Twisted yellow ribbon magnets on cars means...

[SHRED]

"I support the Republican/Bu$h/NeoCON agenda and all you anti-war, liberal, commie motherfuckers can rot in hell. Praise the lord."

[Bettie]

1. Lately I have been seeing a few of them....

...that say, Support our Troops on the ribbon and Bring them Home on the inside of the loop.

I like those better.

[donheld]

39. That's the kind i have!

[genieroze]

59. That's what I have on my car along with other bumper stickers.

They know where I stand. lol

[rawtribe]

2. made in china....n/t

[mockmonkey]

33. I want one that says

Support Chinese Magnetic Yellow Ribbon Manufacturers!

I think I'm more bothered by the fact that they don't say "I support our troops", who are they preaching to?

[thereismore]

58. I have a blue ribbon (pic)

order here:

http://www.troopsribbon.com/index.html

Mine is the only one I have seen in 2 months.

[nookiemonster]

3. Wow, nice blanket statement

Damn, all this time I was Republican.

Just, wow.

[StClone]

7. I know what you are saying

To a Soldier's family these ribbons have deep meaning. But to the mindless yahoos wanting the U.S. to mindlessly "kill, Kill, Kill" and then display a yellow ribbon, it is utter disrespect for the lives of those very Soldiers. I understand SHRED's disdain for the hypocrisy of some in displaying ribbons as well. More divisiveness by the Right.

[nookiemonster]

9. Yes, the wingnuts have developed a unique "fetish" for them.

However, many of us also know what it's "supposed" to stand for.

I can see the confusion, with Tony Orlando wrapping one around an oak tree or something. Isn't he a repug?

[ProfessorGAC]

46. You Do Know That The Original Meaning Was. . .

. . .that if the girl still wanted the guy who was coming back from PRISON(!) she should tie the yellow ribbon. It wasn't about the person tying the ribbon wishing for the return of her lover. It was about a screw-up asking for forgiveness.

Idiots started this thing in the late-70's over the Iranian hostages, and now it's being done by folks like DU'ers who should know better.

The soldiers need to see a yellow ribbon so they know we forgive them for screwing up? The symbolism is actually insulting to those who are over there.
The Professor

[Dylan Garcia]

4. That's exactly what they mean

[alfredo]

5. A friend stole one and put it on my car.

He put it right above the "When Clinton lied, nobody died" sticker, and next to my Veteran for Kerry Sticker.

[FreedomAngel82]

37. Ooo your friend

broke a commandment! "Thou shoult not steal"!!!! Where did you get the Clinton sticker?! I want one of those.

[alfredo]

53. My friend is Jewish, so according to my

fundie relatives, he is going to hell anyway. I'm sure he's broken a few of of the commandments, and bent the others.


He stole it off an SUV, so it wasn't such a bad sin.

Some guy came into Dem headquarters, passed out the Clinton stickers. I don't know who it was, or if he bought them or had them made.

[GainesT1958]

6. I thought that's really what the one with the flag colors meant...

You know: "God bless America--'cept for those qwarr-lovin' liberals!":eyes:

B-)

[UdoKier]

8. That's like saying that the peace symbol means...

"I'm a marxist-leninist" - You shouldn't make assumptions about people like that.

It means "we are anxiously awaiting the return of our troops" They may be right-wingers, but they may well be democrats who opposed the war.

For all you know, there's one on the back of Dennis Kucinich's car.

[RamboLiberal]

10. SHRED - I say Bull to your blanket statement

I'm sick of that kind of crap on DU.

[SHRED]

15. Yeah right on!

Me too!!

uh...oh...wait a minute...

[Indiana_Dem]

11. Be careful! I had the same stereotypical thinking but

when I went and walked my precinct knocking on doors during election time, guess who was the most patriotic with ribbons on cars and flags in yards??????

You got it! Democrats!

I then realized how stereotypical I had been. Good lesson.

[FuzzyDicePHL]

12. yello ribbon magnets

In my neck of the woods (45min outside Phila), those magnets are overwhelmingly on SUVs and redneck v8 trucks. Now, how are you supporting the troops when you're funding terrorism by sucking up petroleum?

:shrug:

[HockeyMom]

14. Two Kinds

There are the yellow ones and then there are the red, white, and blue ones. My guess is, at least around here (NY), the yellow means support our troops and BRING THEM HOME. The red, white and blue are the * supporters. FAR fewer of those around here.

[FreedomAngel82]

38. I'm in the south

and see plenty of yellow one's. I also see some white and patriotic one's (red, white and blue). I have seen hardly any blue anywhere around here. :shrug:

[flyarm]

28. i got so sick of seeing them with the little fishys on the cars

i ordered one that just says "bring them home" and one that says " don't blame me i voted for kerry!"

but i do take them off my car when i park so i am not keyed..i have new car!!

so i put mine on my drivers door..and i get alot of thumbs up when driving..but then i get the nice sweet middle finger too!!..i stick my tongue out at those!! lol...fly

[flygal]

40. Hey Flyarm - meet Flygal - LOL

Sorry - couldn't resist! :hi:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

34. Hey, FuzzyDicePHL,

Welcome to DU! And your point is very well taken: you can't support the troops while you suck up petroleum in a vehicle that gets gallons per mile...

[FuzzyDicePHL]

45. Thanks

for the welcome! It's so nice to find a group of folks who think for themselves and don't just swallow the BS they're fed.
:7

[SHRED]

13. Ok I "get it"

Stereotyping is not a good thing.
Would it get me off the hook a bit if I explain that I live in San Diego county and all I see these ribbons on are god awful SUV's and construction trucks full of rednecks?

[Indiana_Dem]

16. LOL maybe in your area....

around here there are a lot of Democrat rednecks who drive SUVs and construction trucks. Alot of redneck Democratic-voting union workers, too.

Remember Dean wanted to include them to feel included in the party, too.

[SHRED]

19. But in SoCal...

the rednecks here are definitely Repugs.

I think I am the only redneck leftist Dem here in San Diego...LOL!!!

[Binka]

42. I Just Got Back From A Visit To San Diego How Fucking Depressing

The weather was gorgeous but that was the ONLY thing besides my children that I enjoyed. What a zombie town full of Rednecks and Stepfords. I was fucking shocked I grew up in PB went to San Diego state and lived in Del Mar for years....WTF happened?

Don't answer I know what happened......MONEY and GENTRIFICATION. It is a ruined city IMHO.

And I know exactly what you mean about those asinine ribbons. BLEEECH!

[FuzzyDicePHL]

44. RE: yello ribbon magnets

Of course, it's tough to tell who/what someone supports when you pass them on the road, unless they've got some tell-tale stickers n' such... But yes, there are Democrats who drive gas-guzzling, environment-unfriendly, socially-irresponsible SUVs, etc. They are as much at fault as their RW counterparts. Unfortunately, my BF is one (and he knows full well how I feel about it). But he's already said that he'll downgrade for sure when his lease is up -- and he'd like to go to a hybrid of some sort (he now feels embarrassed that his SUV gets only 14mpg).

I should clarify that in my first post on this topic (#12),I was referring to personal vehicles, not trucks/construction vehicles used to accomplish a job. I'm talking about the vanity vehicles, the keeping-up-with-the-Bubbas kinda rides (the kind that put the tune from "Duelling Banjos" into my head and make me want to offer condolences: "I'm so sorry about your penis!"). Around here, there is most often a single person in these monstrosities. How selfish. How IGNORANT.

Fave bumpersticker slogans related to this: "Osama (hearts) your SUV;" "He died so soccer moms can off-road" with a graphic of a soldier on crutches with only one leg; and "I like to waste gas and run over children" with a graphic of a Hummer.

My car's got plenty of stuff in the back window: "Religious fundamentalism: a threat abroad; a threat at home" and "Your kid is next" with Bush giving a knowing look, and "Why do conservatives hate so many Americans?" and "Flag, schmag! I (heart) the Constitution!" and a great one that's a takeoff on a popular redneck theme: Calvin pissing on a Bush campaign logo. :) But I am not one who finds identity through my choice of vehicle; I've got an old junker so folks can key away.

[nookiemonster]

17. Too late, blanket statement on the record.

LOL, just ribbin' ya. I live in Missouri, fundie/redneck wonderland.

Sigh..

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. No they don't

I have one. It says 'Support the Troops'. And it is right underneath my Kerry/Edwards, anti Bush and anti war bumper stickers.

[Pow_Wow]

22. they do to a lot of people

they say, Peace protesters are anti-American and they don't support our troops. That one is simple in my book!

[proud2BlibKansan]

24. Well I am a peace protester

and I support the troops. I want them to come home.

[Pow_Wow]

25. that is just the way

some people see them and use them.
I do understand your sentiment though.
Remember that from the beginning, the RW has been attempting to say the peace movement does not support the troops.

[proud2BlibKansan]

26. Well the RW is wrong

but that should come as no surprise to you I would hope.

[Pow_Wow]

20. those yeller ribbons are cute

but they never saved a single life or brought a single soldier home to their family.

[AgadorSparticus]

21. i've noticed a MAJOR drop in these ribbon magnets in my neck of

the woods. after the election, it seemed every car had one on. now, i barely see but one or two. thank god.

[Rapcw]

23. I like it when they have like 3 on their car

It means that they are 3x more supportive than the other people with magnets. It also means they are 3 times dumber.

[alittlelark]

27. I was listening to a show on Pacifica a few days ago

One of the people discussing the Iraq war was a woman who was serving in Iraq until mid 2004. Her son is there now. She is a liberal Democrat and is protesting the war in many ways.

She has a 'support the troops' ribbon on her car.

[progressivebydesign]

29. Actually, I try to imagine that they have a loved one at war..

.. I don't hate the yellow ribbons, because so many military families live around here. I try to think of how I'd feel if my loved one was over there.. .so I pass no judgement on any type of support the troops sentiment.. And.. we really shouldn't be against that, after all.

Of COURSE the yellow ribbons were from some lameass Tony Olando song from the 70s a;bout a man IN PRISON, but who am I to point that out.

[cry baby]

30. I have a friend that has a son over there. She won't put a ribbon on

her car. She says that most of those ribbons are right next to the "W" sticker. She won't have anyone thinking she voted for *.

[BrightKnight]

35. deleted - n/t

posted in error

[Lisabtrucking]

31. I'd rather be a liberal, commie motherfucker then a

Drunk driving, pot smoken, coon head, fucking idiot.

[antigone382]

55. Hey!

Plenty of liberals smoke pot! ;)

As for the ribbons, I wouldn't mind them so bad if I knew that the companies making gajillions off those ribbons sold them to our troops--some do. But most don't, and if that's the case, they're just making money off of war and people's sense of duty, just like Bush's buddies, and I think that's disgusting.

[The Animator]

32. Well my Mom's got one on her car...

I know for a fact she's a long time Democrat, just like Dad...

She's also been working as a secretary for the local Sheriff's Office for about 15 years, so there's probably some civic duty issues there.

[BrightKnight]

36. fish ribbons - n/t

[KG]

41. ribbon magnets on car = the very least you can do.

:eyes:

[FuzzyDicePHL]

47. The least?

Not sure that's the *least* you can do... I am currently doing less to support the troops: I'm simply paying my taxes, and that's all I'm willing to do to support them.

That doesn't mean, however, that I don't want to see every person involved come home alive, but IMO that's supporting life and peace, not supporting our troops.

[ProfessorGAC]

48. The VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY Least

The Professor

[Piperay]

43. Just wanting to be

part of the crowd, is what I think it really means. x(

[sadiesworld]

49. Funny thing you should mention the ribbon magnets.

Today I saw a beat up Ford truck with the yellow ribbon and a military uniform hanging from the hook in the cab. Oh, the truck also sported a Kerry bumper sticker.

[Maiden England]

50. really? mine says "another empty gesture"

somehow, I don't think that qualifies me for freeperville....

[melv]

52. in Oklahoma they are EVERYWHERE

They are simply inescapable. Now we've got different colors as well: yellow, purple, pink, red/white/blue, camouflage, black(POW), blue, yellow with little crosses...and on and on.

I am swimming in a sea of magnets.

[benny05]

51. Not Certain that's Freeper or Not

but what if you saw an old Olds, with the side molding missing on the passenger doors, with 3 yellow ribbons, cluttered front seat, leopard skin steering wheel, and an expression painted on the inside AND outside of the back windshield that reads, "You are not my bitch, so get off my ass"...that sounds more freeper. :beer:

For what it's worth, I have a khaki camoflage design ribbon on my car (a Toyota Prius 2004) that says "Support our Troops" and I also have a sign in my yard that says "Support our Troops." I have colleagues whose sons and sons-in-law are over in Iraq, who voted for Kerry. The least I can do to lend some support for those who had to go is to say we support you and hope you come home safe soon. Supporting our troops also means "we want you home."

[AwakeAtLast]

54. Mine says, "Keep Daddy Safe"

As in, please God, don't let * screw up even more and manage to get more of our soldiers killed, husband and father to my child included.

But that's the implied statement. :eyes:

[Walt Starr]

56. Since I have one on my car, I disagree completely

Especially since it sits right under the FW oval sticker which is right under the "Liar, liar, oil well's on fire" bumper sticker which is to the right of the "Don't blame me, I'm from a Blue State" bumpersticker.

[jpak]

57. I have 2 yeller ribbon magnets

One sez "IMPEACH CHENEY"

T'other sez "IMPEACH BUSH"

They look like the real thing - you should see the double-takes they get.

and, they were made by a DUer ....

[coreystone]

60. History of Tie a Yellow Ribbon

The “yellow ribbon” is very much to me what “freedom”, “liberty”, “patriotism”, and other symbols have become to be in the propaganda which distorts the true meanings of such symbols; whether they are verbal or physical representations of the adage “America, Love or Leave It!”

I would love to see the distribution of “The Declaration of Independence”, “The Constitution of the United States”, and “The Bill of Rights” (the first “10”, plus the 17 that followed) be the “SYMBOLS” of the United States. Just as Senator Byrd carries “The Constitution” in his suit coat.

As for the history of “the yellow ribbon”:

Family Tradition

Display of a Yellow Ribbon is a sign of loyalty to family, friends or loved ones who are welcome home. Customarily it is used to welcome home men and women who have been away for a long time under adverse or particularly difficult circumstances such as war or prison.

Background

Did you ever wonder where the Yellow Ribbon Tradition came from? Most Music Historians trace the Custom to a 19th Century Civil War Song. Reportedly the Custom comes from a Civil War story about a prisoner's homecoming returning from Andersonville Prison. In 1973 Tony Orlando and Dawn cut their number one song of that year and their all-time classic: “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree.”
Folklore has it that the inspiration for the 1973 song came from a true incident that occurred on a bus bound for Miami, Florida. It seems that one of the passengers had just been released from prison and he was bound for home. He had written his wife and let her know he still loved her and wanted to be with her. He asked her to tie a yellow ribbon around the lone oak tree in the Town Square of White Oak, Georgia, if she still had feelings for him and wanted him to be with her. Everyone in the bus asked the Driver to slow down as they approached, there it was!

The Driver pulled over and phoned the wire services to share the story. It quickly spread throughout the country. Songwriters Irwin Levine and L. Russell Brown wrote the ballad from the news story.

And now, "the rest of the story"! L. Russell Brown had the inspiration for writing the song. One late Spring morning he drove 33 miles to Irwin Levine's house and told him the story of the oak tree. It had nothing to do with any convict or news story. It was about a civil war soldier, a stagecoach and yellow (as Mr. Levine would say: "Use your imagination!") handkerchiefs. Irwin changed the yellow handkerchiefs to ribbons so as not to offend anyone with the reality of what makes handkerchiefs yellow! L. Russell Brown and and Irwin Levine updated the story by changing the stagecoach to a bus. L. Russell Brown picked up a guitar and wrote the first eight or so lines of music and lyrics himself. Irwin picked up the ball and wrote the ending: "100 ribbons round the ole oak tree". There was discussion about use of the word damn and then the ole song was written. According to L. Russell Brown: "Sorry Paul Harvey, but now you know the rest of the story".

“Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree” was released in February 1973. It was the number one hit by April 1973.

The song became a hit again in 1981 when the 52 Iran Hostages were returned after 444 days of captivity. The song was played throughout the United States because by then the Yellow Ribbon had become a symbol of loyalty.

Link: http://search.netscape.com/ns/boomframe.jsp?query=yellow+ribbon+++history&page=1&offset=0&result_url=redir%3Fsrc%3Dwebsearch%26requestId%3D2539fc2b27d32a15%26clickedItemRank%3D10%26userQuery%3Dyellow%2Bribbon%2B%2B%2Bhistory%26clickedItemURN%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.adamsangels.org%252Fsupport_yellow_ribbon.html%26invocationType%3D-%26fromPage%3DNSCPTop%26amp%3BampTest%3D1&remove_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.adamsangels.org%2Fsupport_yellow_ribbon.html

[catzies]

61. No, it means "I support the magnetic ribbon makers" and that's all

n/t

[coreystone]

62. Patriotism finds cheaper source in China!

“A small family-run company in North Carolina has become the latest and perhaps the least likely to feel the impact of low-cost competition from China.

Magnet America sells the yellow ribbon magnets that millions of US drivers display on their cars to signal support for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. But the magnetic ribbons have become so popular that Chinese manufacturers have started mass-producing them for a fraction of the price charged by Magnet's US supplier.

The company, which refuses to shift production offshore, has seen sales shrink by 65 per cent in the past four months, forcing it to lay off half its 40-strong workforce.

"We were contacted by a Chinese firm that could cut our costs by up to 70 per cent but we will always keep our manufacturing in America," says Dwain Gullion, Magnet America's founder.”

>snip

Link: http://www.politicalforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=108835


And many other “conservative” and “liberal” oriented items are produced in China and other countries. If we are to assist in preserving the “buy American” attitude which was being waved when the Japanese were killing many American manufacturing jobs in the automotive industry, beginning in the late seventies, then we should be sure that the “symbols” which we purchase, demonstrate a support for the American worker. That would include the “NOT ME” wrist bands, etc.

Sorry! Just my thoughts!