Would you like to express your most true sentiments about what Hurricane Irene has done to you or your property?
Just want to express solidarity and wear some Vermont flood mojo expressing your frustration with Mother Nature?
This is a great story about a Pittsfield, Vermont woman who put a sign up on top of a pile of rubble after her physical home was torn apart and is now using that sign for a t-shirt fundraiser (or her friends are using it for a fundraiser):
The story is told at this link and a template for ordering you very own “Irene You Bitch” t-shirt:
Julia Carlisle
Woodstock Early Bird 
Posted by j.w. on September 3, 2011 at 11:14
I am truly sorry for Traci’s loss, but do not support the message this t-shirt conveys. Independent Vermont Clothing also has t-shirts available for sale that can be found on this blog’s 31 AUG entry.
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Posted by Julia Carlisle on September 3, 2011 at 15:34
From Martha Giller,
I am very appreciative of your blog; it is both informative and entertaining. As a local educator however, I must express my disappointment in your support of purchasing “Irene You Bitch” t-shirts. As we get ready to welcome the children of Woodstock back to school Tuesday we are preparing to help them cope with the tremendous loss and trauma so many of them have experienced. I believe the attitude of this shirt will undermine the positive direction we hope to lead them in, and the one in which so many hardworking people have taken in our town and state.
I’m sure Traci’s loss is devastating, but with so many amazing people and organizations available, surely help can be found without damaging our public image and misleading our children to believe this is the way you respond to such tragic circumstances.
Thanks again for all you’re doing.
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Posted by Julia Carlisle on September 3, 2011 at 15:41
Martha, I totally understand your point of view and am glad that you have weighed in with it in such a respectful manner on behalf of young kids.
One of the best ways to cope in stressful situations is through the use of humor and through productive, non-violent expression of anger. This sign and its t-shirt (for adults!) is funny.
If this sign and that t-shirt helps Traci and her supporters get through this with some of their own version of Vermont mojo, humor, anger, frustration who are we to stop them?
Frankly, we should support ALL ways of coping whether or not we approve of them (as long as they are not criminal, illegal or harmful to the neighbors).
I suspect if our Woodstock community can survive this flooding and it’s really big issues it can survive a few “off-color” t-shirts. There are plenty of “off-color” t-shirts that Woodstock Early Bird doesn’t personally like or approve of, but it is the right of the individual to express him or herself.
Ask just about any counselor (worth their salt) and they will say everyone has individual ways of coping with stress. Some of us like a good laugh! Some of us like to use a little language. If ever there was a time to let “a little language” fly, it is now. I don’t think this is the time to judge anyone’s response. The post stays.
We hope the message to our community’s kids is one of tolerance for others (even those with different points of view) and maybe a brief review of our freedom of speech principles. WEB
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Posted by Julia Carlisle on September 3, 2011 at 18:52
From Angelique Lee:
I am the person behind the effort to raise money for Traci and provide
a bit of levity in an otherwise pretty stressful situation. Thank you
for your wonderful even handed remarks in the comment section. Just to
correct a factual error, Traci lives in Pittsfield. What Traci won’t
tell you, but I will, is that after her house was destroyed, she
proceeded to head up the hill to a neighbor’s house to try to save his
place, which they did. After that she worked tirelessly in the
community to move our recovery efforts forward. She’s an amazing
person, and one of the funnier people I know. I’m glad you can
appreciate her humor, her smile lights up our town.
Regards,
Angelique Lee
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