Would you put this bumper sticker on your car?

[gollygee]

It says Kerry for President. Next to that is an American flag. And under it all is written "These Colors Don't Run"

I told my husband I wanted an American flag sticker to put on my car because I don't like the repubs claiming the patriotic thing to do is to vote for Bush. So he got a bunch of these bumper stickers.

The problem is that I am opposed to the war. I see this as a pro-war statement. Am I wrong about that? My husband thinks it isn't a pro-war statement, but he said he thought I should put it over my PEACE bumper sticker which makes me think he really does see it as a pro-war statement as well.

Thoughts?

[displacedtexan]

1. I posted it on my blog, and I'm totally anti-war.

Courage doesn't just mean carrying a military issued rifle.

[Jackpine Radical]

2. I think it's kind of a Rorschach test.

Lots of ways to take the message. Some examples--
Kerry doesn't run from the Smear Boat vets.
Kerry charges directly at his attackers.
Kerry doesn't back down when confronted by special interests.

[Richardo]

3. I like Kerry sticker + a separate American flag without the slogan...

I never liked that slogan - sort of a 'Rambo-meets-AllTempa-Cheer' vibe. :wtf:

[Claire Beth]

4. The way I see it is...

"These colors don't run".... Could also refer to Bush running as in being AWOL in the Nat'l Guard. I think it can have several meanings.

[KurtNYC]

7. Good catch

[wicket]

19. That's the way I took it

n/t

[BurtWorm]

5. That's one of my least favorite Kerry slogans

Notice that all Kerry slogans are borrowed from the right, many even directly from the Bush campaign of 2000. The "colors don't run" slogan is borrowed from post-9/11, when a lot of non-New Yorkers were itching for a fight. I hated the slogan then, too, but it made more sense in that context. It doesn't make any sense in the Kerry context. He should stick to making fun of Bushist slogans like "Help is on the way" and "Restore honor and integrity to the presidency."

If I could make my own sticker, it would say, "Turn the Corner. Accomplish the Mission. Elect John Kerry."

[jonnyblitz]

8. mine too. save the jingoist CRAP for the wingnuts..

why would anybody want to imitate THAT. :puke:

[lectrobyte]

6. I have just a plain smallish American flag and Kerry/Edwards bumpersticker

on my car. By smallish, I mean about half the size of a regular bumpersticker. It's our country too. I never liked the "These colors don't run" for some reason. Sounds like you have a chip on your shoulder or something.

[gollygee]

9. I have half a mind to just cut out the little flag and put that on my car

I just have never liked the statement "these colors don't run"

I saw a good bumper sticker once though that said

THESE COLORS DON'T RUN
THE WORLD

[NoPasaran]

10. I like one that says

These colors don't run... the world

[bukk]

11. The distinction I think you have to make...

Are you not "pro-war" or are you "anti-war"?

I am not pro-war. However, that doesn't mean that I don't accept the fact that sometimes war is a necessary, if supremely unfortunate, path that must be taken to defend ourselves.

That position is, to me, distinct from being anti-war, which is to oppose war under any circumstances. That is not a position I hold, but I respect that others may.

In my case, I accepted the need for the U.S. attack on Afghanistan after 9/11. I didn't feel good about it, but I understood the necessity. My distress came in the aftermath, when the "war was won" but the follow up was botched. Afghanistan is now a mess, Osama is still (we think) free, and we are no more safe from terrorist attack than we were before. Probably less safe.

I opposed the Iraq war. It stole resources from Afghanistan, increased instability in the region, alienated our allies. You know all the problems it caused. I always knew a time would come when Saddam would have to be dealt with more directly, but the timing and the reasons were wrong in so many ways.

In any case, getting back to your question. If you are "anti-war", then I think you probably don't want that bumper sticker. If you are not "pro-war" in the way I am not "pro-war", then I think the bumper sticker is fine.

[gollygee]

12. I specifically oppose the Iraq War

I am not opposed to war under any circumstances. At least, I think it is sometimes an unfortunate necessity.

But I still don't like the phrase "These Colors Don't Run"

[bukk]

18. Well...

...that's reason enough not to use the bumper sticker! :-)

I'm not all that thrilled by the phrase either. In the end, you gotta follow your gut on something like this!

[Walt Starr]

13. Something similar, my wife and I have prepared our neighborhood

for WELL OVER A YEAR.

We'veproudly flown the flag at our house each day we could over the past year. Everybody who drives by our house on a regular basis sees old glory flying.

Within the past week, a Kerry/Edwards sign has appeared.

:evilgrin:

We put the flag out there first, got everybody used to the fact that we are patriotic Americans, then put up the patriotic Kerry/Edwards sign during election season.

:evilgrin:

[Florida_Geek]

14. You mean this one

$1.75 over at http://www.buzzflash.com/premiums/04/05/pre04012.html

[gollygee]

17. Yes! That's it exactly!

[sam sarrha]

15. if you have several you can 'cut and paste' what you want to say

:kick: 'PULL OUT BUSH, LIKE YOUR FATHER SHOULD HAVE' :dem:

[kwolf68]

16. Hard to say

Certainly, the American flag is a good touch. The Repubs don’t own it.

“These Colors Don’t Run” does appear to me a Pro-War statement. I have seen takeoffs of that statement that says “These Colors Don’t Run The World”.

One can have immense patriotism without mindless jingoism.