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Bush Hate
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Page 2
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Page 1 of 2 The Classic You've seen it a million times cruising the streets. From far away it looks like the same old stop sign. But as you roll up to the intersection, you notice that this is no normal stop sign. It's a stop sign with a pulse. It's a stop sign with a soul. And it's a stop sign with a message. The stop sign says two things. It says the same thing it always says, "come to a complete stop, make sure it's safe, and then proceed with caution." But it also says, "Hey driver, when you leave this intersection, you should be thinking about war, poverty, abortion, and the environment." The "Stop Bush" sign has become the signature piece of the anti-Bush vandalistic art world.  In Haste With a can of spray paint in hand, a message in mind, and the cops around the corner, it becomes easy to make a spelling error. However, when anarchist is your name and tagging is your game, you should know how to spell the word you're indelibly painting onto someone's property. I bet this guy was thinking, "O.K., Bush equals...I hope nobody's watching...Bush equals...oh man, this is so exhilarating...O.K....Bush equals...T...E...R...R...O...R....R...FUCK!!!...scribble that out... I...S...T...done." Let this be a lesson to all those prospective anti-Bush graffiti artists-- take a deep breath before you start and take your time.  A Double Entendre Any time you can get a political belief and a pubic hair preference into the same message, you truly are a wordsmith. And any time you can paint that message so large and so high with the NYPD looming, you truly have balls. The simplicity and directness of this message coupled with the usage of the word "sucks" is just so New York. It's the same New York attitude and speech responsible for the "Hey A-Rod, you suck" at Yankee Stadium, or the "this sucks" you'll hear anytime a New Yorker is around something that sucks. What can I say, New Yorkers like this word.  Homoeroticism No, no. I don't mean I'm turned on by two guys kissing. Of course not. But like, what's more attractive than a man with power? This is two men with power. Well, one man with power and one man who used to have power. This stencil, from England, targets a homophobic audience. As in, "Hey, homophobes, what could be more "sick" than two "bastards" kissing?" Well, it could be two things. The psychological sickness of both Bush and Saddam. Or, if Bush and Saddam are those two "bastards" kissing. Either would be a fine answer. But if you're not homophobic, as I am not, you probably look at this and see what I see: Saddam's soft mustache pressed against George's thin lips, eyes closed deep in a moment of passion, Saddam having said "just trust me, George" and George about to say, "I can't do this."  Using a Monkey Throughout George W. Bush's presidency, he has often been characterized as having blind loyalties, boy-like obedience and an inability to think for himself. These are traits more befitting a monkey than the President of the United States. In this anti-Bush statement, the only sticker on the countdown, Bush becomes just that-- a monkey. "Banana Republican" takes aim at Bush's weak public persona and suggests that the U.S. President will do what he is told when he is told to do so. While "Banana Republican" is catchy, I would have gone with "Curious George".  To a Captive Audience The American Heritage Dictionary defines "captive" as being restrained by circumstances that prevent free choice. I would say taking a piss qualifies as a circumstance that prevents free choice. I would also say a urinal screen with the President's face on it qualifies as an item owned by someone who hates George W. Bush. And the brilliance of this piece of anti-Bush art is that it's interactive. Those who view it are forced to then piss on George Bush's face. They have no choice. I suppose they could try to piss off George Bush but that would be messy. The only way to truly avoid pissing on the President while using this urinal is to try to piss directly into one of the holes in Bush's face. Going Overboard Jesus. Someone in the Netherlands needs a hug. He's not that bad. Being Clever One of the best ways to send a message is to be clever in how you deliver it. It grabs your audience, makes people smile and at the very least, commands respect. In the #3 way, the vandal uses a post-9-11, NYC subway security ad to make a witty political statement. The Manhattan Transit Authority launched the ad campaign "If You See Something, Say Something" in 2002 as a security measure following 9-11. They must have thought this wasn't enough. Two years later the MTA added "Be Suspicious of Anything Unattended." This tagline always struck me as funny because on the subway, the only things I've ever seen unattended are children. But this clever anti-Bushy flips it all around. The vandal turns a government sign warning of dangerous people into a people's sign warning of a dangerous government.  Putting A Billboard on Your House While I can't see this boosting the property value of this home, this guy makes a pretty good point. Jesus would crap his cloak. I mean if he could hear, 2000 years after his death, how often people still say his name? And if he could see how many people still follow his teachings. But what I think this anti-Bushy is getting at is how Jesus would probably be ashamed of how tightly his surname is now linked with "the right". And how his philosophy is used to defend actions that are directly opposed to his philosophy. However, I don't know if I'd go so far as to put a sign on my house to deliver this message. But what do I know, my head is up my ass. Being Direct The #1 Way to Show the World You Hate George W. Bush is by being direct. It gives your audience less time to interrupt or disagree. The only problem with this anti-Bush message is that it's not a complete sentence. This banner is clear, concise and frankly, is hard to argue with. The "Worst President Ever" sign, in its directness, explains the need for all other forms of anti-Bush artwork. It represents the segment of America that feels powerless and left out. It symbolizes the Americans and people from around the world who feel it necessary to carry a marker with them wherever they go in case a good opportunity arise to write "Fuck Bush" or "Bush Sucks". It signifies all those people who feel it necessary to tell the world that they hate George W. Bush.
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