"support our troops" decals

[spindoctor]

I am starting to get annoyed by the yellow ribbon decals on just about every vehicle I see anymore.
What triggers my nausea is the fact that a single ribbon is no longer enough. Now the TRUE patriots show their sacrifices by covering their vehicles in these decals.
My daughter (bless her heart) who has NO idea where Iraq or Afghanistan are and at best has a vague notion of our involvement there now has one on her (my old) Oldsmobile. This can only mean that these things are now officially fashionable.

I am sure these symbols of patriotism are manufactured in some third-world sweatshop and that they serve first (and foremost) to support some clever businessmen, second the retailer and the troops get the symbolic crumbs.

If one does insist to support our troops financially (I am assuming that none of these ribboned people would consider cheating the IRS, by far the largest benefactor of our troops), then why on earth does one think that there is pride in displaying this support on ones car?
Look at how supportive I am by sticking a frickin magnet on my truck?

Be a man and spray-paint it! Show your support by etching it in your pearl metallic finish. Show that you care more about our troops than about the trade-in value of your mini-van and super-glue them on.

I have to remind myself that this is really a non-issue and that these people simply mean well... but I can't shake this urge to give new meaning to the word "car-bombing".

[OneBlueSky]

1. I had an encounter awhile back with a group of veterans . . .

who were seeking donations outside my favorite supermarket and selling the yellow "Support Our Troops" magnetic car ribbons . . . went something like this . . .

Vet: "Would you like to make a donation and get a 'Support Our Troops' car decal?

Me: "No, thanks."

Vet: "Don't you want to support our boys in Iraq?"

Me: "If you have one that says 'Support Our Troops: Bring Them Home," I'll buy it.

Vet: "I wish we did."

maybe there's hope . . .

[Hobarticus]

38. The vets know more than anyone...

Thanks for the story. There IS hope.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Well let me share my ribbon story

in the town where I live we have three vets, who are homeless. They are also quite screwed up both physically and in one case mentally. That does not stop me from buying them some food every time I see them. I am Leary of giving them money for other reasons...

So here I am feeding these guys (and our money is tight btw), and this lady comes over. She just got off one of them SUVs with them... (did I mention this is a tourist trap?) well she tells me, "you are only encouraging them!

I looked at her in the face and asked her bluntly... "tell me what have you done for the troops lately?"

She points to her SUV

Ma'am with all due respect, these three gentleman fought so you and I would be able to have this discussion. They are the troops.

She stood there... and then started grating teeth.

Oh and Ma'am not to brag but we have also adopted active duty troops who we send care packages... and my husband retired from the USN, yep that means he gave 20 years of his life to the Country. So tell me you think having those things is all you need to do? Fight so these gentlemen get their care at the VA (One has diabetes, pretty out of control, another PTSD, the third lost his leg). Fight to get the troops the body armor they need, hell adopt a troop and send him or her all he needs for morale purposes

She stood there and then told me, they are not my problem!

I said, "then take those cheap made in china baubles off your car. They make you feel good but you care non for the troops."

She was so angry... she was a tourist, big mistake to get that haughty in a military town

[vSmith]

4. Re : "Well let me share my ribbon story"

Granted you have veterans in your town, but is it really necessary to stand up for them. Our Fascist america creates such heathens of conformity within our military, it's not worth recognizing the good things they do. Especially when they are only used for bad. Granted, when I meet these men on the street, I feed them, but I can't stand what they fought for.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Yes and no

having met more than one senior NCO and OFficer there is far less conformity inside the force than people realize.

As to suporting what they fought for has nothing to do with taking care of the troops once they come home..

I am against this war... and I know I wuold have been against Nam if I had been old enough, and I never argue with them either... I just feed them

Now it was the heartless attitude of the Neo con coming out of her car that was far more shocking... she has her bauble, so no need to do more.

[Mad_Dem_X]

51. Good for you

for standing up to that neocon. People like that make me sick.

[spindoctor]

9. It shouldn't be necessary

But our heroes of the nation are pretty much screwed if they happen to sustain a work-related injury.
When supporting our troops costs more than $2.99 at Walmart and we do not receive some self-glorifying token in return, the support suddenly seizes.

I wonder what the cost would be to provide our vets with proper care. I guess it is a fraction of the cost of the war in Iraq.

I don't recommend anybody to pursue a career that contains the verb dying in the job description (this includes hair dresser). But if you risk limps during working hours, you make a better living wrangling tigers in Vegas.
Never the less, I acknowledge the fact that an army is a basic requirement for any sovereign state (only Laos and Switzerland can save a buck or two on a navy). As such I respect the poor souls who were drafted, shanghaied or in need of a scolarship.

That these people depend on charity to make it through the week should by no means be necessary. The fact that it is stipulates the reasons for my growing disgust of yellow ribbons.

[Discord]

28. Many veterans were drafted. They may not have

voulenteered for that war either. The recruiters hawk out highschools and college campuses. They offer college assistance and all that fun stuff to inner-city kids who are struggling to pay their way through college and might not have alot of options available to them. Many may have joined prior to the war they fought in and were activated for combat duty. Its the same principles as with the Iraqi war. Support the troops, they are our brothers, sisters, siblings, and parents. Don't support the war if you dont agree with it. But its no excuse to turn our backs on war veterans.

[Rockholm]

56. "You can't stand what they fought for?" WTF?

Just WTF is THAT little gem supposed to mean?

[tavalon]

22. Beautiful rant

That woman really needed some good old fashioned shaming since she apparently has none of her own.

[Mr_Spock]

43. Very nice reality check

These people need to be confronted if they are going to express their ignorance so blatantly...

[oxbow]

3. WE NEED NEW DECALS

that's actually what my Senior project video is about. The decals I made say "Support Halliburton", "Support our War" "support Secret Torture" and so forth. I have about 30 different ones so far. I am going to use them in some kind of action later this week and tape it. Now if I could only get them mass-produced...think of the fun we could have!

[Discord]

29. I was thninking the same thing as I was reading this thread

we need something clever, catchy, and colorful.

[grace0418]

63. How about some of these...

http://jitcrunch.cafepress.com/jitcrunch.aspx?bG9hZD1ibGFuayxibGFuazo5MF9GLmpwZ3xsb2FkPUwwLGh0dHA6Ly96b29tLmNhZmVwcmVzcy5jb20vMC82NDU0MDEwX3pvb20uanBnfHxzY2FsZT1MMCw0MjAsMTQwfGNvbXBvc2U9YmxhbmssTDAsQWRkLDMwLDE3MHxsb2FkPW1hc2ssYmxhbms6OTBfRl9tYXNrLmpwZ3xjb21wb3NlPWJsYW5rLG1hc2ssTWFzaywwLDB8Y3A9cmVzdWx0LGJsYW5rfHNjYWxlPXJlc3VsdCwwLDQ4MHxsb2FkPXNhbXBsZSxodHRwOi8vd3d3LmNhZmVwcmVzcy5jb20vY29udGVudC9nbG9iYWwvaW1nL3NhbXBsZV9jcnVuY2hfb3ZlcmxheS5naWZ8c2NhbGU9c2FtcGxlLDAsNDgwfGNvbXBvc2U9cmVzdWx0LHNhbXBsZSxBZGQsMCwwfGNvbXByZXNzaW9uPTgwfA==


http://jitcrunch.cafepress.com/jitcrunch.aspx?bG9hZD1ibGFuayxibGFuazo5MF9GLmpwZ3xsb2FkPUwwLGh0dHA6Ly96b29tLmNhZmVwcmVzcy5jb20vNy82NDU0MDA3X3pvb20uanBnfHxzY2FsZT1MMCw0MjAsMTQwfGNvbXBvc2U9YmxhbmssTDAsQWRkLDMwLDE3MHxsb2FkPW1hc2ssYmxhbms6OTBfRl9tYXNrLmpwZ3xjb21wb3NlPWJsYW5rLG1hc2ssTWFzaywwLDB8Y3A9cmVzdWx0LGJsYW5rfHNjYWxlPXJlc3VsdCwwLDQ4MHxsb2FkPXNhbXBsZSxodHRwOi8vd3d3LmNhZmVwcmVzcy5jb20vY29udGVudC9nbG9iYWwvaW1nL3NhbXBsZV9jcnVuY2hfb3ZlcmxheS5naWZ8c2NhbGU9c2FtcGxlLDAsNDgwfGNvbXBvc2U9cmVzdWx0LHNhbXBsZSxBZGQsMCwwfGNvbXByZXNzaW9uPTgwfA==


I have a few more versions as well, click on my cafepress page in my signature line.

[In Truth We Trust]

50. How about: "Village Idiots for Bush**"

[lies and propaganda]

6. i dont care if its bad...

but i stole one off this huge suburban assualt vehicle, and spraypainted it black. Wrote in white "How many must fall."

Staying on the fridge though as I live in conservo AZ

[oxbow]

8. Great minds think alike!

It's really about decoding what the yellow ribbon means. It means support our President, our Policies, our War, Stop dissenting, and much much else. "Support our troops" is just a slogan that they put over all that, one that you presumably can't argue with if you love this country. Who wouldn't want to support OUR troops? It makes me sick the games they play.

[raccoon]

45. abso-friggin-lutely

agree with you there.

Noam Chomsky said "support our troops" doesn't mean anything.

Lately I've seen some cars with 2 ribbons on--does that mean they are twice as supportive of the troops?

[Contrary1]

7. Why do you hate America? n/t

[flyarm]

10. i was annoyed a long time ago by them and the

little religous fishies on cars..so i bought some that said..."Bring them home"...on mine...i ordered a bunch of them ..and good thing..cause mine keep getting stolen off my car!!!
and i actually got a very nasty note on my car one day..obviously written by a woman..( could tell by hand writing) telling me i was going to go to hell..and that i would fry in hell!!..i took it as a compliment!!..now hubby makes me take them off when i get out of car..as he is afraid my new car will get keyed!!

now i made a little sign i put on a small stick..and when i go past cars with the yellow ribbon i hold up my sign.."you dont support troops with yellow ribbons..you do it with benefits!! tell george now!"

it is more effective at red lights!!
but i have gotten many a middle finger!!
such lovely religous folks!! their morality drips from their middle fingers!!

fly

[spindoctor]

12. The fishies!!

My ex-wife would not let me put a home-made crescent on my car out of fear what her orthodox-christian family might say. lol

Although I consider myself a Christian, I too have been long since annoyed by those things and I often wondered how these people would react to similar expressions from other-minded fractions.

[Devlzown]

15. People will think you're a Shriner.

I've seen crescents on cars before with 'Joppa Shrine' underneath it. Most people don't know that the crescent is a symbol of Islam.

[Hugin]

34. Speaking of "Fishies"...

Has anyone else noticed when the "ribbons" are turned
on their side they're "fishies".

Is this only a coincidence or is someone being clever?

With all the religious fervor of late... I'd say it
was planned.

Any thoughts?

[flygal]

14. "Support the Fishies"!! LOL

I love your stick thing!!! Good for you!

[demokatgurrl]

52. I like that!

"you dont support troops with yellow ribbons..you do it with benefits!! tell george now!"

I want THAT on a bumper sticker!

[SammyWinstonJack]

59. I don't get it

Just what is so wrong about wanting to "Bring them home"? I wonder what answer these ribbon sporting fools would give to that question. Do these *safe at home* 'Muricans really want their troops to fight and possibly die for any reason let alone fight and die so Halliburton can get richer? If I were these troops, I would have more respect for those who wanted to make sure I came home asap, then I would for those who wanted to make sure I'm deployed indefinitely. :shrug: But that's just me. Do these ribbon sporting fools even think for themselves or do they just jump on the patriotic bandwagon because it's the current trend to do so?

[Pool Hall Ace]

65. When I reminded a Republican friend that * * lied about WMD,

and that the war was really about oil, he said, "Oil wars are good!"

I guess he's expecting gasoline prices to drop at any moment. :eyes:

Oh, and he does sport a few of those ribbons on the back of his Ford F250.

[Devlzown]

11. I hate those ribbons too.

I see many cars down here with several ribbons. It seems to me that one would suffice. I wonder if they're trying to outdo one another. Or maybe the ribbons are such a fad that people think that they are lovely decorations. :wtf:

[RebelOne]

20. My fundie, pro-Bush, pro-war neighbor across the street

has four of those yellow magnets on the back of her car. Definitely overkill. That's why I decided to get my "Support our troops, bring them home" sticker.

[Dharma_Bum]

13. Like the Lance Armstrong Bracelets ...

They started out really meaning something then (though they raised a GREAT deal of money for charity) turn into a blasted fad ...

Oh well ...

[RebelOne]

16. I have a bumpersticker that reads:

"Support our troops. Bring them home."

[countryjake]

17. You have re-affirmed...

my intense desire to use metallic paint & transform my Mercedes symbol into a brilliant Peace sign!

[CrispyQ]

49. Do it! and then post a photo!

That would be soooooo cool!

[screembloodymurder]

18. If these things are magnetic

couldn't you spray paint the car and decal, say an explosive yellow, and then peel off the decal to make a lasting tribute to the sacrifice of these want-a-be patriots.

[ElectroPrincess]

19. Yeah, but it's seriously "uncool" to get arrested. Best to stay within

DA law. You know that's what some of these power mongering, authority loving, jack booted followers just luves that "Rule of Law." Well, they love it IF it doesn't conflict with the wishes and ambitions of their Dear Leader.

[tavalon]

21. I agree

Every time I see one of those stickers, I want to put a note on the car that says, "So just what the fuck are you doing to support the troops besides putting a stupid yellow magnet on your car?"

[Jersey Devil]

23. No problem for me if I thought the money was really going to vets

I'd bet 80% of those ribbons are sold by companies that don't give a dime of the sales to the vets. I don't have any problem with the ribbons themselves. There is nothing incongruous about supporting the troops and opposing the war at the same time. However I do agree that their use is being twisted into an "I support the war" message and for that reason won't use one myself. I did buy one, from a real veterans's support group, the Elks, but it remains in a drawer in my desk.

[Goathead]

24. The new rage is "support our troops" bracelets.

My nephew has a dozen of them, so for get about your car, now you can decorate your child with patriotic baubles.

[Nordmadr]

27. I have a blue bracelet that

says "How Blue are You?" on it that I I got a few months back. I have not taken it off. I frequently get asked about it. I don't usually get a follow up question when I say it means "It's a liberal thing" or "It means I hate Republicans".

Olaf

[Maiden England]

25. My yellow ribbon says "another empty gesture"

had it printed specially.

:evilgrin:

[ncrainbowgrrl]

35. That's awesome!

I might just have to do something like this myself!

[meisje]

26. Who... Who doesn't vwant to vwear tha ribbon?

[Discord]

30. How about this one for a new decal

"Support the troops: help bring them home! Support the war: Go enlist!"

[raccoon]

46. Right on nt

[DarleenMB]

31. They set my teeth on edge..

But hubby has the solution. He went to http://www.vvaw.org and bought a bunch of bumper stickers that read "Honor the Warrior not the war" with the VVAW info on it.

I just put mine on my van and can hardly wait to go park next to those self serving, sunshine patriots with all their damned yellow ribbons.

Actually I wanted a sticker that read "Support the troops, impeach Bush" but I got talked out of it because DH was afraid my van would get trashed.

Darleen

[SouthernDem2004]

32. You people need a hobby. If you are stressing about what other people put

on their vehicles it is time to take stock in your life. Take a vacation, relax and smell the roses. The world is still a beautiful place if you stop and just look every now and then.

[bdot]

33. ahhh.. a vacation...

if only I could afford one of those... not anymore with this Bushized job.
I haven't had a true vacation since I guess 1992. Well other than last year... that was called unemployment.

[TacticalPeek]

36. The ones that say Pray for the Troops -

with a small piece of yellow tape can be changed to say - Pay for the Troops.

Just saying. :)

[Flavin]

37. Our car rejected the ribbon

While we despise this war, we purchased one of these ribbons from several reservists fund-raising at a public event because our son in law was 60 miles some-untellable-direction from Bagdad patching up broken boys and girls. (he's home safe and sound now)

My spousal dashed to her Saturn SL2, placed the ribbon against the back panel.
It slid off.
Same with the sides, front, hood, etc.

Her car is just as plastic as her ribbon....

I laughed my as off, till she stuck it on my pickup truck....

Flavin

[newyawker99]

39. Hi Flavin!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[natrat]

40. notice how you see them more on gas guzzling trucks

[HughBeaumont]

55. Actually, that's the ONLY kind of vehicle I ever see them on!

PCVs (Penis Compensation Vehicles). Never on small cars.

[BamaBecky]

41. I sport a yellow ribbon....cause those guys put their life on the line for

the good ole USA............they supported this pResident even though the pResident lied to them.............I'm looking for a good bumper sticker that gets this message across: EXPOSE THE BASTARDS

I don't want to put profanity on the back of my car.....so I'm still looking. I like the "W" with the "no circle slash"....also.

[Mr_Spock]

42. I bought one - added "NOT BUSH" to the other ribbon half!

Man, it's effective too. My freeper neighbors 8 year old daughter told me that she wanted to "tear it to pieces" and even tried to vandalize my car by stealing it. That's what it's all about really! HATE! :eyes:

[whitedove]

44. I bought mine from an Army Unit fund raiser.

What ever money they made went to helping thier own. I wish I had bought more...
I also took a black maker and wrote on it, Bring them home!

So, if you see a 77 Vw bus with a yellow support our troops ribbon with the words Bring them home handwritten on it, it's me :)

Well anyway, not all those ribbons were bought at Walmart. Atleast mine wasn't...

Peace,
Whitedove

[kimpossible]

47. My bumper sticker says

"Support Our Troops
Impeach Our President"

I haven't gotten a single bit of trouble about it, and several positive comments.

I got it from http://www.cafepress.com/irregulargoods if anybody's interested.

[Mr_Spock]

48. Nice - give 'em hell :D

I still like my "official" yellow ribbon magnet with "Support our Troops" on one leaf and "NOT BUSH" on the other!

[GOPisEvil]

53. I have this one on my car.

www.enoughwiththeribbons.com

[spindoctor]

64. Beautiful! My point exactly.

N/T

[demokatgurrl]

54. Absolutely and totally meaningless- and I do NOT think

those people "mean well". They are just doing the absolute minimum to salve their guilt over the war and maybe even over their support of it and Bushco and all their "evildoings".

[newportdadde]

57. In the late 90s if you wanted to be a 'cool' soccer mom

or commuting business man you needed an SUV. Ow and if your a women and between 25 and 45, you died your hair blond too. Both these are still going I guess.

Now you need a yellow ribon sticker, preferrably more then one.

The people who I really love though are the ones that have the yellow support the troops and then right next to it "GO CHIEFS!" - here in KC.

Its like WTF you think the goddamn troops are like a stupid fucking sports team. Total lack of respect to the troops.

You know maybe I will start tracking on the way to and from work to see what proportion are on SUVs and big trucks and which ones are on small cars etc.

[mcscajun]

58. Saw this one on Sunday:

The little cross goes inside. Or not. On the vehicle I saw, it was together.

The yellow ribbons are bad enough, add the cross and this non-believer is looking askance, BUT, "One Nation Under God" emblazoned ON the cross is just going TOO FAR!

And yes, it was on the back of an SUV. What a freakin' surprise.

[Chico Man]

60. "Made in China"

I had to look.

[lectrobyte]

61. I like a bumper sticker that makes you go WTF? This one

for example, would help me fit in with my repub neighbors:



http://www.cafepress.com/irregulargoods.11488673

[SarahB]

62. Alternatives....

http://www.unitedforpeace.org/catalog/