First it was God, then the flag, now it’s the yellow ribbon.  Popularized by the Iranian hostage struggle the yellow ribbon was used to symbolize a request to both the American government and Iranian hostage takers to bring our loved ones home.  During the Gulf War it was for a similar request.  The ribbons weren’t outright pro- or anti-war just a plea for returning the troops.  So what happened?  In the span of 10-15 years have we lost the meaning?  Nearly every ribbon I see are smacked to the back of $70k SUVs right next to a “W ‘04” sticker.  I’m not saying Kerry has any promises as to when the troops are returning home but Bush is the proprietor of the backdoor draft, declaring mission accomplished, and pushing stop-loss to no avail!  These actions hardly fulfill the dissenting remarks of, “Bring Our Troops Home!”

I listened to NPR‘s Morning Edition on the drive to work and heard a report on yellow ribbons.  More specifically the report covered the new fad of magnetized ribbons popping up all over the country.  Originally these magnets were given away as a premium for donations to troops stationed in Iraq and elsewhere in the world.  Now you can pick them up at just about any gas station selling the Saudi prince’s gas.  In the report a woman (who’s name escapes me) who was credited with re-starting this custom during the Gulf War refused to put one the magnets on her car.  She basically stated that doing so has become synonymous with supporting Bush and the war.  She has two sons currently in the Navy and continues her practice of tying a ribbon on an old oak tree to support them and show people that she wishes them a safe and prompt return home.  When asked what she feels about Bush supporter’s negativity towards not supporting the war she said, “Dissent to me is more American than undying patriotism…”

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