My little way of spreading the message... something we can all do!

[Kerrytravelers]

I always stash half sheets with the following typed. Whenever I go into public restrooms, I wedge the paper in between the wall and the hardware (like the seat cover dispenser, etc.) Don't bother if the custodian has just cleaned up the stall, as the person walking in behind you may make a scene about the paper being in there. Also, if a custodian is to clean the stall, your paper will just be tossed away.

I write the bottom line in red so it stands out.

Here is what I leave behind:

The Iraqi Invasion

Americans

DEAD 1,400+
WOUNDED 10,500+
DIED IN LANDSTUHL undisclosed
CAPTURED undisclosed
MISSING undisclosed
SUICIDES 30+


Iraqi (children,babies,mothers, fathers,
disabled, elderly, innocents.)

DEAD 100,000+
WOUNDED 125,000+
CAPTURED undisclosed
MISSING unknown
SUICIDES unknown




DAYS SINCE BUSH VOWED TO CAPTURE OSAMA BIN LADEN 1,245
AMERICAN FUNERALS ATTENDED BY BUSH OR CHENEY 0

[GetTheRightVote]

1. Thank you for the ideal, I will pass it on

:kick:

[kaho]

2. ...well I don't know...

...seems a little weird leaving anonymous notes in toilets.

Why not just write to your local paper?

[smurfygirl]

3. I also leave notes in the restroom

good way to get some attention. Everyone reads what's in there whether written on the wall or on a note. I have actually printed buisness cards up as well.

[kaho]

13. ...look at their faces....

...how can you exploit them so?

Do you have their families permission? Do you feel confident that those dead soldiers would endorse your sentiments?

[hermetic]

4. I've done this myself

I also leave stuff on the bus.
Activists rock! :headbang:

[xmas74]

5. That is an interesting idea

I might have to try that sometime!

[Kerrytravelers]

6. I just mentioned the public restrooms...

...our friend leaves them EVERYWHERE. Grocery stores, book stores, etc.

People can just refuse to read the newspaper, or the letter can be edited. When you leave them places, people are caught off guard, it is definetly something that may stick in their minds because you don't see something like that everyday. And you know, people are just not reading the news anymore. They are just too appathetic. My friend, whose husband is in the Navy, had no idea about the numbers in Iraq. People just don't know.


My one piece of advice is to stay clear of sarcasm. Just stick to undeniable facts from sources tht would be considered "neutral", ie, newspapers and mainstream media or the BBC. If you site a source, don't use TruthOut or Common Dreams. The average comatose American will look up the site, see it leans left, and forget about it. Sad, but true.

[kaho]

7. ..I find that hard to believe....

...That "the average American will look up the site, see if it leans left, and forget about it".

What do you base that on? For example, does Rush Limbaugh have more credibility than his media opponents??????

[Kerrytravelers]

9. Look at it from this perspective...

Naturally, you and I will look at these sites and trust the source. But most Americans seem to find it inconceivable that Bush is a war criminal and that he lied about Iraq. So, if they see the site is posting articles they may consider "tin foil hat" then they are likely to not take anything as truth.

Even some of our friends who voted Kerry (mainly because we said they should) get real turned off by Truth Out or some such site.

Personally, I never site the source when I leave the Iraq numbers.

In regards to Rush, no he doesn't have more crediabailty. And if I were a RWer, I'd never site him as a source because he is too biased. The idea is, if you're going to site a source, find something as middle of the road as possible. If they do look ito the idea further, they'll find more articles in the left-leaning (or independent, non-corporate) press, but you don't want to put someone off over "preceived" biased.

[Kerrytravelers]

11. Kaho, I noticed you're from New Zealand.

Let me tell you a bit about what you'll find here in the States. We truly are a nation rocked to sleep, as Carly Sheehan wrote in a peom about the murder of her brother Casey, an American soldier in Iraq. People here just don't pay attention. Regardless of media coverage, I bet you a staggering 40% couldn't identify a picture of Rice or Rummy. It's that bad. People just don't care. They are so wrapped in the flag, the facts aren't important. People in CA voted for Schwarnezi as governor because he was "the action man." They still can't tell you anything about his policies. California's received, on average, a $150 rebate on their car registrations and they are so pleased. Most don't realized that he cut funds to disabled children living below the poverty line. They got their money and that's all they want to know.

My country is sound asleep, so every little thing counts. The newspapers don't print many letters, especially those filled with numbers and facts. Sometimes they might, but in general, letters are short and without much statistical facts to back it up.

Leaving statistics and well written articles from what the general public would consider unbiased is only one way. I say unbiased to the general population because the target audience is huge, not a narrowly defined audience of left leaning people.

I only wish letter and stories from Common Dreamsn or Truth Out was the way to go.

Hell, I wish we had a fourth estate. Our media machine is broke and very few of us want it fixed.

[kaho]

12. ..thanks for that...

...but it's still a puzzle.

Michael Moore received a lot (and I mean a helleva lot) of media attention here, and I understand his efforts in the USA were hugely successful. In addition it seems that a lot of the Hollywood establishment were pro-Kerry, not to mention all the muso's I heard of, including Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, Steve Earle, the Dixy Chicks etc etc etc etc. In other words popular culture seemed sewn up. And then of course there was the bottomless war-chest of Soros. Dollars didn't seem a problem.

So if as you say, it's just that people are so ill-informed - November was surely maximum effort - so much money spent - so many entertainment careers on the line - what on earth happened?

[LifeVest]

8. Other Materials

Print out copies of compelling, well-written online documents and leave them in waiting rooms at doctor's offices, auto repair shops, etc.

[Kerrytravelers]

10. I've done this, too...

especially when I was campaigning for Kerry in swing states. I'd leave stuff like this all over the place.