by I’m not sure what these 15 people have in common other than being arrested and mug shot in an Obama t-shirt — but it does make one wonder if there are similar mug shots of the arrested in Dubya shirts.
My guess is that there were not really any Dubya shirts to be worn and Obama, as a brand, is much more suited for application on urban outerwear and underwear.
Do those mug shots suggest Obama has more criminally inclined fans?
Or is Obama’s reach so powerful that he’s an image to be coveted and memorialized on cotton shirts — and politics and belief have nothing to do with the wearing of his message?
Dave,
Interesting article. I think the power of the O brand is so powerful that it goes everywhere. Political change is the last area of change to take root in reality.
Personal change is so hard for everyone and its a lot easier to wear a t-shirt I’m afraid.
Clay
perhaps people who owned dubya shirts were always careful to wear them only when not omitting crimes – or the dubya shirts were actually white collar and therefore not as detectable because white collar crimes aren’t as publicized.
Hi Clay!
Hey, it’s great to have you with us! We value your thoughts and opinions!
You make many excellent points. Obama is taking us in new, difficult directions and there is a lot of resistance from many sides — but if we don’t start making some sort of dramatic change, then I fear we’re doomed to stasis and being stuck in the past.
Your point about t-shirts as substitutes for passion and direction and intent is right on and the same argument could be made for those silly cause ribbons and American flag lapel pins that have all lost the ferocity of their founding intention.
Excellent analysis, Gordon! Mug Shot Row is a fascinating mosaic of America at a certain point in time — winnowed by the Man of Hope (not the scurrilous one *from* Hope) — and I can’t help but stare at those dead faces and wonder if they even really know who Obama is and if they care about what he stands for…
It could be that some are more about the “moment in history” rather than the cause itself.
True change takes time. We will not witness the fulfillment of the appropriate changes so desperately needed under just our current president. President Obama is only one man in this equation. He is one willing to start the changing process( for good or bad is a matter of favor) … but another will collectively add to the change and implement it. Such has been the history of our nation.
That’s an interesting argument, Kimberley. Usually, historic moments are tied to specific people who are able to inspire events and lead a change in cultural thinking.