A question. The whole military bumper sticker thing.

[Bonhomme Richard]

For those that have lived in Europe, or any other country for that matter.
Is the phenomenon of people putting Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Academies, proud parent of, My son is a.., support our troops, etc., etc., bumper/window stickers on their cars something you would only see in the United States or is that common worldwide?
I wonder if it is common or just a strangely American thing. I get the feeling that it is unique here but I may be way off base. It makes me wonder if that is part of the shadow propaganda that leads us toward being a very militaristic society while at the same time denying that we are.
Dollars to donuts if you asked someone with one of those stickers if we are militaristic I would bet that they would say no.

[leftofcool]

1. I am glad you asked

Oddly enough, the couple across the commons, both Obama voters and Dems have one of those stickers on their Toyota. "My Son is a Marine." Nosy neighbor that I am, I asked them about that and they just said while they disagree with the wars they are proud of their son. Could be as simple as that for many parents. I suspect it is more of an American thing than world over.

[uncommon]

3. I think of it as akin to the college stickers they make for cars...

but I draw the line at the ribbon magnets and the like.

[leftofcool]

Seems like money spent on ribbon magnets could be

better used to support the troops with things they actually need.

[ejpoeta]

7. i think the ribbon magnets would be fine if they were actually supporting the vets.

i mean, i think it started with someone selling magnets for like $5 and taking the money to benefit vets. then they started selling the ones at walmart made in china for $1 and they don't mean a damned thing anymore. it would be one thing if someone were ACTUALLY supporting something.

[Common Sense Party]

2. It's not a militaristic sign. It's a narcissistic sign.

It's no different than "My kid is an honor student."

People like bragging about their kids. That's very American, but I imagine it happens elsewhere.

As far as other countries having bumper stickers, I don't know. Could it be the fact that ours is an all-volunteer military, while some other countries have a draft? I don't know the answer...

[HEyHEY]

4. On occasion you see a "Navy" sticker in Canada

That's about it. I don't think that's a bad thing. In the left wing world we seem to like to pretend that there are not threats out there, that if we left everyone alone we'd all be fine. I disagree. There's many a scumbag despot and such that would love to do harm to us. As well, for all the bad we do (the west) we do alot fo good to, right now the bad outweighs the good, but that's just where we are. I will always show respect to the people that have donned the uniform for my country.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

5. I'v been to 7 countries other than the US, in Europe and the Americas. And I tell you:

That is a completely, absolutely, utterly, exclusively US phenomenon.

[zipplewrath]

6. Varies alot

Remember, alot of countries don't distinguish between their various services, it's all just "the army" or "the military". Yes, they have branches, but they can actually have MORE divisions that just our 3.5.

In some countries like the UK, they have all these different "regiments" that have their own history and traditions. The end result is that there you're far more likely to see some regimental insignia than anything else. In other countries, military training/service is complusary on some level or another so EVERYONE in essence is in the military and it wouldn't make much sense to have a bumpers sticker about your kid. You might as well say "my kid has a pulse".

But you're right about one thing, most Americans not only don't understand just how "militaristic" our society is, but in fact have completely the other image, of some pacifist nation that occasionally has to "fight to defend our freedoms". That might describe 2 of our wars over the last 230+ years, the rest of them were wars of conquest and expansion.

[Bonhomme Richard]

8. I thoroughly undersdtand the proud of our child thing.

My best friends daughter graduated from Annapolis and we are all proud of her but I was curious about whether this is a regional thing.
Also, just like the honor roll stickers might push some other parents who see the sticker to guide their child in that direction, wouldn't it be the same with the military prone stickers? I would think so.

[leftofcool]

9. Annapolis excellent!

We love just going down there and touring around.

[Bonhomme Richard]

12. Great place and the kids that go there are phenomenal. n/t

[leftofcool]

14. Thye sure are and as polite as they can be

When we are downtown, we see many cadets and I have yet to see a one of them acting ill mannered. In fact, when my 16 year old neice visited us, she and I met a good looking male cadet downtown coming toward us. Of course she started gushing and flirting. His response, "You are a pretty young lady but I am a man of 20 and if I am seen flirting with you I could get in trouble with my superiors." His sweet and polite way of saying "bug off!" But, she was in hog heaven all week.

[Common Sense Party]

18. Who has ever looked at a bumper sticker and decided to change

their child's life direction?

Anyone? Ever?

No.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

10. "My Kid is an Honor Student at ...."

This seems to be a recent development. I don't remember seeing many military stickers years ago, maybe the occasional Marine decal, bur never a "My Kid is in Army/Navy/Marines/AirForce/CoastGuard/MerchantMarine/Police" sticker.

I think it's only partly militaristic, and mostly narcissistic. I'm bragging about my kid, and some of that reflects on me and how great I am. I'm not big on those bumper stickers.

And talking about junk on cars ... The magnetic folded-ribbon-looking-things. The only one I like is the original, the pink one supporting breast cancer research. The rest are copycats, ripoffs.

That's one bozo's two cents

:hi:

[Bonhomme Richard]

11. LOL, I've never seen a sticker that says proud parent of a child that....

gets their pay from the taxpayer.
That would include not only military, but everyone at the Government tit including people that work for government contractors.
With the amount of people who, at the end of the day, support themselves from jobs dependent on the taxpayer had to put a sticker like that on their car there would be a lot less people complaining that we are turning into a socialist country.

I had to listen to a young guy from the DC suburbs, who happened to have a 42' cabin cruiser, bitch and moan about Obama being a socialist while not seeing the irony that his paycheck came from Lockheed Martin. He just didn't get it.

[cynatnite]

13. Don't agree...

Some people who were or are currently serving love being in the military whether it's medical, administration, or whatever it is that they do. It's how they express their love for it. I don 't see it as being any different than putting a political bumper sticker on a car or even your favorite rock band.

Now as for militaristic society...I think there are strong elements of that here, but a bumper sticker doesn't measure up as an indicator, IMO.

[NoNothing]

15. Keep in mind

In many countries, especially in Europe, military service is compulsory for at least most of the male population. The United States on the other hand is an all-volunteer professional force. As a result, a relatively small portion of the population ever joins. Those that do are encouraged to take pride in their choice, partly to keep morale high and partly to build enough prestige to recruit new volunteers.

[Bragi]

16. It's an American thing

My travels throughout a lot of Europe and South America suggest that car bumper communications is an American thing.

I wonder if there's a curious relationship between wanting to express "belonging" to something via a bumper sticker, and the general breakdown in communications within communities and between neighbors?

[L0oniX]

17. It's a part of the pride that comes before the downfall.

[Call Me Wesley]

19. It sure isn't an Europe thing.

You see the fish sometimes or 'Baby On Board,' but I have never seen any bumper stickers like these here unless you see a blue Volvo with a DU-Sticker and one 'Veterans For Peace.' ;)

Other than that, no. I think it would look quite weird to see something like that ...