Technology & MSG

Occassionally you see a bumper sticker that offends your sensibilities. “Fighting Terrorism Since 1861″ was emblazoned on the back of a white Chevy panel van, next to a confederate flag. The sticker wasn’t alone; a confederate flag was positioned between the two parts of the van’s license plate number, another in the back window. You seem them around from time to time, but not all that often in the eastern portions of the state.

The van, though… damn. Having just departed the Laurel Wal-mart, the van was stopped at a light and I got to have a good look at the rear of it. It was a Chevrolet extended panel van, much used/worn. The left door was off its top hingle completely and the bottom hinge was buckled out due to structural damage; the result being that the door was pointed in the 1 o’clock position. The right door was in a similar state, except it was closing over top of the left door in a 10 o’clock position. These doors folded over each other — in addition to keeping the driving pretty cold this week — afforded me a lovely view of the cargo area of the van. A toolbox, some assorted junk, but no missing children that I could see. Despite my thoughts of the confederate movement, I don’t associate it with child abduction; I am wary of busted panel vans with no windows, since I do associate those with abduction and abuse for some reason. After the light changed, it rumbled down the road a bit before turning into the a nearby trailer park community.

Maryland is south of the Mason-Dixon line, but its proximity to the Capital seem to override the stereotypical “southern” proclivities and idiocy. It would seem that some folks just can’t get with the program. Not that its new.

Similar Articles

• The Morning Commute
• Replacing Hotel Keys with Credit Cards
• The Juxtaposition of Bumper Stickers
• Is That a Police Officer on the Front Steps?
• Every Day is a Little Better Than the Last