America and the West prides itself on the idea of free speech - the concept that you should be able to say what you think about whatever you choose. So that's what we do on this site: we put into the public domain t-shirts with messages that reflect what we believe in, or at the very least, images that will provoke comment and discussion about issues that in our view are of critical importance. These shirts are snapshots of our stand on the environment, American and Western foreign policy, racism and other subjects. We don't make t-shirts that represent "the other side" of the debate - in any case, who said there were only two sides to a debate? As we choose not to sit on the fence in some kind of "neutral zone" we sometimes receive hate mail. A selection is provided below. Enjoy.
From: Jacob P*****y [ilovehalo93@dishmail.net]
Subject: you die
hello assh*le im an U.S.A lovin non racist republican redneck who lives in the south i know your a communist hating united states of america fagg*t guy for one damn reason and reason is this. you have shirts that disgrace the flag and our capitol. tens of thousand of soldiers have died to this magnificent country free. so what im trien to say is go to hell you hitler lovin mother f**ker.
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Socialist idiot. nice, shirts...i am surprised you took the time to get your nose out of michael moore's ass? why don't you educate yourself?...oh yeh...you must get your news from cbs.
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I love your business. This is a great idea.
Make money off of the stupid by selling them t-shirts.
You RULE!
Thank you, I look forward to
your custom!
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I just want you to know that I think you are lost and mis-guided. I will keep your company in my prayers.
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I shop online quite often for t shirts
that I wear when I perform. I really feel that you need
to keep your political views to yourself. You have lost
a potential customer.
If I make a shirt that says "I
have no opinion" will you come back? Please?
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wow you guys are the biggest deuschebags and if you don't like the country move to canada. I heard they have a great health care plan up there.
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Kiss my royal Republican ass.....you liberal assholes.
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Got this "Dinosaurs against your shirt" email from "John":
I regularly talk to dinosaurs when i don't take my pills, and they are not happy with how they are drawn on your "against Creationists" shirt. The apotasaurus is all like "WTF, I don't f*cking have spots, you liberal c*cksucker." You must excuse him, because he's still pissed about losing the whole "thunder lizard" name. The stegosaurus would like to point out his spines are too close together, and that he looks like he has downs syndrome, when in fact only 32% of all stegosaurs have downs. The T-rex wants you to know that you should be expecting a call from his lawyer, because not only are you showing him in the incorrect posture, you've got his face all funny. He's such a f*cking celebrity, he is. And surprisingly right winged, in fact, he was hoping to run with McCain, but couldn't because of the fact that he was extinct and all. He thinks its a conspiracy. The pterosaurs are fine with their look, however, but they are homos and none of the other dinosaurs really care what they think. Also, the raptors are requesting a spot, since they have grown in popularity since Jurassic Park and all. And the triceratops feels miffed, but is kinda happy, since the apotosaurus and stegosaurus both look douchey, he is afraid he'd look the same. And wise ol' plesiosaurus wanted to let you know that there is a difference between young-earth creationists and creationists, and that other groups of creationists accept that the planet is billions of years old and that dinosaurs and evolution both are realities, and that by generalizing all groups into one you are no different then the right winged rednecks you are mocking, you smelly twatface. I told him he was going too far with the twatface bit, but I mean, who's really going to argue with a plesiosaur? I'm going to make peanut butter brownies now.
Why would I care about which shade of creationism John believes in? They all have one thing in common; they mold the evidence to fit their beliefs rather than coming to logical conclusions based on the available evidence. I do not CARE what you believe, John. What I care about is that your backwards beliefs are creeping into our educational system and into society and polluting children's minds. You're irrational fanatics, all of you.
* * *
I've had several emails from people criticising Ban T-shirts for "praising" Che Guevara (even though I never really have), but this is the first one I've received criticising me for "hating" him. I'm sure I will get emails about Che until the end of time. This one has come from someone with limited spelling and grammatical abilities, but he compensates for it with ample helpings of cliché:
At first I was not sure what your site stood for, as I was shopping for a t shirt of Che.
Then I read the ignorant, cruel and hateful comments towards Che and his memory, that to tell you the truth, you termites affects none of us whom respect him and have him in our memory.
Ignorance seems to be king here and then in our nation--you people are the poster child for every thing wrong with America. We decent Americans are embarrassed by your stupidity.
You must be so unhappy to have that much hatred and to try to instill that much hatred....therefore your site is a BOG--A total Flop! and will be even worse now when I put my mouth on the trombone and blow, to all my friends whom shop for t-shirts on the net.
Go to another planet , earth won't miss you!
paul
NY
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I was brought to your site because I saw an anti-war t-shirt that caught my eye. I was quickly turned off by your site when I saw your anti-religion t-shirts. I find it so offensive that you stereotype all religious people as violent, war-mongers and creationists. You claim that "...Islam and Christianity... present God in an inflexible, dogmatic way and demand slave-like conformity to an 'objective' morality." If I claim to be Islamic (I'm not Islamic) then beat a woman in the street because she looked at me, does that say anything at all about Islam at all? It says that this person has not taken the time to read his Qur'an. While I agreed with your anti-war and pro-environmental stances, I am truly offended by your attack on religion. I hope one day something horrible happens to you and you must be rushed to the nearest hospital. Maybe your opinion of religious people will be swayed when you see "St. Mary's" on the front of the hospital. I think you should take some time to actually learn about Christianity before you go judging it.
"I hope one day something horrible happens to you and you must be rushed to the nearest hospital?" Gee, thanks Jason! Is that an example of your good Christian will?
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F*CK YOU LIBERAL BASTARDS. HOPE YOU F*CKIN
DYE WHEN THE SAND NIGGERS COME OVER.
Don't worry, the "sand niggers"
came and went. Bush flew them back to Saudi Arabia first
class right after 9/11.
***
Dude...great website...I hope you do very well for yourself, but (there's always a but)... you're a f*cking tool for your communist views....
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Man, It's people like you that I hold zero
respect for. You put down the government. You put down
the soldiers risking their asses so that you can sit safe
and sound behind your computer while they get shot at.
You preach freedom of speech, but then you put everything
down. What the hell do you have to stand for?
OK, let's divide the world into
two groups, those that agree with you and are therefore
allowed free speech, and those who don't agree with you
and are therefore denied free speech.
***
oh really ft benning is state sponsored
terrorist you wouldnt last to minutes there your little
pussy ass would be cyring of all the pain you would be
in ive been there trained for 3 months there its because
of us you can sale your little dumbass t shirts your a
punk ya and running your mouth against my brothers in ft benning
where i spent the last 3 months thats bull and low dude
were real men not little bitches you want your freedom
then earn it.
The US military has trained Latin
American military personnel in techniques of torture and
"counter-insurgency" (a euphemism for terrorism)
at Fort Benning. That's just a documented fact. It doesn't
mean that everyone who trains there is a terrorist (although
you do sound like one).
***
sh*t shirts. you guys are idiots.
***
First of all
I have to say I disagree with every point you are trying
to make with these t-shirts. On the other hand I do wholly
support your right to state these viewpoints and have
dedicated my life to defending your right to state whatever
you want. I am a military member that has spent my entire
life in the military so that you can be as misguided as
you want.
What is really classic and I do think it is hilarious,
is that you are a capitalist selling these t-shirts that
are promoting communism and other ways of life. Do you
think that dyed in the wool communist Che would have supported
your capitalist ventures? I think not. Anyway I hope you
make lots of money and get to pay the majority of it back
to the government in taxes.
Will I see this email on your hatemail section? For some
reason I don't think I will.
Military Guy
Oh dear. What I find "hilarious"
is how some people can get so worked up when they see
a red star. Communism does not equal Che Guevara, just
as capitalism does not equal America. Another thing
that I find "hilarious" is that this email was
sent at almost exactly the same time (to the hour) that
the US government finalised a rescue package costing the
US taxpayer 700 billion dollars in a desperate attempt
to prop up a failing financial system. How much does it
take for some people to see that the system is not working?
Isn't it about time that we started looking at "other
ways of life"?
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You guys are ignorant pieces of trash and you have to know it somewhere in those naive, close-minded heads.
***
I hope the frickin' Al Qaeda freaks come to your house and cut yours balls off and choke you with 'em before they chop your lousy infidel head off. Only a f*cking moron would try to sell such sh*tty T-shirts when there's such a real threat to your pitiful existence, as well as the rest of us good people out here. FOOL.
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Obviously, some white trash, pot smoking protester owns this website. Someone who's never served their country or been overseas. I have, I don't take my freedom for granted, and your website is disgusting.
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Check out the T-shirt that was inspired by the hate mail.
