Bumper Stickers

By Gertie Culpepper

Why do people feel the need to advertise their political/religious/etc. views on their vehicles? I distinctly remember back in the fall of '05 driving my husband's grandmother's Cadillac with the "Bush Cheney '04" bumper sticker on it from Ft. Worth to Austin. Every time a car would pass, I would instinctively put my hand up to cover my face and avert my gaze, so as not to make eye contact. There was no way I was going to let total strangers equate my face with Dubya's. NO WAY.
So, now it appears that Barack Obama has wrapped up the nomination. Unless, as John Harwood on Meet the Press said, "There was a secret poker game when Tony Rezko was paying Barack Obama to write Jeremiah Wright's sermons and to organize Muslim English professors for a new Weather Underground chapter, maybe Obama could be stopped." I then felt the inexplicable need to purchase my "Obama '08" bumper sticker. There are several styles to choose from on the various websites. The most popular one from the Barack Obama website is $3 each or 2 for $5. Before I made my purchase, I asked myself why I need a Barack Obama bumper sticker on my car. Why do I need random people to know my political or other views? Back in Indiana, I proudly had my John Kerry bumper sticker on my car (It kept falling off....fortuitous maybe?).

But, that was a different place and a different time. In Colorado, a largely Republican state, driving around a Kerry bumper sticker is a big "F#$@ YOU," especially after his downfall in 2004. Besides, I doubt if someone on the fence would look at my bumper sticker, look at me, my two beautiful children and my fancy-schmancy 1999 Saturn SL1 and say, "WOW! If SHE supports Obama, then I should too." So, I think I will keep my $3 this time, and hope people make the right choice, with or without my obvious support.