Hi Guys.
Yesterday marked 13 years since the Oklahoma City bombing, and today is the nine year anniversary of the tragedy at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. We want to begin by acknowledging those who lost loved ones, and the many people who continue to live life in these communities. Today we stand with you and say that the lives lost matter, that those stories, and yours, are important, and that community matters. Thank you for the bravery you've displayed in picking up the pieces. We can't imagine what you've been through. We are sorry beyond words. We pray some healing has come as the days have passed. We know nothing can replace what was lost, but we hope and pray that life can be good again. We stand with you in the moments you remember.
As for the news about Hot Topic, we sent out a bulletin late Friday night (or early Saturday morning, depending where you live and/or when you go sleep). We posted it three more times over the weekend, and the response has been pretty incredible - over 1000 comments and a bunch of messages as well...
The news was (and is) this:
"TWLOHA's original black Title shirts are now available in Hot Topic stores across the west coast and midwest (USA). By early next week, TWLOHA shirts will make there way to HT's east coast locations as well. In total, we are more than thrilled to announce that TWLOHA shirts will be available in 650 locations around the country. By early next month, pink Title shirts will be showing up as well.
i will explain why we're thrilled about this news later today. I can tell you now it goes way beyond shirts and money. We love the idea that TWLOHA is being introduced in basically every major mall in the country. We want to be about hope and help, and we love the idea of people discovering those things. We love that the shirt and
story that started all of this, are exactly what's going to be showing up in stores.
We're excited to say that this feels like a partnership, like the folks at Hot Topic believe in TWLOHA and want to share it with their audience. By early next week,
HotTopic.com will be featuring an exclusive TWLOHA video, an interview we filmed a couple weeks ago, when i had the chance to visit their headquarters near Los Angeles...
Wanted to share this now in case you want to go take a peak at your local Hot Topic. We hope you find something familiar on a rack or on the wall. It would be huge if you wanted to buy a TWLOHA shirt for yourself or a friend, and it would be equally huge if you took a minute to tell the folks in the store a bit about TWLOHA... that you're excited to find it there, that sales from those shirts will be supporting treatment and recovery, or simply that TWLOHA means something to you... You see, we want to get off to a surprising stuff with Hot Topic because the sky's the limit in terms of ways we can work together, ways we can bring our message of hope to people in need of hope... We're already daydreaming about exclusive shirts, in-store events with our favorite artists...
We are interested in change. This feels like big news to us. We are hopeful and excited. We hope you feel the same."
Okay, so that was the bulletin... What followed was a whole bunch of comments and messages from you guys. We're excited that so many of you are excited. We also understand that some of you are concerned. We are not afraid of criticism. If we were pleasing everyone, i would be concerned that we were simply playing it safe. Since we value your opinion and we care what you think, and since we believe this news is good news, we want to dive in a bit deeper. We talk about honest conversations - we've said it's a goal of ours. So in the spirit of honest conversations, i wanted to highlight and respond to some of your comments.
Cool? Cool. Off we go...
Comment:
"i am a Hot Topic employee in Dubuque, Iowa and i really really hope we get your shirts in our store, because i know enough to explain to people all about the movement that goes along with it, if they were to ask :] i've studied the story and keep reading it over and over. Everyone needs a group of people like you guys...and i guarantee i'm speaking for everyone when i say thank you."
jamie responds:
You are welcome. Thanks for being excited. We hope the shirts show up in Dubuque as well! The cool news is that it sounds like you're not alone. Here's part of an email we got Friday afternoon from our friend Ryan, the t-shirt buyer at Hot Topic:
"By the way, the store response has been overwhelming, I've had a huge number of emails from employees that are really excited about this because they feel that it is a cause that they can really get behind. It's really the first time that I've seen this kind of reaction, just wanted to pass that along to you!"
Comment:
"This is dumb. I guarantee that kids will be buying these shirts without having a clue as to what TWLOHA even means, let alone what the mission is. Honestly, I hate Hot Topic and I'm digusted to see that TWLOHA is now going to be sold there. I have deep respect for the movement itself, and I really think you guys have gone over the edge. Hot Topic? Come on, guys, you're SO much better. I had beyond respect for you. You have much more opportunity than Hot-fucking-Topic. Wow..can't say I'm happy to hear this."
Response:
The shirts in HT will be no different from the ones we've sold all along. Each one will have the story printed inside, and each one will come with an info card that mentions who we are, what we do, and how to find out more. Press pause for a second. The shirt, the story, and info in 650 stores around the country - we think that's good news. If that's not enough, it seems you have two options. The first would be to complain, which will not do much to help (and it won't be much fun either). The second option, if you're truly concerned, is to go visit your local Hot Topic and talk to the people who work there. Tell them about TWLOHA, tell them how it started, tell them why the shirts matter... (We like option two a lot.)
Comment:
"i work at a Hot Topic on the east coast, and this morning when i opened the store, i looked in the back and noticed the TWLOHA shirt...i read the tag and cried, because that is my story, like many others too. Not gonna lie, i bought it as soon as i got off. i dont care what others are saying, it's such a good feeling to know that people are getting to know the real struggle, and not just thinking its some stupid "emo" thing. Thanks again for all you're doing."
Response:
Thank you. We agree. This is not an emo thing. This is a people thing. This is a "Life is hard but hope is real" thing. Thanks for caring. Your story is important. We're all in this together.
Comment:
"In a way, it kind of defeats the purpose of TWLOHA. Now, I'm not saying that people shouldn't buy these shirts, they definately should, but for the RIGHT reasons, not just because they are sold in a store where "scene" girls and boys shop. Just an opinion...but I think people should wear TWLOHA for the organization and to help others. So basically, I agree with all the posts that relate to this."
Response:
The purpose of TWLOHA is to communicate a message of hope and help to people who struggle with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. Note the word "people". These are issues that affect people. These issues matter because people matter. As far as we know, people shop at Hot Topic. So we think the fact that people might come across our shirts - shirts that we agree, can and should and do mean something - we think that's pretty great. That this could happen in a store not generally known as a place where people find hope, we think that's even better. (We think hope belongs especially in those sorts of places)
Comment:
"Hey, if you're worried about people buying them and not understanding, try to help: No matter who you see wearing a TWLOHA shirt, go talk to them! If they support the cause, you'll have a great conversation. If not, then they'll now understand what it really means! i think this is a great oppurtunity to spread the word :]
Response:
We agree. You rule. Thanks.
Comment:
It would be cool if there was the story or some sort of words of general interest on a tag on the shirt, like they do with vegan clothing and the like. Then people could find a little info, and then visit the website/myspace/etc.
Response:
Good call. Like i said, every shirt will come with the story printed inside and an info card attached. Those are pretty hard to miss. (Everyone eventually does laundry.)
Comment:
Heres an idea: If everyone thinks that the shirts will lose their meaning, if you know someone who doesn't know what TWLOHA is about, tell them. Make them aware, don't hate them for their ignorance. Everyone deserves to know.
Response:
"Everyone deserves to know." We agree. We think hope and help are for all people. The phrase "Rescue is possible" - we believe that for all people. TWLOHA is not some exclusive club. These are not secrets we're trying to keep. We're trying to spread a message of hope to a world in need of hope, to people in need of hope. i think we miss the point in an enormous way the second we start trying to keep these ideas quiet. We believe this message has the power to see lives change. We hear from people who've chosen life rather than death, freedom rather than addiction. What we're talking about is something like a cure. If you come across a cure, please don't keep it a secret. Please share it with the world.
Comment:
"At first, it seems it's at once needed and undesirable. But, reflecting on this brought a quote by C.S. Lewis to mind... The purpose of TWLOHA is to spread the idea of love and hope to everyone, not just a select few.... What better outlet than HT, since so many supportive bands sell merch through HT? The hard thing about LOVE is that it must be shared; otherwise, it isn't love. But in sharing it, you open yourself up to that same love being misused, misunderstood, ignored, or even rejected." Surely, all of these things might happen to the message of TWLOHA with some people who buy the shirts. But, a) that's not TWLOHA's fault, and b) you can't change that, because it's bound to happen eventually if this movement is to penetrate further into the public eye. But, though this is certainly a risky thing to do, riskier still is to hold onto this love and keep it for ourselves...
Response:
This comment rules. Can we hire you? : )
In closing/moving on, maybe this news is the best news you've ever heard, or maybe it's the worst... We hope you'll trust us when we tell you this is a decision we gave a lot of thought to, and it's one we believe in. We can look our purpose and our goals and all of you in the eye, and say "Yes, we think this is good news." Also, it's worth noting that every shirt sold in Hot Topic translates to money going directly to treatment and recovery. Beyond that, please remember that this is just one small stop on the journey. Let's not lose sight of the bigger picture. The goal is that people would know it's okay to be honest, that people would begin to believe that they are not alone, that people would know that hope is real, that help is real, that rescue is possible.
Peace to you tonight.
: )
jamie
PS: There was one comment along the lines of "Way to sell out, Jamie. Pathetic." To that one i'd like to respond... My friend, you're missing the point. It's what i said about the cure. These are secrets not to keep. We've been given one life. The aim is to give it away, that others might live. The alternative is predictable: We recycle all of the bad "we vs. they" and "us vs. them" ideas that have been popular for way too long... In the face of that, i'd like to propose this possibility: we are one. To Write Love on Her Arms is a movement for broken people, and it is led by broken people.
Most people live life on the sidelines. They yell things from time to time. It's much safer out there. As far as we know, there are no critics in any Hall of Fame. Only people who were brave enough to play. This is an invitation to take the field.