10 Comments
User's avatar
Janet Hulstrand's avatar

Good for you for finding a way to weigh it all--the importance of symbols, friends, personal autonomy, all that--and come up with a workable solution to your dilemma. Love it!

Rod Blake's avatar

Nuance is dead to the social mobs. Just ask the old guy who wore a red “Canada is Not For Sale” hat and got summarily kicked out of a Toronto Blue Jays game...

Comte de Saint-Germain's avatar

Super interesting! For me red will always be the colour of the workers' blood, shed on many May 1sts, from Haymarket Square, USA, to Fourmies, France. I know what "red states" meanw in the US, but I still live in a country where "banlieues rouges" is a meaningful –if dated– phrase. I think the French equivalent of your red cap is wearing anything with a French flag. Food for thought, but do feel free wear this cap next time you're in Paris: most people will ignore it, some will be very confused, and some will think you're a NYC Trump fan. But overall: you'll be fine 😊

HELEN MCKENNA's avatar

How disappointing to feel the need to not wear it. I have red hats. I don't live in America but I feel American politics is polarising and infringes on others when abroad. I have an interesting tale of my Dr's experience on a cruise but not enough space here.

Pres Maxson's avatar

The tone is tough here now for sure. But in this case, since I care about the people, I really didn’t mind not wearing the hat. They’ll see me in it soon enough- it’s not blacklisted from my wardrobe. Would love to hear that cruise ship account sometime!