Should I confront a brown shirt 16yo

[hatredisnotavalue]

My son's HS football quarterback has the following bumper sticker on his car "Work harder millions on welfare are depending on you."

I grew up on welfare and now probably make three times what the parents of this kid makes. No matter how you play, it is really humiliating being on welfare. We used to be friends of this kids's parents but they were just too right-wing for us.

My glorious son, who plays linebacker and can bench press his own weight, said he would let the oppposing team have at at this kid. I told him a team is a team and you can't let them down.

My son knows I am hurt by this bumper sticker. He and his teammates doen't like the kid. Should I contront the little shit. Or put a Kerry bumper sticker on his car when he is at practice?

[noahmijo]

1. I think I'd leave it alone

Talking sense to a spoiled little punk won't get you anywhere. It would lead to confrontation with his parents and then not being in your position I wouldn't know if that to you is worth it or not.

At this point the punk is just lashing out at anybody mommy and daddy don't deem good americans. I would just ignore it but the moment he or the parents start trying to involve you or your child then it's game on.

I'm 23 with 7 years on this kid and I don't even consider myself someone to make bold statements like that denouncing an entire group of people, and I notice people twice my age do it with such pride that it makes me wonder as to why the hell I should even bother growing up.

[hatredisnotavalue]

7. You are right

The best thing was that the bumper sticker taught my kids a lesson which led to a discussion on welfare. We really are not all bad:)

[khashka]

12. it makes me wonder as to why the hell I should even bother growing up

Easy one. Because we need people like you? Damn right!
So grow up and be proud and never lose your idealism. Some of us old folks are still idealistic and we need people like you to prove to us we weren't wrong :)

All the battles we fought were for people like you.


Khash.

[hatredisnotavalue]

26. :) n/t

[u4ic]

2. Any bumper stickers about corporate welfare?

[Deja Q]

33. 'corporate fathers blame welfare mothers'

[ohiosmith]

3. It only bothers you because you let it. Forget about it. Don't confront

the kid. Leave his car alone.

[sasquatch]

4. You should tell the QB these words of wisdom

The recievers will keep you on the front page but the O-Line will keep you out of the obituary.

[hatredisnotavalue]

8. That is so good!

[fudge stripe cookays]

5. Stick an enlistment form under

his windshield wiper. It's only another year or so, right?

16? Unless his job at Sonic or McD's is paying an exorbitant amount, this kid's not working hard enough to EVER know the meaning of that bumper sticker.

And if he has no job at ALL, that's even worse. Little fascist in training.

FSC

[flvegan]

9. You beat me to this suggestion.

Hell, send a recruiter to his house.

No...don't. Nobody, not even a Freeper in waiting deserves to go die for asshat's war.

[hatredisnotavalue]

14. Actually his brother just spent the past year in Iraq n/t

[khashka]

6. I'd go with the Kerry Bumpersticker

I don't think arguing with a kid will do either of you any good....

Just be proud of your son. We can't make other people's children be as wise or caring as we would wish. But we can do that for our kids.... and you obviously have. Your son sounds great!

But the bumper sticker... sometimes a little vandalism can heal the soul.....

Khash.

[hatredisnotavalue]

11. I really feel the need to be evil :) n/t

[khashka]

15. You really wanna be evil?

You really wanna fuck with the little Nazi?

Stick a pro gay bumper sticker on his car! Something explicit and embarassing :)


Khash.

[hatredisnotavalue]

16. where can i find one?

That is evil at its best!

[khashka]

20. I got a few...

and there are a number of websites where you can roll your own so to speak...

But I got one that might be appropriate.

Huge red letters on a black background: I NEED a Spanking!!!!!


Khash :)

[neuvocat]

10. What happens when you see it everywhere?

I see that sticker on plenty of cars. Do I find it offensive? Yeah, a little. But if I had a bumper sticker on my car that someone found offensive, I wouldn't consider it their right to confront me on it anymore than I would to confront them about theirs.

[hatredisnotavalue]

13. so true n/t

[khashka]

17. Confrontation is OK. Life is filled with confrontation.

It's inevitable.

While I've been advocating evil, the way I actually deal with it when I'm truly offended is to leave a note on the windsheild. They'll probably wad it up and throw it away.... but some might read and think.

Either way, no harm done.

Khash.

[hatredisnotavalue]

18. You are right that is exactly what I am going to do...n/t

[khashka]

25. I hope so...

I've just been funning with you. But hatred is NOT a value. And if our values mean anything, then we have to live by them.

My religion has one precept: Do what thou wilt, an' it harm none. Not bad advice, I think.

If you confronted the little Nazi, it could cause trouble for your son. Which would be a very bad thing.... Damaging his car, also a bad thing. So a note, expressing your experience, your feelings, your thoughts, anonymously... maybe he'll wise up. And maybe not.

You can't tell how a kid will turn out in the end.... some of us were little hippies, some of us Hitler youth. It's the beginning of the story, not the end.


Don't betray your principles because you are pissed off...

Khash.

(Oh my great godess, Khash is getting all moralistic and started lecturing. Stop me, please!)

[hatredisnotavalue]

27. No I like it...

I am pissed off, my feelings were hurt. I should speak up. Did you ever read Rhinoceros by Ionesco? You have to say something!!!!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

30. My dear Khash...

You do not need to stop lecturing, as you call it...You are full of really good ideas, and it's wonderful that you feel like telling them to us..

I love what you said about kids...and how they might turn out...very wise, IMHO....

I am continuously amazed at how much you know, and at how very complex a person you are...

I feel lucky to know you, as well...:hug:

[khashka]

35. Peggy.....

Thanks.


I may have learned a thing or two in my rather odd life....

But any wisdom has been entirely beyond my grasp. And I kow I am arrogant, and pedantic, and pontifical. I try hard not to be but always fail.

I'm glad you think I have something worthwile to say. I wish I thought the same. My writing career has stalled like a Ford with a missing transmission. After all, why say anything when you have nothing to say?


But i'ts wonderful of you to say so.

Khash.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

36. My dear Khash...

Sorry, my dear, but I am old enough, and educated enough to see that you possess some wisdom...

AND there is nothing wrong with being arrogant, pedantic and pontifical, as long as you do it with love...and you, my dear Khash, do it with love...

I thank you for your very kind comments towards me...
I mean every word I say to you...

:hug: :loveya:

[bliss_eternal]

37. True--initially bumper stickers like this piss me off,

but when I give myself enough time, I feel a bit sorry for people like this. What a limiting belief system. How horrible to judge others based on situations that many have absolutely no control over.

They are truly the ones on welfare. On permanent, mental welfare of which there is absolutely no reprieve from. Someday people like this look up and find themselves in situations that mimic the very ones they had contempt for...

[MindPilot]

19. here's how to approach it

ask him what it means. Then--if he has a job--ask him why he isn't getting welfare. ask him to explain why he's even bothering to go to school if welfare is such a good deal. tell him how some companies (Wal-Mart) pay so little that they actually give classes on how to get public assistance. Get him to thinking--who knows he may go home and tell his parents they're wrong.

On the other hand he may just be an a-hole, but remember, you are the adult, he is the child...your duty is to teach.

[hatredisnotavalue]

21. Great idea....

I am going to write him a letter and stick it under his windshield...something to the effect that I know you and this is waht happened to me..I find it so ironic that half of the kids on the team are on welfare and he is the one trying to build the team trust...It so reminds me of Radio.

[MindPilot]

29. I don't like the letter idea; it's kind of passive-agressive, and

it gives him time to think, to craft a response, and time to stew. You can confront him just by saying, hey I'm curious about your bumpersticker.

make it about him and his views; make him defend them on his feet. The point you bring up that most of the kids on his team are on welfare; I bet he doesn't even know that.

[hatredisnotavalue]

31. You are right, the more I think about it the more I want to

confront him. I will be kind. I want him to explain the bumper sticker and why he put it on his car. I can be very cheerful and I know I can get into a positive exchange with him. Anyway. thanks for all of the comments, my daugther needs the computer now for her AP project. Thanks to all and I will check in tomororw. Kiss, kiss.

[hatredisnotavalue]

22. The ironic thing about this whole thing

Is that the first person any of these kids ever saw was our lesbian doctor who delivered everyone of them. Whenever my kids started to stereo-type people, I would throw that in. Result: I have two incredibly left-wing Democrat teenagers living with me.

But as an aside, this kid should really know better.

[mconvente]

23. tell us how he takes that letter when you write it n/t

[hatredisnotavalue]

24. Will do...n/t

[Jade Fox]

28. Simply telling him your story....

would have an impact. No doubt he has never met anyone who is or was
on welfare. Just by introducing yourself as a former beneficiary of welfare
is likely to fly in the face of his preconceptions.

That's all you have to do. No lectures, just give him information he's not
gotten from his upbringing.

[hatredisnotavalue]

32. bulleyes!!!n/t

[LynneSin]

34. Hopefully they'll have career day and you can speak at it

and talk about how you turned your life around