Thursday, August 30, 2012

A Very Short Blog, A Very Big Question

Ooooh, I've been loving the discussions this week.

Let's do one more.

Joe and I were having lunch when we saw a fellow with Down Syndrome, maybe in his early twenties. He was wearing a red tee shirt. On the shirt, in large white letters was the word "genes".

What were we seeing?

18 comments:

  1. What a great T-shirt. The only "difference" is the genes. Probably a bit of a play on the genius T-shirts as well. Good one! I'd like a T like that!!

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  2. I think it is the name of his favorie pub...Genes (in Yorkville...)

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  3. The name of a brand? SOmeone interested in science and wearing a geek shirt? Who knows?!

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  4. Perhaps his name is Gene and somebody left out the apostrophe? :)

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  5. An unnecessary attempt to explain away his visible difference.....i hope its his favorite pub though!

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  6. Not sure what his intent was, though I'm leaning towards 'pride'. It reminds me of the signs I saw all over Winnipeg when I lived there, showing a Down Syndrome person's face with the caption 'different genes, same value'.

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  7. http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/529601_10150989159728568_391085755_n.jpg

    A link I thought you may enjoy!

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  8. I am going with the pub explanation offered by John R.

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  9. Ettina, I think Dave wrote the "different gene, same value" slogan. Dave is that right? I seem to remember a series of PSA's with the same theme.

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  10. recently there has been an ad campaign for Dr. Pepper where they all wear red tshirts with the dr. pepper font listing something defining about the person. Here is a link:
    http://www.drpepper.com/Promotions/aooak/

    There is also an episode of Glee, "Born This Way" where the club wears shirts with something that makes them unique that they want to OWN, not change.

    Perhaps it's modeled after that?

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  11. Anon, yes I wrote that PSA and the billboard campaign grew out of it. As to the tee shirt, oddly, I hope it isn't a pub ... I hope it's something more radical. Joe and I were both wondering what was meant by the tee shirt and what ever it was it was cool.

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  12. A young man having some fun making people raise their eyebrows about his shirt.

    I have a shirt that I realize wasn't intended this way, but I love to wear it when I'm out in unfamiliar places in my wheelchair. It's a bright pink shirt with yellow and black text (some glittered) on it in various fonts. It reads: It's not that serious!
    To me, it says I'm not trying to hide (it's a really bright shirt, anyway) and I don't need your pity. I'm disabled, but I've got it together. I hope it encourages people who would treat me equally and tells people who wouldn't to get over themselves.
    I think the guy's shirt says "I know what you see when you look at me. So what?"

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  13. Beth I love your t-shirt!!!

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  14. someone sent you a link to a photo of an absolutely gleeful little girl wearing a t-shirt that says "am I rocking this extra chromosome or what!" I felt such glee at seeing her smiling broadly with her parents (or someone) holding her hands. I love that people are teaching the world how they want to be viewed! Maybe that is the answer - people just need to know that difference can be celebrated!

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