| With Barack Obama's meteoric rise to the top of the | | | | more, because everyone understands the meaning. |
| American political scene, there has been an explosion | | | | #5. (Historic Quotation) This is a powerful quotation |
| of Obama shirts and other gear. From t-shirts to | | | | from then-candidate Barack. However, it's just long |
| bumper stickers, tote bags, sweatshirts, buttons-you | | | | enough that you better be engaged in conversation |
| name it, chances are someone has put a likeness of | | | | with someone in order that they have time enough |
| our new president on it. There are thousands of | | | | to read it. |
| different designs for these shirts, so choosing a top | | | | Shirt #5 says: |
| ten list of "best designs" is ridiculous. Therefore, we'll | | | | Change will not come if we wait for some other |
| just stick to my top ten favorite shirts. | | | | person or some other time. |
| Some are funny, some make fun of the opposition, | | | | We are the ones we've been waiting for. |
| some focus in on some of then-candidate Barack's | | | | We are the change that we seek. |
| quotations, and some elude to the sense of "history | | | | Sometimes the quote has an attribution line below it, |
| in the making" that was all a huge part of the | | | | sometimes not. |
| election in 2008. | | | | #4. (Funny) This shirt design says "Bowlers for |
| #10. (Sense of History) The design of this shirt reads | | | | Obama." This is so funny! It's a reference to the |
| as follows: "Rosa SAT so that Martin could WALK, | | | | then-candidate on the campaign trail trying his hand |
| Martin WALKED so that Obama could RUN, Obama | | | | at bowling. He made all of us feel good about our |
| RAN so that our children could FLY". The obvious | | | | bowling scores! |
| historical references to Rosa Parks who started the | | | | #3. (Sense of History) You may disagree with my |
| Montgomery bus strike by refusing to get up and | | | | characterization of this as a sense of history, but it |
| move to the back of the bus. The reference to the | | | | captures a sense of excitement about our new |
| Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in his struggle for racial | | | | President that seems to permeate a large number of |
| equality in American culture. And now we have the | | | | his supporters and other admirers. Shirt #3 has a |
| first African American President. | | | | picture of our new President climbing steps to board |
| #9. (Historically Fun) The design of this shirt reads as | | | | a plane and it reads: "President Barack Obama, The |
| follows: "They wouldn't give us 40 acres and a | | | | New Definition of Cool." |
| mule...So we took 50 states and the White House." | | | | #2. (Sense of History) Did you go to Washington for |
| The "40 acres and a mule" is a historical reference to | | | | the Inauguration? If not, did you watch on TV. If so, |
| the promise made to freed slaves after the civil war | | | | you knew you were watching history as it was |
| as compensation for their hardship. 40 acres to farm | | | | made. The first African American to be sworn in as |
| and a mule for the plowing. | | | | President of the United States of America. This shirt |
| #8. (Sense of History) This shirt design says simply | | | | has a circle picture showing the capitol building against |
| "The Dream Lives On". Referring to the 1963 March | | | | a dark blue sky with our new president taking the |
| on Washington speech made by the Rev. Dr. Martin | | | | oath of office, and underneath are words which |
| Luther King Jr. in which he expressed his dream of an | | | | commemorate being present for the ceremony. |
| America where a man is judged by the content of | | | | And my #1 favorite shirt probably says more about |
| his character as opposed to the color of his skin. This | | | | me than our new President. I'm a bit of a geek, and |
| shirt design usually has a picture of Barack beside the | | | | Star Wars is great! It is a "Star Wars" theme with |
| words. | | | | the our new president's name in large hollow print, |
| #7. (Funny) This shirt design was developed during | | | | similar to the beginning of the original Star Wars |
| the 2008 campaign season. It says: "A President's IQ | | | | trilogy movies with the scrolling text slowly fading |
| should be THREE digits. OBAMA 2008." The obvious | | | | into oblivion. Underneath it reads, "Episode '08" and |
| reference to the general public perception that | | | | then, "A New Hope." |
| former President Bush (43) was not the sharpest | | | | With thousands of designs for shirts and other gear |
| knife in the drawer. Whether you agree or not, this | | | | bearing our new president's name or image, it is much |
| shirt is one of the funniest I've seen. | | | | too difficult to pick a 10 'Best' list. And even my ten |
| #6. (Simplicity) I like this shirt design because of its | | | | favorites change from day to day as new designs |
| simplicity and taste. The shirt reads (and you will have | | | | come out, or I see older designs which I had never |
| to use some imagination here) "I [HEART] Barack | | | | seen before. Creativity is alive and well in the shirt |
| Obama." You wear this shirt and need say nothing | | | | design arena! |