QuakerInfo.com Forum

[kevin roberts]

I had an interesting conversation the other day with my fleet operations manager. In my company, military veterans are encouraged to apply as drivers, and are given the option of a favorable salary program. They also get a big olive-drab sticker to put on their truck, a shield with a picture of an eagle and the logo "Honor program" on it.

There was one on my tractor when I got it, and as it doesn't come off except a millimeter at a time, I left it there. Scratching it off would have looked more like defacing it than otherwise, and I thought that would be rude.

But I stuck an FCNL "War Is Not the Answer" bumper sticker underneath it.

Months later, my FOM has called me and explained that someone had complained, apparently about the close proximity of the "Honor Program" sticker and the FCNL sticker. He explained that my company didn't want to offend people, wanted to remain neutral, and asked me to take it off, and offered to have the mechanics take it off for me if it wouldn't remove easily. (He is a very nice guy.)

I immediately agreed to take the sticker off, but asked for a policy clarification on other stickers on other trucks. (Lots of our trucks have "I support the troops" stickers, or "My son is in the US Army" or battalian logos and decals showing rank insignia. I asked if the policy was going to extend to everybody's stickers, or if it was going to stop with just me. I explained that I saw bumper stickers just like mine on people's cars all over the country, and that a military logo might not be considered a neutral view either.

Without a pause, my FOM said "Leave your sticker on the truck. I'll kick this up to the VP and see what he wants to do."

We'll see. I can't remember whether he said the complainer was a member of the public or another driver, but this is an interesting twist for me.

[michaeldavidjay]

my little brother points out 'war is the question, the answer is yes'.

seriously, I live near a national guard base... I have never met a soldier who wants war... the stickers go together well enough in my mind.
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[Pulpculture]

What about putting a temporary sticker over it (magnetic one or something)?
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[Shay]

[Chip]

I'm interested in how they and you handle this. Please keep a current post Kevin. The truck belongs to the company?
When I was still real estating I got strong hints about a "coexist" bumper sticker on my car but no real order to remove it. I was an independent contractor and it was my own car. I decided that it would stay no matter what but it was never pushed any further.
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[michaeldavidjay]

I've seen the coexist bumper sticker -- I was not aware that it was offensive... then again, I've found some people try to be offended.
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[Chip]

I think it's just too inclusive for the heart of fundamentalist country. Besides, it's got those suspicious looking symbols on it
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[michaeldavidjay]

I thought I lived in the heart of fundamentalist country... Being offended by the suggestion that people should not commit genocide seems strange even for Kansas....

For me -- I could see offense by the 'suspicious looking symbols'.... If I took Icons very seriously -- I might find this to be a flippant use of the cross (for example)... but I can also see that it is a targeted message.
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[kevin roberts]

The truck belongs to the company, and it has the owner's name and company telephone number on it. It's a privately owned company, so as far as I'm concerned they have the right to display or forbid anything they want. I've been very specific that I will do whatever they decide is company policy.

But I get asked questions all the time about policy from new drivers or other employees, so i am interested in explicit wording on what the policy is:

1) If the company is pro-warfare, and anti-peace, I will remove the FCNL sticker.

2) If the company wants to take a neutral position, I'll ask whether the goal is to permit equal expression (all stickers of any kind should stay), or whether the goal is to not have any opinions visible (all stickers of any kind should go).

3) If the company doesn't agree with my suggestions in 2) above, I'll do whatever they want. It's their truck. but I'll ask for an explicit wording of the policy so that I can tell other people what the policy is.

I find this a bit amusing, because I seem to remember the complaint came from a military veteran who didn't like the peace sticker so close to the "Honor program" veteran sticker. The result may be that he will have to scrape off his own battalion insignia from his own truck.

The sticker is no big deal for me (I disagree with all sorts of FCNL agendas) but I do need to know what the company policy is.

How about a bumper sticker that reads "Kill 'em all, let God sort 'em out!"

[michaeldavidjay]

"kill 'em all and let God sort them out"... I first heard that from a Mennonite friend... I also learned from him that shotguns, loaded with rock-salt are farm tools -- I eventually learned why .

Did your veteran driver not see action -- or has he been influenced by a person calling for peace in a way that was not peaceful? I live in an area with more Mennonite churches than any other denomination, as well as other peace-Anabaptist. We also have a National guard base... and I have seen no problems.
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Do Friends speak to today's condition, or are we only a historical footnote?

[Pulpculture]

[kevin roberts]

Neca eos omnes. Deus suos agnoset.

The original reference was to the Cathars. Different now.



I'm not being forced to display the other sticker, Matthew. It just doesn't come off easily, and I don't want to drive around with it half-off. Now I'm leaving it pending a resolution. And I haven't seen anybody with one in as bad taste as the T-shirt above.

[michaeldavidjay]

I really wish they would not re-use 3rd century names for later groups -- I assume you are referring to the Cathar's of France and not the 3rd century Novatians (who called themselves Cathari) -- speaking of which -- that name was used translated into English as well: Puritan -- mm... lets see...

3rd century (Roman) -- Legalism, refuse to forgive lapsed Christians....

12 century (French) -- gnostics??? Sounds no more gnostic than some protestants to me though.

16th and 17th century England -- Puritans (Calvinists)
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[kevin roberts]

Didn't know that.

I meant the Frenchies. Is that the origin of french-fried?

Sorry.

[Mike Morin]

"War is not the Answer"...

Trouble is, nobody is asking the right questions!

"Only Love Can Conquer Hate".

Sometimes true, if the other is deep down a good person, a disciple of Jesus, Gandhi, Buddhism, etc.

Problem is that all pre-history and history will bear it out, that it is most often not a true statement.

A very beautiful statement, but not a sufficiently enough (understatement) true one.


In Peace, Friendship, Community, Cooperation, and Solidarity,

Mike Morin
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I am a 56 year old Friend, who in the interim of various pursuits of wage slavery have dedicated my life to envisioning, developing, communicating, and trying to organize a better world for all people, particularly the youth and children.