One Response to “Honk if You’re Tired of Bumper Stickers”

1. Woods
   August 22nd, 2007 @ 9:11 am

   When I was 16 (1982), I thought I knew everything based on my two years of HS education. I posted the following bumpersticker on my beat-up Wagoneer as a result (paraphrased): “Join the Army. Travel to exotic locatations, experience new cultures, meet interesting people and kill them.”
   My parents said nothing letting me learn for myself (good idea).
   About 3 months later, I was at the stoplight at Tatum and Shea, when a man got out of his car behind me yelling. His argument (again paraphrased) was that he had spent 4 years fighting for me in Vietnam and what did I know about the commitment and sacrifices made by the troops to keep our country safe.
   He scared me in the moment but, more importantly, he gave me a real perspective on the simplistic pacifist position I had adopted and advertised to the world on my bumper. I went home and tore the sticker off immediately.
   The man not only served his country but taught a narrow thinking boy a very valuable lesson.