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CNN Live Sunday

Man Makes Political Statement With T-Shirt

Aired May 04, 2003 - 16:56   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Some folks wear their emotions on their sleeve. You're about to meet an entrepreneur who wears his identity on his chest, but his short sleeve statement is not one size fits all. We get the story from reporter Hazel McClemont of CTV.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HAZEL MCCLEMONT, CTV CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Trevor Wilson is a man with a message, but these days, it's a message he unzips very carefully.

TREVOR WILSON: Most people actually sort of do a double take and chuckle away merrily.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, I love that shirt. That's pretty nice.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is really good. I would wear it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it is hilarious.

MCCLEMONT: His t-shirt may get laughs on the street, but it wasn't funny when Wilson started getting abusive and violent e-mail on his Web site.

WILSON: Occasionally they were threatening my health if they ever come across me. I did have my photo on the Web site because I needed a shot of the shirt, but I've since taken that off.

MCCLEMONT: Wilson is an Australian-born Canadian who got tired of being mistaken for an American while he backpacked around Europe.

WILSON: At the time, I couldn't have had a stronger Australian accent. I thought, OK, if you're confusing me for an American, there's something wrong.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it's great. Everybody thinks we're all Americans and we're not.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you anti-American?

WILSON: No. Some of my best friends are American. The best man at my wedding is American.

MCCLEMONT: But for many, saying I'm not American is being against the U.S.A. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't think it's appropriate. I'm pro- American myself. I believe if it wasn't for them -- they're sticking up for us. I mean, Canada would get their (EXPLETIVE DELETED) kicked if it wasn't for the Americans.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it is in very poor taste.

MCCLEMONT: American tourists also view the shirt as anti- American, but feel it's fair comment given the divided views on the war in Iraq

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've seen worse.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it is provocative.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If you speak out and you have an opinion that's a minority opinion, then you actually get a lot of flack, and I think Dixie Chicks are a perfect example of that.

MCCLEMONT: Like the Dixie Chicks, Wilson's sales have flatlined. He's discovered while freedom of expression is a cherished American right, it can be the first casualty in times of war.

Hazel McClemont, CTV News, Vancouver.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired May 4, 2003 - 16:56   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Some folks wear their emotions on their sleeve. You're about to meet an entrepreneur who wears his identity on his chest, but his short sleeve statement is not one size fits all. We get the story from reporter Hazel McClemont of CTV.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HAZEL MCCLEMONT, CTV CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Trevor Wilson is a man with a message, but these days, it's a message he unzips very carefully.

TREVOR WILSON: Most people actually sort of do a double take and chuckle away merrily.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, I love that shirt. That's pretty nice.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is really good. I would wear it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it is hilarious.

MCCLEMONT: His t-shirt may get laughs on the street, but it wasn't funny when Wilson started getting abusive and violent e-mail on his Web site.

WILSON: Occasionally they were threatening my health if they ever come across me. I did have my photo on the Web site because I needed a shot of the shirt, but I've since taken that off.

MCCLEMONT: Wilson is an Australian-born Canadian who got tired of being mistaken for an American while he backpacked around Europe.

WILSON: At the time, I couldn't have had a stronger Australian accent. I thought, OK, if you're confusing me for an American, there's something wrong.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it's great. Everybody thinks we're all Americans and we're not.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you anti-American?

WILSON: No. Some of my best friends are American. The best man at my wedding is American.

MCCLEMONT: But for many, saying I'm not American is being against the U.S.A. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't think it's appropriate. I'm pro- American myself. I believe if it wasn't for them -- they're sticking up for us. I mean, Canada would get their (EXPLETIVE DELETED) kicked if it wasn't for the Americans.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it is in very poor taste.

MCCLEMONT: American tourists also view the shirt as anti- American, but feel it's fair comment given the divided views on the war in Iraq

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've seen worse.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it is provocative.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If you speak out and you have an opinion that's a minority opinion, then you actually get a lot of flack, and I think Dixie Chicks are a perfect example of that.

MCCLEMONT: Like the Dixie Chicks, Wilson's sales have flatlined. He's discovered while freedom of expression is a cherished American right, it can be the first casualty in times of war.

Hazel McClemont, CTV News, Vancouver.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com