A man in Burlingame, which is one city north of me, has objected to people tying yellow ribbons around street poles. The yellow ribbons are against city ordinace, but the mayor said that if no one complaind, then it's OK. Burlingame resident Seth Yatovitz had the courage to complain about it. Not that I think he's right, but it was quite a brave act to challenge people supporting the war. He has now received death threats. There's a hearing on this on Monday, and someone told him that if he showed up, he'd be shot in the face.
It shows how seriously some people take this notion of supporting the troops. When you think about it, what does it really mean, anyway? The government isn't asking me to make any particular sacrafices for them. I don't talk to them, or even know anyone in the military. So what does "supporting the troops" really mean for me? As far as I can tell, it means "stop criticizing the government." And some people have the notion that criticizing the government lends support to Saddam, giving him the will to fight on. Or something like that.
I think there is some truth to that, and protest does create problems for America, from overtime to policemen watching over protests around the nation, and to a perceived weaking of America. However, there's a word for regimes that are very efficient: totalitarianism. When everyone is forced to act a certain predictable way, you can be assured of a strong and efficient nation. But I don't think that's what we want for the U.S.
Perhaps protests like Seth's will actually help Americans, because it gives outsiders the view that Americans are not always in agreement to their government. And the U.S government is becoming more and more hated throughout the world. The protests can only help Americans who travel abroad.
Well, good luck Seth. Ah, yellow ribbons, and death threats, as American as apple pie.
Posted by ahyatt at April 3, 2003 02:46 PMI am a wife of a soldier that is in Iraq right now and I think that if a measly yellow ribbon is a problem than we really need to sit back and examine our selves. All of you people, who protest the war in Iraq would be the very same people looking to the military for help if their were intruders in the US, ready to attack us. These men and women are risking their lives daily, not by choice for some, but as a result of our nation's leaders decision. So why can't we show support to our men and women over there. I live on a military base and i see yellow ribbons everywhere and it makes me feel so good inside and I am so proud of those people over there and God bless those who have lost their lives. Go Yellow Ribbons!!!!
Posted by: Erika Rolle on December 17, 2003 02:37 PMI think the ribbons are great! But my thought is do some places give them to our troops? Or is the money going in people's pockets? If it supports our troops its fine but if it does'nt support our troops i would not buy one.
Posted by: Sharyn on November 11, 2004 01:51 PMHi
Posted by: Sharyn on November 11, 2004 01:52 PM