Bumper Stickers and Rock n Roll

The epicenter of Fort Bend County for me is the intersection of Hwy 6 and 90-A. Huge blocks of land formerly owned by the state will be covered with houses and stores to the southwest and northeast of that intersection. Wal-Mart is already on the southeast corner, and the Sugar Land airport with its new terminal is on the northwest corner. There is a new overpass at the intersection so traffic can fly over the railroad tracks that parallel 90-A without having to stop. That intersection is representative of what is happening to our county. It is the old giving way to the new. The rural lifestyle is disappearing. The state is selling its land to the land developers, and the land developers donate heavily to state and local candidates who will build roads and bridges to the new developments. It was at that epicenter that I slowed to a stop behind two identical Suburbans waiting at the light on 90-A. On the back bumper of the Suburban on the right was a bumper sticker that said, "Anybody but Hillary, 08". On the back bumper of the Suburban on the left was a sticker that said, "Draft Young Republicans". I wish I had a camera to capture the moment. It was perfect. At the epicenter of our county, two drivers symbolized the political campaign ahead. The driver on the right is willing to vote for anyone but a woman, apparently even candidates who want to invade another country that had nothing to do with 9/11. The driver on the left is hungry for an end to endless war. With the start of the new year, the 2008 political season has officially begun. We will be decorating our county with signs, attending fundraisers and meeting the local candidates. Perhaps a few of us will also be watching for bumper stickers and listening to protest rock from the '60s. Peace.