Recently, after making a bad decision about getting on the highway at close to rush hour, I had the pleasure of sitting in traffic with 4 toddlers in my car for over an hour, while listening to their favorite toddler music CD. While stuck on a 2-lane bridge of stopped cars, each waiting patiently for their turn to move approximately 18 inches at a time, there was that guy. You know the one, the one who cuts back and forth between lanes honking at everyone as if he is somehow going to go somewhere faster than the rest of us. The one playing his radio loudly and glaring at all the other drivers who are complacently knitting while they wait. Everyone should keep knitting in their car . . . but I digress. Also, please note that my use of the word 'guy' does not necessarily mean that this driver is male - I just had to call him/her something. So after watching this person's antics for about 15 minutes, while we were still both on the same bridge, his license plate caught my attention. The custom plate featured a religious symbol, and the text on the plate referenced a part of the religion's cannon, more specifically an evangelical quote threatening others with the 'wrath of God' should they choose not to believe. Wow! Based on this person's driving, I would be more fearful of the wrath of the religion's followers than their God.As I sat there letting my mind wander idly while the car's engine idled, I had to ask the question, "If you are going to emblazon your vehicle with a religious symbol, should people expect your behavior to be representative of that religion's ideals?" Of course if we discount the corner-case scenarios like 'the car was stolen and the driver was actually the thief' and assume that the owner/driver did in fact pay extra money for the privilege of representing his views and values, one might also assume that he wanted others to notice this. Therefore, one could also assume that either he is in fact a member of this religion and chose to evangelize vehicularly, or that he spent a lot of money and effort to demean a religion. (You know, like raiders who vote in the opposite party's primary election.)
If you look around, you see lots of examples of people wearing or advertising their values:
- Boston Strong bracelets
- A T-shirt that says "Nerd? I prefer the term intellectual badass"
- A yard sign: Wow Windows and Glass
- Kids in superhero capes
- Dads in superhero capes
- "I love Molly" on a tattoo
- "Make America Great" button supporting Donald Trump
- "My kids is an honor student" bumper stickers
- 31 Bits jewelry made in Africa and sold to raise money
The next step in this journey is of course to ask myself, "What do I represent?"
Well, my first thought is that I smell like an ad for Enfamil Prosobee baby formula. And maybe Secret Unscented deodorant. Im driving (ok, sitting in the driver's seat at least, even if it's not moving) of a large red SUV. Yes red, a midlife crisis color of car. It contains 5 car seats - thus I represent a preschool, right? I am wearing Clark's shoes that may dad bought me (so do I represent comfortable, high quality, but not the highest fashion shoes? or do I represent the coolest dad ever who is an awesome shopper?) Plus sized jeans (Don't go there!) A Magic the Gathering t-shirt from a 5 day tournament in Las Vegas. A watch and wedding ring (like all good wives should). So in summary I represent . . . a conglomeration of all the parts of me: A parent, a gamer, a person who values family, a person for whom fashion is not the top priority, a person who is comfortable with herself.
So if you see me, I hope that what you see is me.
And if I see you, well . . . maybe you should think about what I will see and what you represent . . .
Scariest part is I have no idea what people see. Guess I have something to think about on my drive to work in the morning.
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