posted
You know, the ubiquitous ribbon magnet so many people have on their cars. They have pink ones for breast cancer, yellow (and camo, and red/white/blue) for "support our troops" - some even with the phrase printed on. A red one is in support of people with AIDS (though I haven't seen that one as a magnet on any cars). I've thought for a long time that they have become so ubiquitous that although they still have definite meaning, they now make very little impact.
However, last week I saw one that, from a distance, looked like it was polka-dotted. As I got closer, I saw that the polka-dots were actually little basketballs, and the word "Basketball" was printed on one tail of the ribbon. OK, so is this person saying "Support Basketball"? And if so, is this really the same "support" we mean when we say "support our troops"?
Then today at lunch I actually saw this one. I have no idea what the significance of printing "I love Florida" on a red/white/blue ribbon is. Can anyone enlighten me? Has the ribbon become just another bumpersticker shape now?
Posts: 6394 | Registered: Dec 1999
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posted
I think it has, but confess to having two. I have a pink one b/c I lost a very good friend to breast cancer, and a pink and blue (infant loss). I wouldn't expect someone who'd not suffered those losses to have one, but I thin k with the breast cancer thing, well, most women worry about it.
The yellow ones...I think they have gotten so ubiquitous that the manufacturers are trying to outdo each other. Let's add...some stars and stripes. Oh, and then we'll add an eagle! I saw one last month that was in the shape of a fish,(think Christian fish) with one half yellow and the other starts and stripes, the the logo "God Bless our troops". I have to say I rolled my eyes at that one.
Posts: 2711 | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
They wasted no time at all with the "Livestrong" wristbands. By the time I had even heard of the "Livestrong" bands I had already seen those same type bands with words totally unrelated to any cause at all printed on them.
romanylass, I'm not trying to trash anyone who has the ribbons, especially those supporting a cause. Personally, I choose not to display my patriotism that way, but I have no problem, really, with people who do. I just wonder what would possess someone to put one of the basketball or Florida ribbons on their car. Do they even stop to think about what they are buying/displaying?
Of course, in a world where someone will pay $90+ for a piece of toast with a bad drawing of Dumbledore scratched into it, I guess there's a market for any kind of crap you can think to produce. Posts: 6394 | Registered: Dec 1999
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posted
I think the Livestrong bands were just a stunt by Nike. Personaly, I would like a "suport U.N. peacekeepers" ribbon.
Posts: 1332 | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
Am I mistaken in believing that the bands are made by Nike? The Foundation site doesn't say. I know that they raise money, but that money could be raised in a way that does not involve silicone. It's so silly, my old school made ones with the school motto on them, my current school has ones with the mascot on them. Stop the Silicone revolution!
Posts: 1332 | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
Was the aids ribbon inspired by the yellow ribbons, though? But the little single loop two tails configuration was a uniquely artistic configuration. I hated it when I was a kid, but I can appreciate it now.
Yellow ribbons were used quite a bit in the early 80's for the hostages in Iran. I think the AIDS ribbon came on the scene mid-late 80's. They kind of had their heyday, I think, with the 1992 Oscars where Howard Ashman was honored for his contributions to "Beauty and the Beast." But there was controversy because many felt the front runner for best picture, "Silence of the Lambs", was apparently anti-gay (never saw it, don't have an opinion).
I think looking back that was the beginning of the end of AIDS being viewed primarily as a Gay/hemophiliac/Haitian problem, as the death of Arthur Ashe and the diagnosis of Magic Johnson came to the fore.
P.S. I dislike the bracelets, but I try to keep an open mind because you never know when you will get one as a gift that you can't refuse.
Posts: 2010 | Registered: Apr 2003
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posted
In the same vein as the Livestrong bands are the blue bands that benefit the Hendrick Marrow Program. They had a huge spike in popularity among NASCAR devotees after several people affiliated with Hendrick Motorsports died in a plane crash last October. They DO support the efforts of the foundation to increase awareness of bone marrow donation, support research and supplement funds for families.
The thing that was rather reprehensible was the fact that the bands started popping up like whack-a-moles on eBay. It's not as if they are expensive, so why on Earth would you buy them from someplace that doesn't benefit the cause?
Hypocritical. *grumble*
And although I am a military spouse, live on a military base, and follow both NASCAR and Lance Armstrong, I don't own any ribbons, magnets, wristbands or any other propaganda. I'd rather donate directly to a cause than buy something to show off about it.
Posts: 14 | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
Don't have time to find the link again right now, but there was a guy selling "Support the guy in China who manufactures these ribbons" bumper stickers.
I'm rather fond of the t-shirt I saw that had a big yellow ribbon with the words "I like ribbons!" printed where "Support our troops" usually is.
posted
If the whole "yellow ribbon" thing started with Tony Orlando and Dawn's song, that's kinda funny - since that song is about a guy getting out of prison.
Posts: 6394 | Registered: Dec 1999
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posted
In 1994 I had a little red ribbon on a pin, that I wore on my shirt most days after my first grade teacher died of Aids (I was in second grade in 94 when it happened). I had no clue what gay was, what AIDS was, or anything of the sort, but I knew that it was bad and my teacher died, so I had my mommy get me one.
Our town was covered with yellow ribbons on trees, stop signs, everything the summer of 2000 when a 19 year old girl just disapeared on a bike ride, I think most of them are gone now, her body was found in spring of 04.
Posts: 5362 | Registered: Apr 2004
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posted
"since that song is about a guy getting out of prison" Yeah, KarlEd, that's why I am personally rathe lukewarm on the yellow ribbon concept. Does the song talk about what the guy supposedly did? The correllary to "you're a criminal but I love you anyway..." is kind of weird. It sort of applied to the hostages, though they weren't getting sprung after time honorably served or anything.
Though if my husband were sentenced fairly for doing something wrong and served his time, I'd probabably have him back. Depending.
posted
Personally, I abstain from bumper stickers as a matter of principle.
I do wear one rubber bracelet--a pink one that says Drama Queen on it. I own a few others from charities I've donated to, but I usually just use those as slingshots. I don't see the point, considering I'm not exactly donating just to purchase a little bracelet.
[EDIT] Urk, I can't type lately . . .
Posts: 1735 | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
I have two magnetic ribbon-related fantasies.
Fantasy Number One:
I go out to the mall parking lot and reassign everyone's magnetic ribbons. I may even reassign some of those magnetic Jesus Fish while I'm at it. The one ribbon-less car in the lot will be festooned with ribbons from fender to shining fender.
Fantasy Number Two:
I get myself a booth at the flea market selling magnetic ribbons. I am working with a partner who peels them off of all the cars in the flea market parking lot, brushes them off and carries them in to me at my booth. We sell them at flea market prices (only 50 cents each) and make a killing selling the same people the same ribbons again and again and again.
Posts: 10397 | Registered: Jun 2005
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posted
If buying a ribbon actually put money towards the cause, that would be cool. But the world does not work thusly. :sigh:
Posts: 7050 | Registered: Feb 2004
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