Consider this post an epilogue to my derby entry. This is the public service announcement, PSA, part of the G.I. Joe cartoon. This is the interpretation, the depiction, of G.I. Joe as I understood it growing up.
G.I. Joe always helped those in need. Avoiding physical harm and recognizing influence abuse appeared many times in the cartoon's PSA shorts. I asked myself, "What would Joe do?" I could not exactly aspire to save a kid who has caught himself on fire; I needed a more coffee-drinking-adult type of idea. What dangers are we, as adults, now facing? My conclusion is that any monetary awards or royalties that would have normally been payable to me will instead be donated to a local organization named OASIS. OASIS is an acronym for "Opposing Abuse with Services, Information and Shelter"; it is a private not-for-profit organization. G.I. Joe cannot appear to save people from domestic violence or sexual assault, but OASIS can be the victim's real American hero. I choose them because that is where I live, in north-western North Carolina. The sales of this t-shirt, I figure, will make a good small-scale impact.
Wear this as an adult, a coffee-drinking-adult, who remembers the message that came from G.I. Joe. The battles that we faced as a child no longer present themselves as great a threat; we should know not to get inside an abandoned self-locking freezer. We may purport to love our spouse regardless of the emotional and physical abuses; we endure the hardship because of tradition and consistency, a cold and empty comfort. Knowing the influences, knowing that you need help, knowing consequences of your actions, and knowing whose purpose your ignorance serves is indeed half the battle.
Hear me Woot Gods and please arrange this. If you need additional contact information please email me.
I would also like to thank the metric ton of supporters this shirt had when it was in the derbies. About 7/8 of that ton was from databit. So, here's to you! I'll imagine we are clinking coffee mugs together ... or some other clink-worthy drinking vessel since you don't drink coffee any longer.
Now you know.
**UPDATE** Nathan from Woot has confirmed that there should not be any issues for them to send the payments to directly to OASIS. Cool!
