Politics

An Enemy Combatant in the Culture Wars

Where battles are fought with signs, flags and stickers

Behold, a bipolar car! l just had to learn the whole story. (Photo by Michelle Teheux)

I live in a blue state but my small town is blood-red, so it’s a little bit like living in a city under enemy occupation.

I follow the example set by my elderly in-laws during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands: yes, but be smart about it. Avoid drawing attention to yourself when you’re in doubt about what side somebody might be on.

I don’t want to claim the two situations are the same, but the more hard-core Nazis, I mean Trumpers, may very well be armed and it’s best to just go about my business and ignore the front-yard shrines some of them have set up. The Jan. 6 business proved many of them are violent people.

But one resistance member’s yard always cheered me up.

“This Is A Hate-Free Zone!” a colorful flag stated. The car in the driveway sported a Biden sticker and various bits of friendly yard decor made me smile.

I walk my dogs all through my neighborhood twice a day, and have a pretty accurate idea of the politics of many of my neighbors based on their bumper stickers, their flags, their banners and their yard signs.