Ribbons and Flags

Everywhere I look these days there seems to be a ribbon campaign of some sort. Colors, stripes, patterns, you name it, and there is probably a ribbon to celebrate the cause they represent. The ribbons adorn people’s clothing, book bags, and dirty cars.

I, too, own two such ribbons. The pink one, which should prompt people to remember to support breast cancer research, and the yellow one, which reminds us to support the troops. Now I can proudly say that I have supported breast cancer research monetarily through various ways. Typically it has happened when I have purchased something in which a percentage of the monies go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. It adds up over time. Believe me. I have also done my part to support our troops by sending items of need to them.

What I do wonder is how many people are doing their part to support such campaigns or are they simply dressing themselves or the cars up with the ribbons?

Think back to the flag waving days Americans experienced after 9/11. We raced to the flag stores buying every flag and yellow ribbon we could get our hands on. We proudly displayed the flags from houses, cars, boats, etc. You couldn’t go anywhere without being reminded you lived in a great country, and that we were truly proud to be living in that great country.

But who really benefited from the sales of such flags and ribbons? People waited in lines hour longs just to buy a flag. Flag stores and factories in my area worked around the clock, making headlines, just to mass produce such flags. I would imagine the ribbon mass producers of today are making out like bandits, and places outside of the US, like China, are loving our patriotism and “fights for the causes.”

Wave a flag because you feel good and proud about being an American. Adorn yourself or your dirty car with a ribbon because you are passionate about helping the cause, not because it’s cool to do so. And for Pete’s sake, replace that damaged and dirty flag with a new one. Your dirty ripped flag hanging from your home annoys me. Fix it. Please.