You think she gets funny looks for the anti-Obama black arm band…

...you should have seen the stares she got when she was wearing black protest lederhosen during the primaries:

And the third time was just the other day. An acquaintance who is much younger than myself and progressive, whose dad had been very much a political activist. By this time I pointed wearily but confidently at the arm band, grateful she was asking. I looked her in the eye and instead of being skittish and apologetically overtalking it as I had on the first day I had worn it, I simply said, “I have been wearing this since last May. It started out because of the torture. But I added on the wars and now health care.”

She looked at me not with an understanding I expected, but what seemed a bit of reined in “get the net” disdain and quietly but deliberately moved away. End of conversation. I felt disappointment and confusion. My chronic confusion, actually, as to why the amorality of my government is not being seriously challenged by more people in my immediate life network.

Now, I am sure my black arm band is gossip fodder at the office. Or maybe that is narcissistic of me. Sadly, my clique of those truly politically outraged at her government, at the workplace, has one lone member, me. It is eerie to me that it seems like an “eccentricity” that is too troubling for people to address with me. Though I am sure it is sending out some quiet truth ripples.

If “quiet truth ripples” (*must not chortle*) makes you feel better about the consistently averted gazes and unrelenting hum of muffled snickering in your “immediate life network,” well, goddammit, quiet truth ripples it is!

UPDATE: Sending this one out to one of my favorite people in my immediate life network…

Creed's quiet truth ripples

Posted by Kevin K. on 03/18/10 at 08:10 AM • Permalink

Categories: Politics • Barack Obama • Poliblogs • Skull Hampers •

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Of course, some of us seriously suffer for our principles. I can’t describe the lost job opportunities, sneers and open-mouthed gapes I’ve encountered for constantly wearing my sequined Carmen Miranda fruit headpiece to protest unjust US policies toward Latin America.

Comment by Betty Cracker on 03/18/10 at 07:50 AM

“Wowee! I am in awe of the political courage you display by wearing your truth-rippling armband at the office! You GO, gal!”

Signed,

Rachel Corrie

Comment by StrangeAppar8us on 03/18/10 at 08:19 AM

Ha!

Honestly, though, I’m totally opposed to politics in the workplace. I had a hardcore Republican boss during the ‘04 elections (who—surprise!—was a complete asshole) and he constantly tried to engage me in political debate, which I studiously avoided. The day after the election several of us were very bummed about Kerry losing and we were greeted by a huge “Bush Wins!” sign on his door along with an electoral map showing a sea of red. If I didn’t know his days were numbered there, I would have contacted HR about it. The workplace is stressful enough without injecting politics into the atmosphere. It’s just a really bad idea and unfair to your fellow employees. Leave that shit for drinks after work if you really feel the need to “get it out there.”

Comment by Kevin K. on 03/18/10 at 08:21 AM

But during my Edwards campaigning I was often teased good naturedly or invited to talk more. Not so, post-Obama election. Or maybe it is I who am not engaging them as much

Oh no, libby lib, go ahead and continue your supercilious posturing! It’s much more important that you express your disdain than that you persuade anybody.

Comment by Mrs. Polly on 03/18/10 at 08:29 AM

I agree, Kevin. I work in an environment of women from a limited geographical area, and it happens to be a pocket of Republican Christian conservatives. Several times I’ve been tempted to reply to some of their comments about what Obama is doing, or how they are terrified of going to Death Camps (no, they really believe that) and how terrible things are because of this administration.

I’m not afraid to speak my mind in other environments, but I won’t jeopardize my workplace and alienate people I see every day.

Comment by donnah on 03/18/10 at 08:35 AM

Seriously, you think an armband is trouble? I’m getting shit 24/7 for wearing this on my Meals on Wheels delivery route.

Comment by StrangeAppar8us on 03/18/10 at 08:37 AM

@ Kevin—I feel your pain, man. I was working with a hard-core GOPer during the 2004 election too, and the triumphalism was a bit hard to take. She wasn’t generally a complete asshole, but I did want to punch her in the face that day a couple of times.

Comment by Betty Cracker on 03/18/10 at 08:46 AM

The really sick thing is that she obviously finds validation when people treat her like the social leper she is.

Comment by Tom65 on 03/18/10 at 08:51 AM

Those truth ripples are silent but deadly.

Comment by Allan on 03/18/10 at 09:14 AM

An Open Message To Libby:

First - dreadful writing. Second - GTFO, poser.

Comment by Mike on 03/18/10 at 09:20 AM

Black armband… I guess I can sympathize. Or is it empathize?

Anyway, I remember after seeing 2001: A Space Odyssey being upset about the senseless death of the astronaut who wasn’t David Bowman- I’m forgetting his name. For months afterward I wore a PDP-11 keyboard on my wrist as a symbolic protest.

I’m trying to remember. That movie was historically accurate, wasn’t it?