Thursday, December 8, 2011

Speak your mind, even if your voice shakes

Over the past year the bumper sticker “Speak your mind, even if your voice shakes” has reappeared on cars at various intersections around the common places I have been driving. It has made me think, and obviously had an effect on me since I am writing about it.

My voice shakes when I voice my opinion in a hot debate regarding particular issues (the state of religion, politics, boxers vs. briefs). Its no big deal, at first I was annoyed by it, now I see it as a sign of my conviction.

I like this "speak your mind" quote, or bumper sticker. In a dreamworld, politically speaking, it may reflect both true Tea Partiers and true Occupy protesters - who seem recently, to be speaking their mind.

Image courtesy via CC
I like the bumper sticker to the point that I considered getting one for my car. That way, much like this blog I could communicate something to others in a mostly passive way, but still vent my mind out a bit, right?

Except if I placed this bumper sticker on my car, then I would see it all the time. I would potentially be reminded to “speak my mind, even if my voice shakes” on a daily basis. And how would that work out?

Would it soak in like a stain on a shirt, eventually becoming part of my overall fabric to the point that I declare it moreso to others? Maybe.

Or would it just sit there on my car, day in and day out, eventually fading and wearing from the outer elements? It would be another thing attached to my car besides the key scratches. Something that I recognize, but don’t really pay much mind to after the first few months?

Bumper stickers are perhaps like tattoos, neither of which I mind, though my experience with either is limited. There are no bumper stickers on my body and no tattoos on my car - yet.

Despite the lack of ink, I do have a tattoo in mind, it’s just that at this time in my life with kids and house and autos and church and other causes – there just isn’t a lot of extra cash on hand for such an experience… we’ll see.

And the only bumper sticker in my possession sits above my desk, taped over a big scratch on the hutch. It reads "When Jesus said, "Love your enemies," I think he probably meant don't kill them." It was left in my office at my previous job - and so I "borrowed" it when I left.

Anyhow, I haven’t purchased (or borrowed) the "speak your mind" bumper sticker. I guess I've made a choice by this choice. I’ve chosen to let others place that sticker on their bumper, and then let it affect me randomly. And yesterday, I was inspired by this randomness.

Now I just need to look out for boogers that are flicked on my windshield as I drive closer to read all these bumper stickers…

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