Bumper sticks have always held a unique place on the media stage. They’re shorter than tweets — and more colorful too. In every sense of the word.
The first bumper stickers appeared before World War II and were attached to cars with wire. Kansas City silk screener Forest P. Gill is recognized as the father of the bumper sticker having pioneered the use of pressure sensitive stock to make the message stick to the bumper.
Americans’ claim to bumper stickers as a form of political expression isn’t exclusive. In Israel, people’s passion for bumper sticker messages have crossed over into rap — spawning a hit single covering 120 stickers in the lyrics of one song.
Which brings us to the message of one Florida native, seen here visiting a rest area on the New Jersey Turnpike.
What the message lacks in grammar is more than made up in passion (note that the slogan is not on the bumper, but permanently affixed to the back window). And given a choice between being a fan of outdoor sports and liberal-media-inspired rules on proper capitalization, who wouldn’t prefer grabbing a Savage Model 110 rifle to a red tipped Sharpie marking pen?
The recent dustup between Professor Gates and Officer Crowley has taught us all about the dangers of profiling and sterotyping. But I’m willing to go out on a limb here and assume that someone who doesn’t know the difference between their and they’re won’t know how to spell xenophobic, either.
Sources: Buperstickerz.com, Wikipedia, NY Times 8/16/2004