The Big Shoulders swim, held in Chicago Sept 6th. Offered the new look in USMS sanctioned swims, political partianship. For a link to the discussion go here http:/.../showthread.php This is the same organization that is running next years Nationals. USMS, you need to address this.
Former Member
I agree, call the cops!
Seriously, who cares, it's a meet t-shirt. Did anyone really enter for the stupid t-shirt?
Not the point....like someone else said earlier....I would not want my entry fee to pay for a political endorsement unless the swim was a fundraiser.
Did anyone really enter for the stupid t-shirt?
No, I didn’t enter for the t-shirt. I enjoyed the swim, but the shirt and medal were too blatantly political.
I'm not opposed to vigorous political discussion/disagreement, I just don't want it pushed upon me at a swim race.
If anyone wants to rid themselves of these offensive shirts, let me know. I will pay $20 each.
not to start a bidding war but............
20 bucks and the chesapeake bay shirt of your choice from yours truly (thats 1.3 extra miles)
That's pretty wasteful, don't you think? How about telling them you didn't want the shirt or maybe giving the shirt to someone else if you didn't like it?
I would find that shirt offensive on others as well.:oldman:
For as worked up as a lot of you are about this overt political statement, this IRS-501(c)(3) violating, this partisan mixing of politics and sports, there seem to be a large group of you who apparently have absolutely no familiarity with the interplay between politics, pop culture, and parody. And actually, you apparently haven't been following this actual campaign very closely. For that group, let me bring you up to speed.
Not to take anything away from the (ironically) Arizona native who designed the FREE t-shirt, but Big Shoulders is not the first to parody the Obama HOPE poster. It has actually been parodied in a number of forums since it first made its debut. Below are just a few of the links to images of other examples of such parody, none of which would be considered endorsements for Obama (I couldn't find my favorite - the Obama image with the words "CHANGE your tires" underneath):
motherpie.typepad.com/.../obama_parody.pngwww.conservativedonnybrook.com/.../pope2.jpgwww.trendhunter.com/.../18372_1_230.jpegscottthong.files.wordpress.com/.../obamaposterwrightdamn.gifwww.thepeoplescube.com/.../Obama_Poster_Crybaby.gifbagnewsnotes.typepad.com/.../malkin-snob1.jpgwww.thepeoplescube.com/.../Obama_Poster_Clinton_Grope.gifimg520.imageshack.us/.../obama2il7.jpgimg163.imageshack.us/.../obama3zr0.jpg
Looking at these images along side the SWIM t-shirt, it is hard to ignore that Obama looks as ridiculous in his tie and goggles as he does standing behind a leaf of arugula. It is quite a leap for anyone to assume that the shirt would act as an "endorsement" given this. I'm sure some of our more sensitive Obama supporters could make an equally absurd argument that the shirt actually makes a mockery of him.
Parody has a long, rich tradition in our country, and I for one am grateful for it. The Onion, The Daily Show, and Saturday Night Live are all examples of forms of media that regularly parody our politicians. Big Shoulders no more has to ask permission, notify the IRS, or declare its "campaign contribution" for these shirts, than Will Farrell has to do so for his now infamous George W. Bush impressions, or Amy Pohler for her Hillary Clinton impressions, or the late Phil Hartman for his Bill Clinton impressions. There are places in this world where you can't laugh at your politicians, where parody of public figures is a crime, where someone can wield an almighty gavel, declare "poor judgment", and the laugher would stop. That place is called CHINA and notwithstanding its triumph at the Olympics, I don't think anyone here is lining up to move there.
The pathetic thing about this entire "controversy" is that one would actually have to TRY to be offended by this t-shirt. It requires effort to ignore the fact that it is obviously a JOKE and to start complaining that the IRS should investigate, that Obama should investigate, that ILSMA and USMS should investigate. In fact, it takes enough effort that I'm wondering whether some of you didn't swim hard enough.
So to sum up: IT'S A JOKE! Put your big girl panties on and stop crying about what a travesty it is that a McCain t-shirt was not equally available. A McCain t-shirt makes no sense. Had this been an open water swim in Arizona, the image of McCain in a LZR would have been not only appropriate, but hilarious. However, this is not Arizona; it's Chicago. Obama is currently the single most recognizable Chicago public figure in the world. Big Shoulders is a Chicago event. Hell, even the name "Big Shoulders" is a parody - a pun on both a nickname of the city of Chicago and a physical feature a lot of swimmers have. What a stunning display of provinciality this thread is.
PS: Feel free to sign up for the La Jolla Rough Water 3-miler. My husband did it last year. It was about as much fun as a colonoscopy. 800 participants lined up on a 100 yd wide beach all starting at the same time. Oh, and the t-shirts (a parody of the revered alligator wearing a cap and goggles) sucked.
That's pretty wasteful, don't you think? .
You are absolutely right! That is a wasteful thing to do. It could be saved for an emergency, like when there is no toliet paper in the house.
As an ILMSA person I extend my apology to all who have been offended by Chicago Master's lapse of judgment.
I am deeply offended but accept your apology. Now can you find me one of the shirts?
