This shouldn't bother me. I support our troops. I don't have a yellow ribbon magnet from WalMart on my car but I still support our troops. A friend in the Mid-West told me that cars in his neighborhood that do not have the crooked yellow ribbon on them are being vandalized.


The only vandalisim I want to do is to straighten all of those ribbons. A yellow ribbon on it's side looks like it fell over. It's kind of a sad ribbon. I want my ribbons standing tall and proud.

I have never seen the "it's easier to read what it says" orientation of a yelllow ribbon on a MINI. It seems that MINI owners have a sense of proper ribbon placement.

If I were close enough to the back of a gas-sucking SUV to read the ribbon, wouldn't I be too close anyway?

That's all...I couldn't hold it in any longer.

Nor could I hold this in any longer:



Support our Troops. Straighten your ribbon. You might have to tilt your head sideways to read it--just don't move your lips when you're reading to yourself.

 

That's funny....those crooked ribbons have always bugged me too (unless there was no other possible way on the car).

Moot point for me anyway because nothing is touching my Zaino paint !!!

 

Speaking as a member of the military, every time I see one of those ribbons, I want to roll my eyes. (I would actually roll my eyes, but with the amount of those ribbons around, my eyes would get pretty tired pretty quick! ) With the majority of those ribbons sold, guess how much of the profits ever make it to a 'troop'? For most, it's not a single cent. For others, it might be one or 5 cents on the dollar. Plus, those ribbons can scratch your paint!!

If anyone really wants to 'support our troops', go to this website: http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/ . They have links to legitimate companies and groups that really do support our troops, and they'll tell you how you can too. And if you notice, not one mention on the site about yellow ribbons!!

Or, barring that, simply walk up to someone in uniform and say thanks. That means a heck of a lot more (to me at least) than some magnet on a car!!

-Paul!

 

I know a guy... who calls himself The Ribbon Robin Hood. He takes ribbons off of cars... walks around parking lots and hauls them in. He says his actions are in support of our troops 'cause all these people have to buy more ribbons in support of our troops. Seems to be a small snipit of logic there... if you believe that buying car ribbons supports our troops.

 

I used to be that the guy that started this ribbon thing was donating a portion of sales to the troops in some way. Now that the ribbons are made in China and sold at 7 ELEVEN, I think the only thing those people are supporting is the Chinese Economy.

 

I was hoping you'd say that. And by the way...thanks!

 

Hmmm....I saw something on tv a while back that the ones with the handwritten look to them were created by two nice Southern ladies, with sons in the military, who use all the proceeds to make care packages that they send directly to troops in Iraq.

I think they've been co-opted/ripped off if the ribbons are now being made in China, too! And I cannot STAND seeing them going the wrong way either, Jeff. It is SO annoying!


Clover

 

Those ribbons bug the hell out of me. For multiple reasons, but mainly because, as you say, it's the ultimate empty gesture. It's actually even worse than an empty gesture, because people are spending money on these asinine ribbons when they could actually being using it to "support the troops" if they really wanted to. There are plenty of ways to do so that are pretty easy to find, although admittedly not so fashionable.

And who the hell doesn't "support the troops"?! I actually think that "support the troops" is just code for "support the war," or else these things are being bought by people who are unable or unwilling to see the vast difference between those two phrases. That's what bothers me about them most of all. I won't say more because I've probably already gotten too political...

 

Ah....we are not alone. http://andrewsinclair.org/archive/fo...tic_ribbon.htm

and then there is this

http://www.antimagnet.com/

 

Sometimes, when I see one of those ribbons on someones car, especially a gas-guzzling suv, I take it and place it over their gas tank !!!

BTW, 05 MCS: 29 mpg !!!

 

Those things make me want to rage. I'm all about supporting our troops - and bringing them HOME. A bloody magnetic ribbon isn't gonna do that.

 

I feel the ribbons are a way of invoking support for the entire operation by means of focusing our attentions and emotions on the troops and their needs. What the troops need is to come home.
Peace - Bodinski

 

Personally, I prefer the yellow ribbon in the Jesus fish pose. More to the point.

 

This definitely has the potential to turn political fast.

Personally, I have my opinions about all sticker purchasers, whether they be ribbons, soccer *****, or little white ovals (with letters) - but I'll keep them to myself to avoid offending anyone.

 

I certainly could never condone such behavior, however....

Brilliant.

 

that's great, now if we had a ribbon that said "I support middle eastern oil economy" and place it there...

 

I'd be willing to bet that those who vandalize non-ribboned cars have never been in the military.

I say support the troops, by a ribbon if you must, but please don't equate supporting the troops with supporting the war. You can definately do one without the other!

 

I can't read that .Can you rotate it sideways a bit?

 

I had a yellow ribbon on my truck. Bought it from the American Legion because I knew where the profit was going. But that one wore out and fell off, and I never replaced it because I couldn't find one that didn't put money in the pocket of someone not affiliated with the troops.

I have chosen to contribute in a more productive way. I've "adopted" a couple of Marines and send them care packages every month. And I do business with companies that support their deployed employees. One example, since I love good coffee, is Green Mountain Coffee Roasters right down the road in Waterbury, Vermont. They have already donated 40+ pallets of gourmet coffee to the troops serving overseas. As for their employees serving in Iraq/Afghanistan...they made up the difference between what they were making and what the military pays them, assigned a handyman to each family to take care of things like mowing the lawn, changing oil in the family car, fixing things around the house, etc. And they also send care packages every two weeks. THAT is support, and that is a company I will do business with!

Pete
CWO2, USMC (Retired)

 

That's a great idea that I'm ashamed never to have considered! It's awesome to hear about such a stand-out company, so I'm pleased that I regularly consume 5-10 cups of their coffee a week in our machine at work!

 

This incorrect display thing reminds me when suddenly everyone was patriotic, and started to display American flags, often incorrectly (upside down, field of stars to the right, etc.). One neighbor, an ex-Marine no less, displayed his Marine flag to the left, and Old Glory to the right. Many also leave them out overnight (w/o a light shining on them), which, to me, is very disrespectful.

The ribbons: While I believe many purchase them to show their sincere support for those who are selflessly serving in the military, many are doing it as a political/religious statement:

and

The first one is obvious. The second has a Christian cross subtly hidden in the red-white-red stripe area. To me, this is extemely offensive; why assume all soldiers are Christian?

I think that it's indicative of the same thoughtless decision-making that has our country in this guagmire. Anytime I see one of these decals, I can't help but wonder where the purchaser's heart really is. I want to assume sincereity, but when I see a once-yellow ribbon sun-bleached beyond recognition and tilted to the side, I just have to wonder how thoughtful and caring such a person truly is?

Sorry for the rant, but I want everyone to know that I'm VERY appreciative af folks doing their job in Iraq; they are true patriots who're selfless in every way. If it were up to me, you'd be home now with your families.

 

Boondox,

And that's exactly how people should show their support! Especially with the 'adopted' Marines. I know from being on 6 month deployments, and from friends that have been in Afghanistan, Iraq, etc., that receiving a box from the states feels like getting a Christmas present when you're five! It really makes your day!

(BTW, DVLMINI, thanks, and that AntiMagnets site is hilarious!)

-Paul!

 

I am willing to bet that most of the people sporting the 'Support Our Troops' ribbons are doing so just to make themselves feel good, nothing more. After all, the ribbons bought at Wal-Mart and the corner gas station likely arent sending one thin dime to 'troop support' (unless, of course, they are stamping out soldiers alongside the magnetic ribbons in those Chinese factories). Still others are displaying ribbons in a purely political and/or religious context. There are some very specific ribbons made that show the names of particular platoons/corps/etc that were likely made for those serving that outfit or their families. These ribbons (and the displayers) I hold much higher regard for.

One reason why people mount those things angled is that there is sometimes not a whole lot of space on a particular body panel on some cars, especially in the rear. Some also mount them to emulate crosses or Jebus fishies (see above).

I have yet to see a vehicle with this on it:


I think when I do, I'm gonna run them off the road.

 

Don't those damn things scratch the paint? What disrespectful tool would do that to their MINI?

 

Boondox, I think your approach is the most thoughtful and appropriate!

Still, I'd love to see Greatbear do his thing.