I pulled over a car with an Obama sticker last night.

[bobbolink]

Walking through a parking lot last night, I saw a car with two Obama stickers. I smiled, saw there were people in the car, and walked up to the driver's window and signaled to speak with her. After she rolled down her window, I told her I really liked her bumperstickers, and she grinned widely.

We had quite a conversation, and several times she said that I was the only person who had commented on her stickers, and that it was really good to hear it. She goes to school at a liberal small community college, in a liberal city, and said she is becoming fearful of having the bumperstickers on. Twice she has come out to the parking lot to find someone had pasted a F--- sticker on both of her Obama stickers, and she has had people tailgating her and honking and flipping her off.

I asked if other students with Obama stickers were finding evidence of "tampering" on their cars, and she said they were. I suggested getting them together with the Dean and head of security, and finding a solution.

I told her that old geezers like me who have been agitating since Vietnam are very happy to see the young whippersnappers getting involved, and that made her very happy to know that.

We talked more, and she let me know she is going into social work, is very interested in homelessness and what I am doing, and suggested that some song-writing friends of hers could compose a song or two for the struggle. She gave me her email addy and asked for mine, so it was a very good connection.

She repeated how nice it was to hear that somebody appreciated her stickers, and wants to know how to be more involved now.

I highly recommend "pulling over" Obama cars... it can be quite rewarding for all concerned.

Oh yeah... I did my bit for health care....blood pressure was lowered all around. ^_^

[Ferret Annica]

1. My bicycle has Obama stickers

I'll pull over any other cyclist I see with one as well and give it a try. ;-)

[bobbolink]

2. Here's to non-violent bike riders!

:toast:

Making peace, one bumpersticker at a time... :hi:

[caseycoon]

3. Very cool!!! K&R

I agree that folks need a boost like you gave that girl what with all the palinite idiots running loose!
GOOD ONE!
Here's to ya! :toast:

[bobbolink]

8. Yeah, she was so surprised at something positive, it took her a while

to realize it wasn't something bad.

How sad is that???

:hug:

[Greyhound]

4. Good on them and thank you. K&R

[bobbolink]

9. Good to see you, greyhound! Good vibes are always welcome!

:yourock:

[Mad_Dem_X]

5. Several weeks ago I saw a car

covered with all kinds of cool stickers, mostly gay rights related. This was in a store parking lot. The owner wasn't around, so I left a piece of paper on their windsheild, just saying, "I LOVE your bumperstickers! :)" I hope it made them smile.

[bobbolink]

7. Great! I've done that, too, and once I waited by my car to see the reaction.

They pulled the note out with a frown, then grinned from ear to ear.

:hi:

A very nice "howdy"......and.... ITS FREE!

[Duval]

38. Super cool idea! n/t

[zbdent]

6. not quite on topic, but ...

I pranked a co-worker a while back ... took a bumper sticker which dealt with, I believe the Full Moon cafe in Cleveland ...

cut a few pieces and re-arranged it a tad ...

It was a day or so later that the co-worker realized that he now sported a bumper sticker which read "moon Me" ...

From what he said, he didn't get mooned ...

[OneGrassRoot]

10. Very cool!

I'm in a very red area, so it's rare I see Obama stickers. I should keep notes to leave saying "Hi, I like your stickers!" in case I do see them and the person isn't around. Good idea. :)

And VERY COOL about the connection with the student! Touching lives, one by one.

You go, girl! :applause:

:hug:

[bobbolink]

27. Stockpiling notes to have handy.. that's a great idea!

There is so much negativity anymore, that a little lift like that means a lot to people.

AND, written is even more powerful than the spoken word.

Great idea!

:hug:

[Bluerthanblue]

11. Way to go Bobbolink!!

I love it!

Thought when I saw the title that you were gonna spoof an April fools joke, but what a great idea!!

I'm going to look for opportunities to do the same myself.

K&R

:hi:

[bobbolink]

13. Thank you! I was hoping it would be contagious!

Its free, its non-fattening, and it feels good.

Yup, must be April Fools! :yourock;

[Bolo Boffin]

12. There you go.

Let the sun shine
Let the sun shine in
The sun shine in

[tosh]

14. Nice!

Thanks for sharing this story.:hi:

[bobbolink]

16. Thank you! I hope its contagious... report on the results, 'k?

:hi:

[mcollins]

15. I see them all the time around here.

Good for you!

[malaise]

17. Excellent

:yourock:

[bobbolink]

18. Thanks! I hope it goes "viral" ^_^

[JuniperLea]

19. Well done! Good for you!

I hope this starts a trend! I know I will be looking for opportunities to do this! Thanks for a great idea!

:hug:

[bobbolink]

20. "Trendy" that's the ticket! Random Acts trendiness... ^_^

:hug:

[JuniperLea]

21. It's so rare that trends are a good thing...

This is awesome! :D

Here's to starting a new trend of trendy goodness!

[KonaKane]

22. That's what I've been doing too.

Thanks Sarah, for the idea.

[bobbolink]

24. Hurrah for you! Please report on some of the reactions.

Yeah, Sarah woke us up to community building... :evilgrin:

[blondeatlast]

23. That's how ya do it. Very nice, bobbolink--I shall pay your goodness forward. Thank you. nt

[Desertrose]

25. That is so cool...a nice "change" for those young folks.

You rock, woman!!! :hug:

[bobbolink]

26. Yes, indeed! When speaking with them, I see with fresh eyes how exciting it is to be fired up for

the first time. They want to be acknowledged for that, and they should be. I told her, however, that we geezers are tired, and ready for them to pick up the slack. ^_^

They seem to not know quite where to step now....

:hug:

[HCE SuiGeneris]

28. A wonderful tale.

Kudos to you for initiating the conversation, and for bringing a smile to face with your story.

[maryf]

29. Ya know just talking to strangers is a great first step...

gotta start a lot of them!

[bobbolink]

40. Yeah, some of us are talkers... ^_^

:rofl:

:hug:

[maryf]

44. some are talkers and doers!

:D think you fit that bill really well!!!

:pals:

[marew]

30. You know... I am so proud of us

Most of us are really good guys. Like that young lady who is more into helping people, wants to help people rather than get rich--- which she will never do in that profession Being a retired social worker myself, I know exactly how she feels. Some of the kind stories of people caring on here really touch me.
Sometimes I can't help but wonder. Money, power, material things are all some people want. I got the following quote by Lee Atwater from wikipedia.org

In a February 1991 article for Life magazine, Atwater wrote:

"My illness helped me to see that what was missing in society is what was missing in me: a little heart, a lot of brotherhood. The '80s were about acquiring — acquiring wealth, power, prestige. I know. I acquired more wealth, power, and prestige than most. But you can acquire all you want and still feel empty. What power wouldn't I trade for a little more time with my family? What price wouldn't I pay for an evening with friends? It took a deadly illness to put me eye to eye with that truth, but it is a truth that the country, caught up in its ruthless ambitions and moral decay, can learn on my dime. I don't know who will lead us through the '90s, but they must be made to speak to this spiritual vacuum at the heart of American society, this tumor of the soul.

This article was notable for an apology to Michael Dukakis for the 'naked cruelty' of the 1988 Presidential Election Campaign."

The other side will never learn. They just don't get it.

[Xenotime]

31. Agreed. The other side is full hate and rage fueled by racisim

[bobbolink]

41. Thank you so much for that wonderful quote!

Lessons like that need a lot more airplay than they get.

I appreciate you posting this. :yourock:

[marew]

42. You are so welcome. n/t

[Magleetis]

32. I think its time

to put an Obama sticker laden car on the street and stake it out with a camera. Catch and prosecute the assholes.

[laughingliberal]

33. Good job! Rec nt

[Mithreal]

34. Good on you, bobbo.

:thumbsup:

[bobbolink]

43. Thanks! I enjoyed meeting her, so it was a spirit-lifter for me, too.

:hi:

[maryf]

35. kick nt

[Naked_Ape]

36. I don't like a lot of stickers

all over my car so I took 'em off after the election. When I heard of Palin's taunts I had to find one to put back on. As a fellow Texan once said: "Bring 'em on!" We can't let the teabag malcontents intimidate us into silence. "Pulling over" and writing notes to sticker-buddies is a great idea.

[AllyCat]

37. Often I wanted to paste F*** stickers on those stupid W bumper stickers

but never DID it. Is that the difference between us and them? They have no off-switches and we can actually show responsibity and regulate ourselves?

[bobbolink]

39. I think that is definitely a consideration. It's always important to check ourselves

by putting ourselves in the shoes of others and thinking how we would feel.

"They have no off-switches" I think that is a very good way of expressing it.

As the divide in this country grows, I think by "showing responsibility", as you put it, we can make friends and win supporters by showing not only some moderation, but finding ways to educate those who believe they are in the "center".

Kansans need love, too. :) :yourock: