I have been trying hard to be a nice guy on Mudcat, and not generate any controversy, but I feel I just have to sound off on this one.I have beeen living in the States for three years now, I love it, love the people, want to become a citizen eventually and all that, but ONE THING BUGS ME.
What is it with these bumper stickers that inform total strangers of personal details that to my British-conditioned mind would be best kept in the family ?
Let me start with "My Child Made Honor Roll At XYZ Grade School" . Well, congratulations lady, I am happy for you but why are you telling ME about it? As it happens, I made top of my class all the way through primary(grade) and secondary(high) school, but I would have been mortified had my parents ever advertised the fact on their rear bumper. Do American kids ever get teased about the bumper stickers? Or do the "stupid" kids who don't make Honor Roll look up to them in admiration ? Please tell me . I really want to know.
Then there are the "My Child is A Graduate of D.A.R.E" I am guessing slightly here, but I think DARE stands for Drugs and Rehabilitation ???????????". Whatever it is, it is a statement that the child has been a drug addict and has got himself clean. Again, I think this is great, but why are you telling ME about it? Don't you think you should just keep it in the family?
But the one I saw on the turnpike this afternoon really takes the biscuit. "My Son Was Killed by a Drunk Driver" Underneath was the acronym M.A.D.D, which even I can deduce must stand for "Mothers Against Drunk Driving".
Again, you have my deepest sympathy lady, but why are you telling ME about it? And where do you order these bumper stickers? Surely not at the filling station? Or does a telemarketer phone you up and say "Uh, saw in the paper your son was killed by a drunk driver, like to buy a bumper sticker?"
Why can Americans not simply celebrate privately and grieve privately? I dread the day when I see a sticker saying "My Daughter was Raped by a ??????" (Fill in your ethnic choice)
Murray