F*CK CANCER T-shirt gets sisters ejected from shopping mall

Three sisters were ejected from a shopping mall in King of Prussia, Philadelphia for wearing a T-shirt many people found offensive.  In big bold white letters on a black T-shirt was the message "FUCK CANCER".  

Sisters Makia Underwood, 32, Zakia Clark, 29 and Tasha Clark 27 were ejected from the mall by security staff when they refused to cover up the offending design, or remove the T-shirts.  They refused on the grounds that they were not being offensive, but expressing their hatred of cancer, and so were removed from the mall.

The sisters were mourning the death of their mother who was diagnosed with cancer in 2004 and died May 14, 2013.  They saw what cancer does to a person and we mad, terribly mad at cancer.  They want cancer to get cancer, and die.  

I understand the anger and blind hatred of cancer.  Its a terrible thing to accept when someone is taken from you years, decades, before they would die of natural causes.  In this case, we see T-shirts being used to express a personal message.  They are not flying colors or a brand.  They are not selling anything, or raising funds.  They are mad.  Mad!  And, wearing T-shirts with a message telling cancer to, well, die, can be argued as a step in recovery from the loss of a loved one.

Do I agree with the T-shirt?  In spirit, yes.  The boldness, which will almost certainly get you ejected from most public locations, no.  Wrong move.  Clouded with hate caused the sisters to make a poor decision.  They have a very power T-shirt, one they won't be able to wear as often as they want.

My advise, coordinate with CustomInk and create a campaign by selling this design on a T-shirt and donate the funds to a cancer research charity, or some other charity that supports and helps those afflicted with cancer.  You already have the press coverage.  Act on that.  Create a design which honors your mother's memory with a powerful message.  My suggested, instead of 'F*CK CANCER', how about "I hope cancer gets cancer and dies."

You're welcomed to contact me and I'll help you with a design for free.  

Sam Moon offers beautiful women's T-shirts

From a pure love of T-shirts, I present to you a beautiful collection of women's fitted cuts with the short shoulder length sleeves.  In addition to the intricate and beautiful designs, Sam Moon uses a mineral wash on their 100% cotton T-shirts.  Additionally, they use rhinestone accents.  As an added bonus, the design is printed on both front and back.  

To say the least about their T-shirts, its a steal for only $21.99.  These are some of the best T-shirts for the money I have seen in a long time.  I wish they offered unisex T-shirts.  Their cross designs would work well with men as well.

http://sammoon.com/product.asp?cat=giftitem&tempcat=tshirts&sub=sub556

Farmers Guardian T-shirts raised funds for farming families

During this year's annual convention of the Young Farmers group, 1,000 'Farmers Guardian' T-shirts were given away to the 4,500 young farmers who descended upon the The Winter Gardens center in Blackpool, England.  Attendees were asked to donate £1 for the T-shirt.  Money raised was donated to the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institute which helps farming families in times of distress and hardship.  Farmers Guardian team members have already raised £13,000 for the charity. (Farmers Guardian)

One thousand T-shirts from 4,500 attendees.  I bet they wished they had more T-shirts.

Do good things.

Charles Ramsey Hero T-shirts raise funds for captives

I was ignoring this story until I got some better information on it.  Here it goes.

If you've been watching mainstream media, you've seen the story of Cleveland, OH resident Charles Ramsey.  Ramsey happened to be outside when a young women escaped from the neighbors house and said she's been held hostage as a sex slave, or worse for 10 years, along with two other girls.  The girls were later rescued and the neighbors arrested.  

But, that's not the story.  Due to Ramsey's charm when interviewed, he became an instant internet sensation.  Immediately, artwork for T-shirt was designed by Okpants and the T-shirt went on sale at the restaurant (Hodges Restaurant) where Ramsey works.  

Much fuss has been raised over the history or Ramsey and arguments have raged over whether he's a hero, or not.  Again, not the point here.  Its the fact that immediately, someone sought to profit off the instant sensationalism of Ramsey and make a few dollars.  

I suspect, due to Ramsey's criminal history in the domestic abuse arena, combined with the fact that he was present to help a girl from an abusive situation, caused Ramsey and those involved with the sale of the T-shirts to donate all proceeds to the families of Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus, Michelle Knight, the three girls held in captivity for years.

I'd like to believe the desire to donate proceeds were what prompted the T-shirts to be created in the first place, but something doesn't seem right as not all articles on the story make this reference.  

Its still good that a good deed was done.


As of 05/15/2013, 1,600 orders have been received.  Be a hero.

NOSC participates in Clothesline Project

US Navy sailors from the NOSC (Navy Operational Support Center) in Ventura County decorated T-shirts as part of the Clothesline projects in April as part of the Sexual Assault Awareness Month.  The goal was to raise awareness, and support the victims of sexual assault an encourage reporting and prevention of sexual assaults. (DVIDS)

The national organization of the Clothesline Project was created in 1990 to bring awareness of sexual assault against women.  Like all Clothesline events, people in the community come together to write messages on T-shirts with stories, slogans, message and hope.  The T-shirts are displayed for all to see.  

Most of the Clothesline Project events are held at colleges and universities.  This is the first I've seen where a branch of the US military has taken an active role and participated in an event.  This is a great move by the Navy.  I hope other branches and groups within the military will continue this trends and bring awareness to not only sexual assault against women, but other issues as well.

Do good things.

Jodi Arias designs T-shirts to raise funds for victims of domestic violence

I'm conflicted on this story.  I don't follow high profile court cases with 24 X 7 news coverage, and Jodi Arias is no exception.  The only reason she appears on my radar is that she's designing T-shirts, from behind bars, as an accused killer.

What?

Tweeting her designs and communicating with fans?  She released a T-shirt design with the word "Survivor" across the front.  The T-shirts will be sold and all proceeds will be donated to the Long Beach Women's Shelter and Reach Beyond Domestic Violence.  She's not making any profit on these T-shirts, she tweeted. (ABC 15)

I understand the jury is continuing to deliberate Arias' case, but is this allowable?  Moral?  Legal?  How do the organizations she's donating funds to feel about receiving the funds from the efforts of an accused killer?  

I like that she's raising money for these organizations, but I'm concerned the source of the funds taints the money.  But, maybe not.  

What are your thoughts?

Clothesline Project and Take Back the Night at EKU

The Clothesline Project was in Powell Plaza at Eastern Kentucky University April 23, 2013 where more than 100 people gathered to participate in the 10th annual Take Back the Night rally and march to raise awareness of sexual and domestic abuse.  

EKU students wrote personal notes, slogans and stories on the colored T-shirts to raise awareness.  The event was so successful it had to be extended.  Its good that awareness is being raised, but its also sad that we still have that many cases of abuse, sometimes resulting on death.  

'Break the silence, end the violence.'

Boston Strong Chick T-shirts appear at Oklahoma City marathon

In memory of the victims of the Boston marathon bombing, a group of women at the Oklahoma City, OK marathon on 04/28/2013 will be wearing a blue T-shirt with the slogan "Boston Strong Chick".  The T-shirt is designed by Debbie Vinyard, founder of Happy First which is an apparel line of clothing for strong women.  

Vinyard will be selling the T-shirts for $30 each, and donating $5 for each T-shirt to The One Fund created by Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick and Boston mayor Tom Menino.  The funds has apparently raised more than $26 million in donations.  Vinyard hopes to add to that dollar value.

She's having good success with her T-shirt as its not just for the Oklahoma City marathon.  This can be worn at any marathon, any event.  Vinyard expects she'll have to do another print run to keep up with demand.  (KJRH)

Admittedly, Vinyard is not donating all proceeds like other organizations, but unlike them, Vinyard has created a sustainable model where she she can continue to sell the T-shirts where the organizations donating all proceeds are only doing short runs.  Good job.

Do good things.

Clothesline of T-shirts shown on University of Iowa campus

In the closing week of April being Sexual Assault Awareness Month, A Clothesline of T-shirts was displayed on the University of Iowa campus to drawn attention to the cause.  As in all Clothesline displays, the T-shirts represent victims of domestic or sexual assault, some, unfortunately, which result in homicide.  

Hundreds of T-shirts hung from clothes lines as part of the Rape Victim Advocacy Program's Clothesline Project, which is a national effort.  Their message was clear; no victim is the same and no age is shielded. (Iowa City Patch)

Of all the causes for which T-shirts are used to raised attention to, The Clothesline Project is one of the more painful to recognize.  Some of the Clothesline displays can show hundreds of T-shirts, each a victim of a sexual or domestic crime.  Its disturbing to see so many.

Do good things.

  

Jamie Nation T-shirts released to support Hahn family

In response to the terrible stabbing and subsequent death of Jamie Hahn, a 29 year-old Democratic campaign strategist, who died on 04/24/2013, a Raleigh, NC online company is partnering with a screen printer (Raleigh Screen Print) to print and sell T-shirts.  They will have two designs; 'Raleigh Nation' and 'Jamie Nation'.  Funds raised from the selling of T-shirts will go to the Hahn family. (News 14 Carolina)

I agree with Ralieghiscool co-founder, Will Hardison, that these T-shirts are a small, but generous action taken to help the Hahn family.  This is a great thing.  This is a perfect example that you do not need a world changing event to step forward and help.  It can be a local effort to help one person, or one family.  These acts of kindness should be more common in our society.

Do good things.

Where is the line between Free Speech and Offensive T-shirts?

In this blog we've coverage numerous good deeds done through T-shirts.  We've even covered cases where people in positions of power seek to crush the expressions of a few because they felt the T-shirt was 'offensive' or could spark something more troublesome.

Here, I'd like to dig a little deeper into the subject of suppressing T-shirt designs.  I'm not referring to cases where public opinion dictates how a company conducts business through T-shirts.  A recent example of that is Nike removing their 'Boston Massacre' T-shirts from sale.  A common theme in Boston used in the past as a rallying cry.  But, with the recent Boston Marathon bombings, the populace is still rightfully raw about the subject.  I predict the pain will pass, and Boston will re-adopt the 'Boston Massacre' slogan and a rallying cry.  Maybe not for anti-bad guy reasons, but for sports, as it once was used.

The most common cases of suppression of free speech through T-shirts which supposedly contain offensive material, which is argued as our First Amendment right, occur in our public schools here in the USA.  And, most commonly, I see junior high school students being at the forefront of this conflict between self-expression and suppression of that expression.  The other, and more disturbing case of suppression, occurs from city officials declaring they know what's best for the city by imposing laws on what constitutes an offensive T-shirt.

Before we can question the right to suppress offensive T-shirt designs, we first have to define the terms.

What is an offensive T-shirt design?

If we're looking into the public school realm, offensive leans to sensitive subject matter in relation to the Gay issue.  Or, racial issues.  In the case of race, its usually someone showing support of their own heritage or showing respect for another.  Those are usually shut down rather quickly, as the school does not want to risk any racial-induced riots or fights.  I can understand.  In my youth, in my latter years of high school, we had an infusion of Vietnamese kids come into our school.  Mind you, we weren't that long removed from the Vietnam war, er, conflict.  TV and movies were still showing Vietnam as the bad guys.  We had a few kids band together with T-shirts with crudely written hate messages with unfortunate racial slurs towards the Vietnamese.  Things came to a head when a big fight broke out near the buses at the end of the school day.  It was got really scary there until the fight was stopped by teachers and school officials.  

The Gay issue in public schools is very unique.  I think for as long as there has been public school, there have been anti-gay statements made within the schools.  The word 'fag' was so over-used that it became this ubiquitous term used to denote anyone who was stupid, dumb or dorky.  If someone wasn't liked, for whatever reason, they were labelled a fag.  I don't mean homosexual in nature, just in a general dumb-ass nature.  With that in mind, kids today are incredibly savvy when it comes to proclaiming their beliefs via a T-shirt in response to the Gay issue.  As an 8th grader recently showed last month, wearing a message that indicated she didn't approve of Gays was challenged by a school board.  They felt it was hate speech, but the ACLU stepped in and forced the school to change its position on the grounds that the student's beliefs said that being Gay was not correct.  Not acceptable.  It was evil.  Wrong.  Her T-shirt made that point.  She was not claiming hatred or acts of violence against Gays, only that she didn't approve of being Gay.  There's your First Amendment right working as designed.  Even if the message sets your blood on fire, its the student's right to make that declaration.  Its your beliefs versus the other person's beliefs.  Its only positions of power that can suppress the beliefs of one in favor of another.

If we're talking about city officials, the word offensive usually has a sexual origin to it.  Its these people in positions of power who will create laws to force one agenda over another.  In recent memory, city officials in southern Florida towns have taken upon themselves to decry the abomination of sexually oriented T-shirts, and force retailers to position these T-shirts into newly created 'adult' areas for 18 yeas and older for viewing.

I'm going to step out on this subject with common sense and declare these suppression of rights, to display in store and sell these so-called offensive T-shirts, a very poor choice for two core reasons.

First, once the offensive T-shirt is legally viewed by an adult, and purchased by an adult, said adult can wear the T-shirt in public, in direct and unhindered view of children (gasp - oh the horrors).  We're talking about the same T-shirt which could see the store owner fined (substantially) for displaying it in their store in direct, unhindered view of children.  That reason alone shows a desire to punish the store owner for daring to even sell the T-shirt.  I'm sure city officials would love to fine and jail anyone wearing an offensive T-shirt in public, but they are at least smart enough to know when they are overtly trampling the First Amendment and common basic civil rights.

Second, with the curious, and unnatural aversion to sexually oriented T-shirts, why is not the same attention drawn to violent themed T-shirts.  Its my position that violence is much more corrosive to our youth than sex.  Have you actually seen some of the cartoons today's youth watch?  Try making it through just one episode of Sponge Bob Square Pants without cringing in view of the exaggerated violence.  One only has to dial the time machine back a few ears to the Power Rangers.  In its zenith of popularity, children were wearing clothes, had lunch boxes and all manner of merchandise of their heroes.  I personally witnessed children mock beating the shit out of each in their desire to replay those wildly violent battles they saw on Saturday morning cartoons.  

I find it truly mind boggling that people are more accepting of allowing our youth frequent and unhindered access to violence, but fall to near seizure mode when considering how to explain the world of sexually oriented material to a child.  I'm not calling into question the violence consumed by children, as I grew up watching the Roadrunner cartoons and I consider myself a respectable and stable person.  I'm no one special in that department though.  In the USA entertainment culture, it is incredibly difficult to to navigate life without seeing some level of violence in entertainment.  I hope that's not an argument for suppressing sexually oriented T-shirts.

So, what have we learned?  Have we defined what offensive means?  No, because offensive is subjective.  Offensive is defined by those in positions of power.  As a king may dictate laws of the land, edicts are established, based on the those currently in power, to suppress views and beliefs of others.  In some cases, those rules are in place to maintain a sense of peace, but in most cases its to further a personal agenda which is believed to be for the betterment of society.  

In closing, let me try a definition of offensive.  I believe any T-shirt with imagery or slogans which promote Fraud, Force or Coercion towards another person is offensive.  Those acts are morally and legally wrong, too, but to wear a T-shirt which promotes that is offensive.  That said, I don't consider "Cereal Killer" an offensive T-shirt.  Its punny.

What are your thoughts on the matter?

Pinterest - Things to make with T-shirts

Things to make with T-shirts

Here we have another selection of projects one can do with only (or new) T-shirts by Laura Sloan.  I've seen some of the projects listed in the link below, but most are new to me.  A couple bleaching projects look very fascinating.  I like the pink T-shirt with the horse.  This Pinterest page contains many projects beyond the trendy stuff we've seen previously.  Here, we have rugs, baby bibs, head bands and a good selection of skirts and blouses.

https://pinterest.com/laurarsloan/things-to-make-with-t-shirts/

If you are crafty and have access to lots of T-shirts, repurpose them and convert them into useable items.  

Would projects look the most interesting to you?

   
  

SUNY Orange displays T-shirts to bring awareness of domestic violence

With it being Sexual Assault Awareness month in April, Lexi Casalino of SUNY Orange community college was hanging the color-coded T-shirts on a staircase railings with anonymously decorated with messages against domestic violence, and violence against women.  Similar to Clothesline displays where people decorate T-shirts with their stories or messages to bring about awareness of this terrible blight on our society, Casalino's efforts are truly noble.  

If you're in the area of SUNY Orange community college, go to the Kaplan Hall on the Newburgh campus to view the T-shirts.

Do good things.

Sexual Assault Awareness month - RIC student decorate T-shirts

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and the Women's Center at the Rhode Island College worked in conjunction with The Clothesline Project to decorate about 30 T-shirts with messages to bring awareness to the issue of violence against women.

Jessica Crowe, coordinator of the Women's Center and student at RIC, says this is a great event.  Spanning Rhode Island to Tanzania, there are an estimated 500 international Clothesline Projects consisting of about 60,000 T-shirts. (Rhode Island College)

Awareness is a good objective.  Often, many good causes are missed because there was not sufficient awareness.  

Do good things.

Marvel Comics T-shirts Are Sexist

Marvel Comics released two T-shirts for children which make an unfortunate sexist division between boys and girls.  The Boys T-shirt shows "Be a hero", while the girls T-shirt shows "I need a hero", suggesting girls cannot manage on their own and need a mall hero figure in their life. (Huffington Post)

Its bad enough the T-shirts establish a pecking order between male and female, but the female T-shirt, which sports the popular Avengers, does not show the Black Widow, one of the female Avengers, which appeared in the Avengers movie.  The comic book of the Avengers has had and continues to showcase many female characters, and as leader of the team.  But, to not show the Black Widow from the movie demonstrates a total disconnect from the licensed manufacturer and the head office at Marvel Comics.  I can understand Iron Man for the boys, but no female character for the girls T-shirt?  FAIL.

Marvel need to scrap the girls T-shirt and change the wording to "Be a hero", just like the boys and include Wasp, Black Widow, Ms. Marvel, and Scarlet Witch.  

C'mon Marvel get better control over your merchandise.

Kelly Sue DeConnick Curates Comic Book T-shirts for Charity

Kelly Sue DeConnick, writer for comic books Captain Marvel and Avengers Assemble, is working with the organization WeLoveFine, to guest curate a T-shirt collection feature Marvel Comic superheroes Captain Marvel and Spider-Woman.  Kelly Sue will be donating her curator commission to the Girls Leadership Institute, a nonprofit organization seeking "to help foster and give voice to the heroines of tomorrow." (Comic Alliance)

I can't think of a better combination; comic books and a good deed.  Talk about your superheroes.  Way to go.  

Do good things.

Clothesline Project Raises Awareness with T-shirts

This year's Clothesline Project in Seymour Union Ballroom on March 25 & 26 saw more than 400 people attend the event, creating about 500 T-shirts, by using paints to create T-shirts with stories and designs.  The project is to raise awareness of violence against women.  It also acts as an outlet for women to share their stories and support the issue.  (TheStylus)

Violence against anyone is never good.  Using an event like this calls attention within the community that such things as violence against women, sadly, still occurs and should not be tolerated.  This year's event was dedicated to Alexander Kogut. A sad story.  Hopefully, and event like this allows people to come together and find comfort in numbers, and call attention to this terrible menace the community.

Do good things.

Portland Thorns women's soccer team pulls T-shirt from sale

"Feelin' Thorny?"

The women's Portland Thorns soccer team is removing a popular T-shirt from their team's website once  criticism from social media started.  Available for less than 24 hours, the T-shirt had sold well.

http://www.oregonlive.com/playbooks-profits/index.ssf/2013/03/portland_thorns_womens_soccer.html

How sad that the team felt compelled to remove the T-shirt that both fans and the team liked in response to others who had criticism.  I wonder how many of those doing the criticism live in Portland, or even knew the team existed prior to the devilish T-shirt being unleashed upon the unsuspecting world.

I like the saying.  Its a fun play on words and promotes the team name - "Thorns."  Don't you get it?  Portland - City of Roses.  Thorns.  Thorny.  Idiot criticism.  I think some people make it their life's mission to seek out ways to be offended.  They are not happy unless they are offended.  This is an excellent T-shirt that fans want to buy and wear.  They should not be denied.  I hope the T-shirt is put back on the team's website.

Go Thorns!

Keep Calm and… WHAT???

Here we have two articles concerning the same story, both of which involved a company offering T-shirts which appear to be promoting domestic abuse.  No no!  That's not good.

Amazon in the UK, having received criticism from customers pointing out offensive T-shirts with slogans promoting domestic abuse, continued to sell the T-shirts for several more hours from the merchant Solid Gold Bomb.

The offensive slogans, to name a few, were "Keep Calm and Rape Her", "Keep Calm and Knife Her" and others as based on England's famous World War II slogan of "Keep Calm and Carry On".  When Solid Gold Bomb was questioned about these slogans they indicated they were the result of an errant automated process which creates content for T-shirts.  Word substitution inadvertently generated slogans promoting violence against women.  Yeah, oops.

Let's hope Solid Gold Bomb fixes their automated word substitution process.  This is not good.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/02/amazon-removes-keep-calm-rape-t-shirt_n_2798682.html?utm_hp_ref=business

http://www.theverge.com/culture/2013/3/4/4062452/automatically-generated-products-history-violent-tshirts

Updated 03/25/2013:  Another article on the subject.  This has been very hot subject.

http://www.womenofgrace.com/blog/?p=19965