I LOVE a good debate. I love debating my friends, my enemies, and myself. Debate keeps us on our toes and challenges our brains to look at all sides of issues we care about… Debate allows us to form and defend opinions or be swayed to change our minds and adopt a new outlook. So here is one for you… I bought a hilarious anti-war t-shirt the other day from a vendor in Union Square. It features Condi Rice in a Warhol style art piece with the word “WARHO” below it.
I love it but know that some people who even agree with me that Condi is the devil incarnate hate this shirt from a feminist perspective. I love the shirt because it plays off of popular culture in a fun way and is quite simply hilarious. I’m not taking away from the fact that I think she is incredibly smart and accomplished. I think the shirt trivializes Condi in the way she has helped trivialize the lives of marginalized Americans and innocent Iraqis… Also, I must reiterate the fact that it is a terribly funny and harmless play on words.
A group of frat boys were raving about it when I bumped into them while walking around past some seedy bars in the Lower East Side the other night. I felt good sparking political discussion in people who usually would be apathetic… I didn’t even mind when they said, “Dude, did you see that chick’s shirt. War-ho. Condi Rice… Right on. Screw the war.” hahaha. Not that I want to perpetuate name calling… I’m just saying… it sparked some discussion.
Thoughts? Hate it? Love it?
Speak sisters. Speak.
4 responses so far ↓
1 Maddie Lear // Jul 24, 2007 at 9:46 am
Love it. I mean i’m sure that some people would find choose not to like it because, well, yes, it does kind of fit into the name calling and “anti-feminist.” But if I woke up one day, having the sudden urge to make a political statement, I would have noooooo problem putting it on! xoxo good post
2 Liz // Jul 24, 2007 at 2:04 pm
I guess I’ll weigh in: not a fan. We would never suggest that George Bush has a small penis or that his male cabinent members were missing testicles, and subsequently they started a war… so I’m not crazy about the concept of comparing Condi to women who sleep with men for money, just because she supports the war.
And, eww! Frat boys on the LES!?
But I do like Warhol…
3 Jamia // Jul 24, 2007 at 2:49 pm
Tee hee hee, I totally respect your viewpoint Liz. You should check out the mug they have at Urban right now with Bush on it, it says…” I should have pulled out.”
4 Kate // Jul 24, 2007 at 7:03 pm
I love Andy Warhol (Pittsburgh born, represent! haha) but I think this shirt is horrible. No matter who the woman is, her sexuality shouldn’t be degraded even if she supports the war in Iraq. Condi is a role model to many women. You’d never catch me wearing a “Warho.” Good find though Jamia, great for debates!
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