mcdspot

When I was a teenager I had a “Think Globally, Act Locally” bumper sticker on my car which gave my father fits. He thought it was trashy to put a bumper sticker on one’s car and didn’t feel any bumper sticker could adequately express a nuanced, well-considered opinion on anything. Being a teenager I of course disagreed, stating that the phrase ‘think globally, act locally’ was quite well-considered, because who could argue with such a statement? Wasn’t it self-evident that the world would be a better place if people paused to consider the global ramifications of their actions? How can one argue against activism? At which point my father, ever the lawyer, launched into a highly nuanced and well-considered analysis of what it means to ‘think globally,’ pointing out various examples of how free trade agreements and globalization have hurt local economies, and how environmental measures have occasionally backfired and crippled industry. I didn’t agree with his take on several points, but what did sink in was the fact that the world is always a lot more complicated than a slogan. Ever since then, I’ve not been a big bumper sticker person. I used to joke with dad that one day I’m going to write a treatise explaining my views on religion, with critical references and treatments of opposing viewpoints, and have the whole thing printed on a huge bumper sticker that covered the entire back of my car. That used to make him laugh.

Well, I think I’ve finally found some bumper stickers that even my dad would approve of. These are appropriately nuanced and guarded, as any decent opinion should be.

It’s amazing what you’ll find on Wikipedia sometimes.