Saving the World, One Pair of Panties at a Time

Via National Public Radio comes news of "message panties" -- thongs with "Stop Genocide" emblazoned in green above an image of two sad-eyed tots. Below the image the manufacturers borrowed the slogan that anti-genocide activists have been using: "Save Darfur."

The CafePress Web site where the message panties are available promises profits will go to charity. Of course, the message thong is not actually affiliated with the charity it promises to send the profits to -- the Save Darfour Coalition -- but, by borrowing its slogan, makers of the thongs certainly try to imply a connection.

To be fair, my proposed taglines for the product -- "The Message Thong: For when you sort of care enough to have someone else send a marginal percentage of money you were spending anyway," or, "The Message Thong: The newest, and most useless, weapon in the fight against genocide" -- probably wouldn't move too many panties from the shelves.

More broadly, though, what about fashion statements (presumably) more visible than a thong -- the Gap's RED T-shirt campaign on AIDS, for instance -- that promise political action with no more effort than getting dressed in the morning?

Some claim that it's not about raising money for charities, but about raising awareness. And, it's true that the flip-side to this attention is that awareness does matter. People and nations tend to behave better when they think they're being watched -- and fashion does make people pay attention. There are also symbols that don't involve any monetary payout or corporations, like tinting your profile picture green in support of Iran's election protesters like many people -- myself included -- did.

What I worry about, though, is feeling a sense of political accomplishment from shopping and not following it up with any further action or reading. And, no, the message thong's suggestion for follow-up: "Toss these message panties onstage at your favorite rock star" doesn't count.