Political overtones in T shirts for kids?

33 replies

SalAShus · 01/04/2010 12:43

DD was given this top as an 11th birthday present. DH was annoyed as he sees the inclusion of the CND logo as too political for a child who is too young to form her own opinions, and felt that it was an inappropriate present. Should she wear it?

OP posts:

missmoopy · 01/04/2010 20:24

I have no problem with political statements on childrens t's as long as you talk to them about the meaning.

I much prefer that than horrid sexual, flirty statements on childrens clothes which fill me with rage

Scorpette · 01/04/2010 20:43

I don't get how a CND logo is forcing political opinions on a child; after all, the symbol represents pacifism and not wanting nuclear weapons to wipe us all out - is there anyone out there who thinks bloodshed and nuclear annihilation are good ideas?! CND is not actually affiliated with any political party, even if more left-leaning types tend to support it more.

Mind you, my Dad was on the Aldermaston march and my Mum was at Greenham Common (and they got a family membership whilst I was still in the womb), so I might be a tad biased I was also wearing 'issues' t-shirts of my own choosing at that age and younger; like grumpypants, they were mainly Lynx ones (although not to the horror of my lefty folks!). I had worked out exactly why I was an Atheist by the time I was 10 (as did my DP and many of my friends) and was certainly very political years before that, so it's naive to think kids can't and shouldn't have an opinion about the world they live in and will inherit from us.

However, I agree with TinaSparkles that it looks more like a leaf to me. They've just tried to make it look a bit CND sign-y to fit in with the overall 'green and groovy' motif going on. If your DD's not into politics and so on right now then I don't think a leafy thing on a t-shirt will radicalise her somehow! Think your DH needs to learn from the hippies and relax a bit

ericnorthmansmistress · 01/04/2010 20:45

I had the cnd logo on lots of things when I was a child. I even went on a nuclear disarmament march in my pushchair. Does your DH disagree with CND?

Spidermama · 01/04/2010 20:54

My DH has that sign as a tattoo. I love it. It means 'peace' to me rather than specifically CND.

I do feel a level of discomfort at children wearing the political messages of their parents though. My 11 year old dd has a vegetarian chick t-shirt but that's because she has chosen to be veggie.

thegirlwithsomethingextra · 01/04/2010 20:57

Maybe this is the perfect opportunity to explain what the symbol stands for, and what it means...ina way an 11 yo could understand of course.

THen she can make her own mind up

Spidermama · 01/04/2010 21:06

Great idea. That's perfect!

SolidGoldBrass · 01/04/2010 21:10

It is a general 'peace' symbol rather than specifically CND and I would suggest as others ahve done that you have a chat with your DD about it and see how she feels.
Mind you, I personally wouldn't wear that symbol on anything as to me it invariably means 'farty self-righteous dull pulse-eater who doesn't bath enough' because those were the ones who wore those symbols when I was younger.

missmoopy · 01/04/2010 21:10

I agree with Scorpette that children are capable of and indeed have political ideas and beliefs. To me its about talking to them in age appropriate language.

My dd is 5 and we have been talking about religion this week as she was doing about easter at school. she asked what we thought/believed (we are complete heathens)so we told her, but were very clear that what she chooses to believe in is up to her and may change over time.

love the easter bunnys so had to put one in!

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