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The Hat

By Bob Naiman

Some time ago Barry room came down to Urbana to take part in a panel on oppression in the military.

At the end of the meeting there was the usual milling about the propaganda table. But in addition to the usual flyers and buttons, Barry had brought some special merchandise from Chicago—VVAW hats. We were all duly impressed when Barry opened the bag to reveal the sturdy caps and several of us opened our wallets. For my own part, not only do I like baseball-type caps, but I sorely need one for softball duties. Of course, for a "man of the left" not just any insignia will do: only a scab would wear a "CAT" hat these days, and sports logos are frowned on in some hard core PC circles. So a VVAW cap was the silver bullet; we put on our new caps immediately.

On the way to the mandatory post-meeting libations, someone said something about "posing as veterans," Barry of course smashed this notion immediately, pointing out that we were proclaiming our support for VVAW—what could be better than that?

Ever since then I've been wearing the hat, and I've had some interesting experiences. Here are few of them.

A typical comment at work, given my age (27) was "hey..you're not a veteran!" to which my typical response was "well, it I were wearing a Cubs hat you wouldn't say, "hey, you don't play for the Cubs!" This usually drew a laugh. Then I would often get to say something about what VVAW is and why I support it. This shows that a VVAW hat is an effective political tool.

A more bizarre experience happened to me at O'Hare (airport,ed.) I was standing in line at the ticket counter, and this guy wearing a suite behind me seemed to be bothered by it. He asked me if I had been in Vietnam; I said no, that I was wearing the hat because I support VVAW. He asked me where I got it; I answered that I bought it from VVAW people in Chicago. He said that he had been in Vietnam; I said nothing (mistake!). He said he didn't need some kid reminding him of it. I offered to take off the hat if it bothered him so much. (I was in a pacifist mood that day, as I had been reading Dave Dellinger's autobiography—one of the best books I have ever read). But when I offered to take it off, he laughed and said, "No, I want it. It should be mine." So I offered it to him. But he laughed again, saying, not that's OK, keep it. I think he was probably right—it was his hat, which he is letting me keep till he is ready to wear it. So now when people ask me where I got the hat I can say that someone gave it to me in O'Hare.

But the best hat story happened to me in northern Wisconsin. Somehow as a part of my new job at the University YMCA in Urbana I got roped into going to a "camping retreat" outside Lac du Flambeau. I hadn't been there very longs when I was feeling pretty alienated away from the comforts of civilization and the company of my Urbana comrades. I felt surrounded by with a couple of unknown Wisconsin people for a road-repair project, one of them noticed my hate and asked me, are you a member of VVAW? No, just a supporter, I answered. "well, I'm a member of VVAW," he said.

Thus I met Jay Tobin. Suffice it to say that Jay had a vehicle and after a hard morning's work of shoveling mud we repaired to town for a civilized meal of coffee, cigarettes and cholesterol. We traded stories about organizing against the Gulf War while we are.

So it should be apparent that a VVAW hat is a fine thing. It keeps the sun out of your eyes, educate the masses, keeps you occupied at airports and, when you're friendless and far from home, can spare you the excesses of the back-to-nature crowd. Don't leave home without it.

Bob Naiman is currently the Program Director for the University YMCA in Urbana-Champaign. He also serves on the Champaign County board, and works with the Illinois Disciples Foundation in Champaign, the Progressive Resource/Action Cooperative, International Jewish Peace Union, and the Palestine Solidarity Committee.