Stick-to-it
March 8th, 2006 by rsm
I’m about to delve into a pet peeve that will probably offend some, so I’m warning you now: if you don’t like my stance, fine, but I have thought this one through. Don’t bother debating.
Ribbon Magnets. I don’t like them. They are insulting in so many ways. I know that by sporting your “Support the Troops,” “Breast Cancer,” or some other such cause du jour, you are putting your beliefs out there for everyone to see, but how much of a stance are you really taking? You spent a couple of dollars at a superstore to show off to others your commitment rather than by actually doing something yourself.
A few years ago, American flags were all the rage. I have no problem with them and though many were sporting their flags in what could easily be criticized as a jingoistic attempt at patriotism, people at least were usually making a commitment with their flag sticker. Those seem to have drifted away as people moved to new cars.
One thing you will rarely see is a ribbon magnet on the back of a soldier’s or Marine’s vehicle. You will see base registration stickers of course, branch indicators, sometimes rank if it is a bird colonel, etc. You’ll also find slogan stickers, especially from a Marine. A sticker takes effort to remove. It doesn’t go away on a whim.
Magnets do. They are cheap, easy, and clearly these people want to pretend they are showing their patriotism without really committing to a cause and endangering the resale/trade-in value of their vehicles. Yeah, the troops know there are people who “support” them, but it’s done in your actions (adopt a soldier and actively write and send packages, go to the local base and find the support unit so you can go mow the lawn and do the tough yardwork for the family of someone deployed), not in your oversized refrigerator magnet collection.
But a ribbon magnet? Thank goodness you showed me your ribbon magnet, otherwise I wouldn’t know where you stood on the troops, the USA, cancer, diabetes, autism, etc. I used to be against the troops. Thanks to your magnet, I know better. No, really.
You are so right.
… I have a magnet on my car.. I dare you to come and try to take it off…
OK, I can see your point. But I like my SA ribbon and license plate holder. I have adopted several soldiers, along with a couple more through Valour IT. I write letters weekly, I have donated airmiles for wounded soldiers’ relatives to visit them during their recovery. And a few more things, mostly via SA. So to me the magnet allows me to advertise a group that I would like more folks to get involved in. And I have gotten inquiries, and hopefully can encourage more participation. Not disagreeing with you, and the sheer number of ribbon types is pretty annoying, but I like mine, and am keeping it!
I amn with you on this one RSM. I would like a ribbon that says….
Please donate your 5$ to this Soldiers angels instead of the qwikie mart for a yellow ribbon.
[...] Perhaps there are other contrasts. Yesterday was so beautiful and two soldiers took me to lunch where we ran into a number of other soldiers who saw me out and about and came over to say hi and talk for a few minutes, even though they didn’t know the two I was with. It was natural, it was casual. Today, drenched from the rain, I caught lunch between meetings, a pre-prepared sandwich that was sitting in a case, pulled out and put on a grill. At least I was in a bookstore, but I sat alone, trying to feel warmth for the people around me. I also notice that all those “support the troops” and yellow ribbon magnets are gone from the cars in the city. There’s a reason and I don’t think it has to do with my rant against them. Fickle… disingenuous… disgusting… and entirely expected. [...]