The World According to Nick
Politics, News, Photography, and Triathlons... What don't I talk about?
Monday, April 07, 2008
<< Monday Music LOLCat Time >>
Good Ideas Don't Fit on Bumpers

Jonah Goldberg has a problem with Darwin Fish:

I find Darwin fish offensive. First, there’s the smugness. The undeniable message: Those Jesus fish people are less evolved, less sophisticated than we Darwin fishers.

The hypocrisy is even more glaring. Darwin fish are often stuck next to bumper stickers promoting tolerance or admonishing that "hate is not a family value." But the whole point of the Darwin fish is intolerance; similar mockery of a cherished symbol would rightly be condemned as bigoted if aimed at blacks or women or, yes, Muslims.

You know what Jonah... get over it.  Seriously, because everyone does this sort of thing on their cars... even Christians.  Being a Christian, I frankly don't find "Darwin Fish" any more offensive than an atheist might find the litany of Christian Bumper Stickers out there which declare:

  • "Jesus Loves You" (why don't you love him back you creton)
  • "Get Right with God or Get Left" (because apparently Democrats can't be Christian)
  • "Evolution: When "scientists" made monkeys of themselves" (not offensive to scientists I'm sure)
  • "Premarital sex puts you on the USED car lot" (you whore you)
  • "The BIBLE is the Greatest Book ever written, put it back in Public Schools" (whether you believe it or not!)
  • "In case of Rapture, this car will be unmanned" (I just find the idea of rapture to be hilarious and wishful thinking to be honest)

None of these bumper stickers, not even the Darwin Fish, are in your face saying "You're a moron, and an *sshole for believing what you do"... but they're all subtle jabs at people who don't believe exactly what we, the driver of the car, believe.  Personally I have two stickers on my car... an MSOE Alumni sticker, and a USAT sticker.  I don't have them on my car because I think you all should go to MSOE or compete in triathlons, but rather, because I'm personally proud of those two accomplishments for myself.  The Jesus Fish also fits that description.  It simply says "I'm a Christian".  Good for you.

But when bumper stickers turn from saying I believe in something, to you ought to believe in it too... guess what... people aren't going to like it.  It's called speech, and any time you do it to suggest what other people ought to do which they currently don't do, you're bound to offend people... even if you're a Christian.  For Jonah to talk about the hypocrisy of the Darwin Fish as if Christians don't often times do the exact same thing with a different message is... well... hypocritical and really ironic.

That's why I sell this bumper sticker at my Cubicle Revenge Store:

Good Ideas Don't Fit On Bumpers - Small

You're more than welcome to buy one, and thanks for your support.

# Posted at 9:51 AM by Nick  |  Comment Feed Link 4 Comments  |  No Trackbacks

 Add to del.icio.us |  Digg this Post | Filed Under: Cubicle Revenge

Monday, April 07, 2008 1:42:42 PM (Central Daylight Time, UTC-05:00)
Not that I'm defending those who have these but,

"'Get Right with God or Get Left' (because apparently Democrats can't be Christian)"

I think this one doesn't really refer to Dems or the GOP, but in terms of making one's life right w/ God or "getting left behind." I.E., from the rapture or the second coming, or what have you.

But I could be wrong.
Monday, April 07, 2008 9:05:50 PM (Central Daylight Time, UTC-05:00)
That may be technically true Jenna, and in fact, I may have even seen bumper stickers that include "Behind" in them. However, I believe that the use of Right and Left in the portrayal of that concept was chosen specifically to juxtapose them against Right/Left from a Republican/Democrat idea. There are many ways this idea could have been worded... think about it... why choose the Right/Left paradigm?
Monday, April 07, 2008 9:34:49 PM (Central Daylight Time, UTC-05:00)
Real men love cheeses.

That is all.
Tuesday, April 08, 2008 1:55:22 PM (Central Daylight Time, UTC-05:00)
Run Hillary Run.

Works on the front bumper and the rear bumper.
Comments are closed.


© Copyright 2008 Nick Schweitzer
Powered By newtelligence dasBlog 1.9.7067.0
Theme Based on Design By maystar