National Wear A T-Shirt Day was an idea I had during the 2004 presidential election. It is a self-directed event that seeks to set aflutter the proverbial butterfly’s wings. The action iself is very simple. On the second Saturday of January, April, July, and October people are encouraged to wear a t-shirt bearing an issue-based message that is of importance to the individual. The t-shirt could be replaced by a hat or a button. It could be worn to a gym, to clean out the gutters, or just around town. It could promote awareness of LAM, object to the economics of war, or encourage better public transit.
In 2004 people were being asked to leave malls because they were wearing t-shirts with anti-war messages. In the San Francisco Bay area a grocery store cashier was told to remove a “Drop Bush, Not Bombs” button because it was considered too offensive. Over at a Berkeley event promoting bicycle ridership, a vendor was trying to sell plastic dolls made in China. The air-filled item looked like George W. Bush as Pinocchio. Other vendors in Berkeley were targeting commercially-based political designs and not issue-based messages.
Wear A T-Shirt days were conceived of in order to lend solidarity to the people who were told not to express certain opinions and to encourage other people to focus on issues instead of on personalities or personal feelings. The hope was that the media and political candidates would see issues being raised everywhere and not just the few that make it above the fold. Another benefit was to get those issues out in public despite the interests of the media or the candidates. Ideally, people who saw the messages would be engaged in educational conversation. At the minimum, the conscious thought of wearing a t-shirt with an issue-based message would remind the wearer to think about the topic.
Four Saturdays were chosen to keep issues as part of general discussions throughout the year and because most people do not have to contend with work-related conflicts on weekends. For people who have other constraints upon Saturday participation, the next day would still allow a traditional non-work day in which to participate. Foregoing the first Saturday avoids major holidays.
It is a bonus that the calendar quarters coincide with important events. In January, Congress begins its session. In April, those pesky income tax returns are due. In July, we are celebrating Independence Day. In October, the federal fiscal year begins as does the session of the U.S. Supreme Court. National Wear A T-Shirt Day helps remind everybody that merely voting for a president or other office holder is not enough.
The fact that I design communication messages for political and social purposes was the self-serving impetus for the idea of National Wear A T-Shirt Day. I also am using this post to test advertising on the site and to advertise t-shirts left over from the 2004 election; unlike personality-based designs, the issue-based messages are still useful.
M.R. Field is editor of Leading Voices: Iowa. 
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