Free Clothes

I have received my fair-share of t-shirts emblazoned with the logos of corporations or their products. Since I'm not much of a t-shirt guy, I wear them only when doing things like painting and housecleaning (so a single logo-ed t-shirt should last the rest of my life). I think of these t-shirts as being free clothes for the middle-class. Corporations hand them out in the workplace regularly.

Last night I attended the Camp Casey candlelight vigil at Rockefeller Center. It was lovely. It was nice to be with so many people who support Cindy Sheehan and her vigil at the home of the current American president.

The location of the vigil made for quite a collection of people. Many, like me, having just left the office, were dressed in business casual attire ranging from khaki to linen. There were those dressed for the theater, and some in religious garb, and some in the unmistakable guise of tourists.

There were police officers in crisp uniforms and blank faces cordoning off the area in their ongoing efforts to "keep the public safe" by making anyone who disagrees with federal policy as uncomfortable as possible.

Then there were those in free clothes. One young man was college-age and wore a grey cotton t-shirt with the logo "citibank@campus" (the .com was suspiciously missing). I thought back to Vietnam protests, gay rights marches and riots, pro-choice rallies, marches on Washington and various state capitols, and the defense of the International Hotel. Though 'free clothes' existed in these days, I can't remember, and certainly can't imagine, that anyone at these events would have worn a shirt from a bank.

When I think about it: most of the problems with wars and money are rooted in the policies of banks and the companies they fund, so advertising their products while protesting war seems odd to me.

Then I saw the 'free clothes' outfit that was most absurd!

A middle-aged man holding a candle was wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with the logo of a Fox television network. Now, this totally baffles me! How can you advertise a Fox television network and be opposed to the war in Iraq? Fox networks are the champions of the media campaign against Camp Casey, and the primary media supporters of the current American president and the war in Iraq.

I don't get it!

Me? I wore a linen shirt made in Ireland, linen trousers made in Italy, and Prada pumps made by the Devil in Milan.

Maybe I was the one dressed inappropriately!


Some press:

Worker's World

Mother's vigil moving to bigger spot. Ranch neighbor offers land after car runs over anti-war memorial.






Dick Mac Recommends:

Imperial America
Gore Vidal