voting is for old people
there’s some controversy over this shirt being sold by urban outfitters, and the various theories that it’s intended to promote apathy among young [democratic] voters as part of some agenda by the old [republican] urban outfitters executive.
i’m all about stirring a little with a silly t-shirt….
… but there’s more here. and more i should talk about in some depth. there’s a hint of truth under this controversy… and it’s something i’ve been considering a bit in the past several weeks (and, if i am blessed with the platform from which to shout, you may be reading about that in a few months…)
in any case, i want to drop the thought here that political power is less and less about voting, and maybe the young (as in “not old”) people have seen a bit of that clue.
(then again, maybe i’m giving them too much credit 
)
Dude–
The shirt is meant to get the attention of everyone that sees it. I wear mine and people laugh, sometimes asking me why I have it on. I tell them it’s to point out the truth– that historically, in past years voting has been a fogey thing. I like the shirt because it generates dialogue. To dismiss it at FACE VALUE because it looks unpatriotic, counterproductive or insensitive is silly and impossibly close-minded. It’s clear to anyone who ponders this shirt, that it’s meant to encourage voting among young people, not put it down.
Comment by andrew J H — March 3, 2004 @ 1:37 am
why not start the conversation on an ironic note?
i might have to get one of these “voting is for young people” shirts at http://www.votingis.com
Comment by Jackie — March 5, 2004 @ 8:49 pm
You can stir it up a bit more and buy one of hundreds of “Voting is for ___ People” shirts at http://www.votingisforpeople.com/
You can customize your own message. You can also register to vote and learn more about suffrage and voting rights history here as well.
Thanks.
Comment by Chris Hiester — March 21, 2004 @ 12:04 am