less…
and I’m the one getting frisked before entry??
Well, it is a courthouse so I suppose he can’t wear his t-shirt with a picture of two stone tablets with the words “Thou Shalt Not Kill” in bold letters.
Fluoride in the water! (See Dr. Strangelove or “The loss of our precious bodily fluids”) What else could it be??
We are living in the end times and a W bumper sticker is the mark of the beast.
I work in a tiny law firm (2 attys, 1 paralegal, and me) and they are all liberal democrats. In fact, all of the law firms I have worked at housed mainly cool, intelligent, and caring attorneys. I’ve met some bastards, but most have been reasonable. I’ve worked in Matrimonial, general, Insurance Defense (ugh), plaintiff’s P.I., Employment, and now I work in I.P. (which is great).
My point is, you have to find another job or move. Your fellow workers suck. :>)
I make less than I could in a big firm, but the feeling of belonging in a world of conservative creeps is priceless. :>)
Thankfully there are some Dems in the office too.
I’ve thought about this, and I suggest a completely opposite tack from showing your revulsion.
Next time he wore this, pick a private moment to tell him that you are glad that he is for peace. When he looks shocked, or protests, tell him that his shirt is clearly referring to the Old Testament book of Micah, Chapter 4, verse 4(I bet he doesn’t know what that is, in spite of his huge cross):
Perhaps if he thinks people are thinking that he is advocating peace with that shirt, he might change his mind about wearing it.
Hmm, that’s an interesting approach. But I admit that I am equally ignorant of that Old Testament section.
Me, too, for the most part. I’ve just heard the “beating swords in to plowshares” and “ain’t gonna study war no more” a zillion times from singing it, and I knew it was a bible phrase,as well as a political movement. Google works wonders in telling where things are in scripture.
As to the politics, the Berrigan brothers, who were active in the disarmament/peace movement in the 60’s and beyond, were part of a group known as Plowshares, name taken from this scripture. They and 6 others were arrested in 1980, and called the “Plowshares 8” for entering a site in PA were missile parts were made. Following that, various actions directed at nuclear and other warfare installations have taken place through the decades, often adopting some part of the Plowshares name.
Another thing that bugs the hell out of me about this…
WHy is it that Republicans (especially thouse “Conservative Christians) or those who support the war are so free to spew their hate and crap without the least bit of fear or problems?
If I have a CodePink sticker on my car, you won’t believe the bullshit that gets dished out onto me… but some nutcase can walk the court corriders with that shit and …
I dunno… just scratching my head.
I’m with you on that Janet..this continues to baffle the shit out of me-it truly does. Why someone like the Coultergist can be out in the media constantly spewing her garbage yet Michael Moore or any liberal-even the most mild mannered liberal is considered, what, too dangerous to be on tv?
And there does seem to be some special relationship between conservative/fudie christians=ing hate filled crazies. Hate for everyone and anything that doesn’t fit their own Taliban type views. Yet over and over we see them on tv with almost no opposing viewpoints unless you happen to think Alan Combs does a good job of showing up Hannity.( I despise that guy-hannity-much much more than O’Reilly for some reason).
you probably hate Hannity more than O’Reilly because Hannity is a lot smarter and a lot more convincing.
O’Reilly is just a blowhard and he isn’t even overtly Republican.
I actually dislike O’Reilly more because he pretends to be unaffiliated with either party.
I started thinking about why I hate Hannity so much and I think maybe it’s because he has an overlay of religious sanctimonousness to his attitudes-other than the fact the he doesn’t let facts get in his way either but then that isn’t something anything of these thugs bother with.
You’ve been handed a totally incredible opportunity to let at least a sliver of light into this brain.
Questions will work… arguments won’t. You’ve got the time… (you mentioned 9 years already)… nothing will change overnight.
Questions like:
–What does that shirt mean to you?
–LISTEN–
(Strongly suggest don’t reply at ALL, you’ll need to gather your composure probably… Could do something like say, “OMG, I just remembered I have to reply to Helga’s semail by 8:15, I have GOT to go do that, but (look straight in eye), THANK YOU SO MUCH for answering my question.) (That last is a start at building rapport.)
You may need to get Lakoff out to formulate a reply, or a next question… or, over 3 days or so, it might come to you.
Or, you might not want to REPLY next, but ask another question:
“What does this shirt remind you of?”
That might produce some real pay dirt. If you can get him to bring that up out of the sub-basement, it might allow him to process it, vs being driven by it, into idiotic behavior.
Re the compliment that I suggested. You’re looking for anything in there that has shared values with your views. Compliment him on it. (Really.) As, “I know if someone had attacked my daughter when she was small, I would have physicallly defended her, so I can sure relate there.” That’s not quite a compliment, it’s a statement of shared values, but you can practice and find something to compliment him on.
Boran2, we all are dying to be accepted by someone, there is a power in that which is very, very hard to resist. Compliment him on his tie. His perseverance. You can find at least 5 things to compliment this person on — from time to time — consistently, tho finding the first one may be the biggest hurdle.
(Does Rush compliment his listeners to win them over? Oh yes he does, yes.)
You prob don’t want to use the Stephen Colbert system, “I admire you for having the guts to wear a shirt at work that could get you fired!” Heh. But if you have a couple of quips like that in your HEAD, you may be able to think of them and chuckle inside yourself, and maintain your composure.
–Question: “Where in the bible does Jesus say that guns and bombs equal peace?” (Beware he may come up with something.)
or “As a Christian, where do you feel violence fits into your faith?” I mean, millions of Christians in this country manage that just fine.
Remember, the other person doesn’t know what you’re supposed to say next, so whatever you say next… they’ll assume it’s what you’re supposed to say. IOW, you can repeatedly back out of the conversation with some excuse, to think and gather different, bridge-building thoughts. He won’t think it’s wierd, just that… that’s what happened.
Bridge-building will change him. Seeing him as an adversary won’t. Don’t let him draw you into an adversarial stance. That’s his T-shirt. Don’t be his T-shirt (or he has won).
Best of success, with ever much faith in your abilities, created from what you’ve written before.
…[This comment will self-destruct in a puff of smoke in 3 seconds, now that you have read it.]