Politics Cited in Yellow Ribbon Removal

[kskiska]

WEST BRANCH, Iowa — Yellow ribbons tied around utility poles to welcome soldiers home from Iraq were removed by the National Park Service (search), which says they are a political statement.

About a dozen ribbons were posted along a park service-owned street that runs through the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site (search), where his presidential library, birthplace and gravesite are all located.

A resident who was involved in placing about 40 ribbons around town Tuesday said she cannot understand the objection.

(snip)

The park service gave the same reason in December when West and relatives of soldiers tried to post ribbons for a soldier who was coming home on furlough.
"If we were to just allow that, by default, we are taking a political stance, whether we want to or not," said Neil Korsmo, chief ranger at the site.
more…
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,115358,00.html

[havocmom]

1. It was a silly song but I can understand the sentiment of those doing this

however, NOT in a national park setting. It amounts to littering at that point and park personnel cannot very well let some 'litter' stay and some gets removed. Has to be all or nothing. I would not like to see any park site have to allow all forms of expression to be allowed. You wouldn't be able to see the park for the frills.

Put up all the yellow ribbons you want on private property. I won't even grumble when it becomes tattered and faded. But it does not belong in public parks or monuments any more than Tibetan prayer wheels do.

[4morewars]

2. I've always been against the yellow ribbon thing

How exactly does this ribbon help the soldiers ??? No one can answer this. Not one answer yet. The same with these "support the troops" lawn signs I see around town.
How do these people support the troops ?? Do they volunteer at the VA?? I've never seen them there. Do they send them money ?? That would help, because the pay is laughable. Do they make them something to eat ?? Do they pick them up at the airport? Do they go to the funerals ? OR, do they just put up a sign and/or a ribbon,and get back to the latest reality TV show ?

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

3. VERY VERY good points

I, too, get sick of seeing those signs and bumper stickers everywhere. I have neighbors who have support the troops stuff EVERYWHERE yet they've done NOTHING to support the troops.

And ya know, the money spent on the signs, ribbons, bumper stickers, etc might well be better spent on a couple of care packages, etc or a donation to a veteran's group instead of a ribbon that gets all frayed and faded (like many of them are around here).

Kind of off the subject, but there is a gas station on I-35 in Texas going from Dallas to Waco that has the MOST faded, torn up American flags flying on it I have ever seen in my life. They are so faded you almost can't tell they are American flags and there are TONS of them all on the roof of this gas station. And by torn up, I mean on most of them, HALF the flag is GONE. Geez, take 'em down already.

[4morewars]

4. I could go on.....

But i won't, unless you want me in rant mode !!lol
Seriously though, the flag is greatly disrespected in this country, ironically, usually by flag waving warmongers! I saw this right after 9/11, usually hung backwards, or out in the rain, or flying unlit at night, all flag protocol no-nos !! Then a few months later, torn, faded, filthy, left on the side of highways,etc. Very sad actually. Let's take the flag back from these morans !!!

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

6. No kidding

and rant all you want. I'd be ranting right alongside you. The cheap plastic tattered ones standing up off of car windows always get me too. Just flapping and fluttering and getting torn the hell all up. Yeah. That *automatically* makes a person patriotic. :puke:

[4morewars]

9. Yes !!!

Very patriotic to have that nasty plastic "flag" on their german or japanese made cars !!!
"Yes, we support the troops !!" They say, "we support them by sending them to a fiery, bloody death !!" " we support them by voting for an imbecile that will cut their pay and their medical benefits !!!" and finally, "we support them by building jails to put them in, when they come back all fucked up and end up homeless on drugs !!!!"
So shut up and tie a yellow ribbon around that old oak tree before the healthy forest people come to cut it down !!!!
(how was that for a rant ?)

[UpInArms]

5. I am going to become flame bait on this one

for sure - I can feel the fires of hell nearing my tired butt -

I see those tattered yellow ribbons as a failure on the mal-administration's part to bring our military home from their "cake walk" liberation that was supposed to only have flowers and sweets thrown at them.

Every time I see one, all tattered and faded, I know that there is someone that is missing someone and the time drags on and I watch to see if those ribbons ever come down.

They don't and the resounding silence is filled with the failure to support our military by the evil things that sent their families spiraling into their daily hells.

So have fun at my expense - I kind of like having them out there reminding people that someone is paying a really high price for the lies.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

7. Not gonna flame you

that's a good point. Constant reminder.

Unfortunately, I think it just becomes part of the landscape and people don't notice them anymore.

[UpInArms]

8. out here where I live

everyone knows everyone else (very rural with small population) and when the ribbons come down, it means the person returned - they all look for them no mattered how faded and tattered.

It really is sad how so many of the young people in depressed rural settings are missing and gone and how many will probably not return.

[Maccagirl]

10. I would agree with you IF

that's the message people took from the ribbons-but they don't.

[Mika]

11. Yep. This thread is a good example (so far)

Try knocking on the door of one of your neighbors who has a yellow ribbon hanging - to find out why they have it hanging. You just might be surprised.

---

... because our Bonesman is better than their Bonesman

[leQ]

12. the ribbons are fine by me

they're a constant reminder. and i'd rather have the 'constant' reminder than a 'once-a-week mention-in-passing' kind. iraq can not be a winning issue for *, and yellow ribbons help keep that message alive.

i do however kinda agree with the post about how it becomes part of the landscape and doesn't carry the same weight it did. the thing is, i don't know of anything that doesn't 'die out' after time.

how many of y'all wear flag pins? i consider it part of my 'uniform of the day' now, and not because of my desire to show a 'united front against terrorism' or anything so absurd as that. but rather to show that i am proud to be an American. even with all her faults like having * in power, my country will come out of this stronger and better.

she has to. right?

[daleo]

13. Wasn't the song about a criminal being released from jail

It always struck me as odd that this song was picked up for returning soldiers - I suppose it shows how few people actually listen to the lyrics of songs. A bit like super-patriots picking up "Born in the U.S.A." as their anthem, considering what the lyrics actually say.