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Embarrassed Day #1 went great! We had over 45,000 participants nationwide, widespread approval and appreciation, and were even mentioned by such luminaries as (ahem) Sean Hannity on his radio show.

And apparently, numerous uber-"patriots" fell victim to the April Fool's joke part of this and wore Red, White, and Blue armbands. We didn't tell you until now... but can you just picture a bunch of flag-waving April Fools walking around on April Fool's day with RWB armbands? We're still laughing.

As expected, there were varied responses to the actual day. Some participants had scary stories to tell, other had great ones. Check them out: READERS STORIES FROM APRIL 1st 2004. And send us yours, and pictures!

READERS STORIES & PHOTOS
(Photos are not related to the letters near them, just conveniently placed)

Hi Guys, Yesterday, as you know, was Embarrassed of my president day.

When I arrived at work, I'm a floral designer at a large 'military only' department store, which is located on a large military facility, I immediately fashioned a brown ribbon for my lapel. My adult son also works at the facility, so I made one for him and one for a dear co-worker.

Five minutes later one of the employees came up to me and asked what the brown ribbon was. I told her. Ten minutes later the general manager of the entire store, came into my shop, something he never does, and after a few niceties, asked me what the ribbon was for. I proceeded with the explanation. He became clearly uncomfortable and said I was not allowed to hand out these ribbons to customers. I told him I would not do that, and that I had only given a ribbon to two others.

He told me I was not allowed to wear the ribbon at work. I told him, that yes, I am allowed to wear the ribbon at work. He said that because it was a military facility that I was not allowed to criticize the sitting president. I told him he was wrong and that while President Clinton was in office, I had to bear witness to continuous comments about his sexual habits, and that I could criticize the president if I so chose.

He then said he would appreciate it greatly if I would remove the ribbon from my lapel and asked me how I would feel about it. I told him I would feel as if my constitutional rights were being violated.

He was quite diligent with his request, but I refused to remove the ribbon. He told me another three times to take it off, but I refused citing my first amendment rights.

He then says he would feel better about the ribbon if he knew I was not handing any out to customers. I told him that I never intended to.

After this he leans in and says that, "You know my request has nothing to do with my personal political beliefs."

With this, he leaves, and I hear nothing more about it.

I thought it was terribly interesting and thought you might enjoy it.

Most sincerely,

P.L.

P.S. I have several of your bumper stickers on my car, (which is an economical 4 cyliner), I also proudly wear, and have for over a year, your large "evildoer" pin. I wear it on my lanyard around my neck, everyday at work! Isn't it interesting how a little piece of brown satin caused more ruckus that a plainly printed "evildoer" pin?

Be well, folks.

In dissent, as always. P.L.

Most people just rolled their eyes, knowing how I feel. However, I did get involved with a dicussion with a cook at my second (at the time it was my third) job. He was a Vietnam vet that thought george bush "was awesome" stating he has had to go through more than any other president. I told him that he got himself and us there. I also told him a little about the patriot act and how ascroft is using it to take away our freedom. He dismissed it-- saying we have freedom of speech. Not understanding that was the very reason the act has me so scared. But it didn't riffle as many feathers that I thought it would.

Angela

I am a student at a small environmental boarding school in northern Wisconsin. I printed off the posters from the website and distributed them around our campus. Last Thursday, I got about fifteen students to wear brown ribbons that I made out of paper grocery bag handles. Many others dressed in brown clothing to participate in National "I'm embarassed by my president" Day. At lunch I made an announcement to all students and faculty about the significance of all the brown. I said that April Fool's day is a time when we like to bring out the stupidity each other and that the ribbons were in honor of someone who shares his stupidity with our nation and the rest of the world even when it's not April 1. My comments were met with applause and cheering. If only my liberal schoolmates represented the voting population of America, Bush would be back in Crawford faster than a White House information cover-up!

My wife and I purchased 10 buttons to use on April 1st but, we took a Vacation and cruised the Columbia River on a paddlewheel boat. We took our buttons with us. On the morning of April 1st we excited our cabin wearing our buttons and immediately were complimented on the buttons by like minded people from all over the Country. Our remaining eight buttons were given to cruise partners within the next ten minutes. We proudly wore those buttons the entire day receiving compliments from both passengers and crew. Because of these buttons, we've made many new friends, keep in contact with each other, share our ideas and are building upon that which a little button started. What was most impressive is the message and sentiment of the button is cross cultural, indifferent to age or gender and is shared by people regardless of their State of residence. It made me proud to be with such American's, who will work to change the direction of this Country. I have renewed hope that I will not be embarrassed for much longer.

I wore mine at the high school where I teach, Attleboro MA. I brought extra leaflets and ribbon and gave out a half dozen to my colleagues and a couple of students
My 10 year old daughter and 7 year old son wore them to their schools too

Doug Matthews

One person asked me why I would 'wear a button like that'.

My off-the-top-of-my-head reply became my standard response:

"Because there isn't enough space
For a button of every face
Of every soldier who has died
For a President who lied."

A stunned stare was my usual reaction.
I guess I made them think too much.

- Joel Hammond

Hi, On the National "I'm Embarrassed By My President" day, I not only wore a brown ribbon on my blouse, I also tied a brown ribbon to my car antenna, where it remains. I think it would be great to have people every where tying brown ribbons to their car antennas as a permanent statement of embarressment. What do you think? Claire Laskowski Glendale AZ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." --Theodore Roosevelt 26th US President

------ Thanks,

And as an interesting tidbit, you should really check out the context of that quote you included. It was part of Teddy Roosevelt's ongoing attacks on Woodrow Wilson for his refusal to get involved in the Spanish-American (?) War, and was mostly politicking for the sake of the upcoming Presidential election. Roosevelt wanted the war for the sake of -- more or less -- empire, and WW. thought we had no valid reason to get involved. Woodrow Wilson would use the rhetoric of not criticizing the President as a shield for his preference of not going to war. However, it does seem to fit nicely now, but within context, it kind of loses some of its power. Context is a bitch, isn't it? -- Ian

3/31/04:
My son's school, Elizabeth Middle School in Elbert County, Colorado, has threatened to SUSPEND any kids wearing BROWN to school tomorrow.

4/2/04:
Nobody got suspended. The vice principal announced on the PA system that everyone should take off their brown and yellow ribbons. (One of the teachers provided yellow ribbons on 4/1 at 7:45a.) The kids with brown ribbons were forced to take them off. The kids with yellow ribbons could keep them on and the ban was not enforced against them. Par for the course in rural Republican Colorado.

The kids with brown ribbons were called to the principal's office and told to take them off there. The kids with yellow ribbons wore them all day because no one singled them out and forced them to take them off. The school administrators at Elizabeth Middle School 303-646-4520, are expert at making statements and then selectively enforcing them. There is supposedly a rule against harassment, yet the word "nigger" is constantly used, even in front of teachers. This is a no-win situation for anyone who is different.

As parents, we fought the flag pledge issue - my son initially was made to stand in the hall as punishment because he wouldn't recite the pledge. I talked to the principal, Mark Morgan, about that. He said they were enforcing the law, which included taking down the names of offenders. Then, when I said I was offended by his attitude and didn't want my son singled out and bullied because he's different, he let Alex stay in the classroom.

Thank God he's going to high school next year. We have another 6 weeks to live through there. It's a small community and we have to live here. Fighting just makes us stand out more and makes our kids subject to more bullying.

We distributed the flyers to everyone we know informing them of the occasion and that if they are embarrased bu bush, they should wear Brown. One of my friends even baked tons of brownies to hand out only to people wearing brown.

One of my "Embarrassed" buttons went to England. I was at a scholarly conference in DC on April 1 (how perfect!) and was handing out buttons. (People begged me for them!) I gave my last one to Jonathan, telling him to take it home and explain to his friends and colleagues that not all Americans are crazy and we're doing everything we can to get rid of this bozo. Both he and another friend from England have concluded that it's not just the US but the world that can't risk another four years of the Posse.

Joyce Levine