Sometimes I wonder if the people behind T-Shirt Hell are trying to send a message to the world about various topics. Yes, their t-shirts offend a lot of people around the world and from all walks of life. But should they really be offended?
Let’s analyze these two recent shirts.
Of course this is a parody on the Support our Troops idea. You know, the t-shirts mostly worn by Americans when their children or relatives are fighting a war overseas, which seems to be most of the time. This t-shirt could just be a joke but it could also be a serious commentary. While some American people are travelling around the world fighting for peace and freedom (ideally) others are sitting at home eating pizza while enjoying sports on the TV. And all the while their own freedoms are being eroded but they don’t bother to do anything about it.
Link: Support our Civilians T-Shirt at T-Shirt Hell
My first thought when I saw this t-shirt was: that’s not cool. If it were He Beats Me it would certainly cause outrage. But the fact of the matter is that men are also the victims of domestic violence and I’m sure that the actual rate is higher than the reported rate too. T-Shirts like this could bring light on the dark matter it concerns.
Of course it could just be a dirty t-shirt.
As far as the “She Beats Me” thing goes, it may be a nod to the fairly recent upsurge in the numbers of misogynistic communities on the internet. This was highlighted in a recent copy of the Southern Poverty Law Center’s newsletter, “Intelligence Report”. Not sure if it is an ironic nod to the misogynistic hysteria or a backward condoning of it. Disturbing either way, really.
I’m not sure how the woman is the victim in the “She Beats Me” thing. Would the man be the victim if the shirt said “He beats me”?