Anonymous Finger-Flipping School Bus Driver
c/o Chris Dugovich, Executive Director
Washington State Council of County and City Employees
(Council 2)
P.O. Box 750
Everett, WA 98206-0750
Dear Anonymous Finger-Flipping School Bus Driver:
Wow. I was thrilled to read the story of your encounter with President Bush. I am not thrilled, of course, that you were fired from your job as a school bus driver, but I am curious to know whether perhaps the experience was worth the consequence. Bush was reportedly waving to the kids on your bus when your display of your finger caught him by surprise. He mentioned the incident to Congressman Dave Reichert, whom he was visiting in Seattle, who then reported you.
I occasionally entertain myself with various “what would I do if...” and one of those questions has long been “what would I do if I happened to see Mr. Bush in a casual setting, perhaps just walking down the street. I do not know whether I would have the nerve to tell him off, but I’d like to think so. It is rather unlikely that I will be faced with this dilemma, but you found yourself at the plate and batted one in. I am quite impressed.
I do hope you get your job back, and although I do have faith in unions, pissing off the president is a tough one to sweep under the rug. I imagine you could get gigs driving activists to the capitol, but you should not have to give up driving school buses altogether if you do not wish to. As for setting a poor example for the kids, that’s not cut-and-dried. You do not want kids running around flipping people off and using the bus driver as an excuse. However, they need to learn who the “bad men” are out there and that it is okay to stand up to them. Good luck in the future!
Truly,
Liz Mann

