I agree. And yet when I saw a black and gold one the other day that said "Support our Steelers!", I was somehow offended.

The supporting our troops, OK. That money doesn't go "to the troops", our taxes do.
But the breast cancer ribbons?, the real ones, anyway.

, C'mon man. Does spending 50 cents get you THAT bent out of shape? No one is giving up their life savings getting these ribbons. I got a shit load of them for free.
A portion goes to organizations that help those who have the disease, as well as research.
Besides, it's like apples and oranges with the yellow and pink ribbons. One ACTUALLY does play on feelings, the other ACTUALLY helps a cause.
If one can make a little change helping society and bringing about change, God bless'em.

The first time I saw the yellow ones, I guessed that "troops" weren't actually getting anything out of them. A few weeks later, a story on the news cautioning consumers confirmed my suspicion.

No no no... the ones I'm talking about are found in the local Walgreen's, and like I said, they don't support anything but the person that printed them.

Easy J...

Just because the money going to your "Support Our Troops" ribbon isn't going to a cause benefiting them, doesn't mean that the ribbon isn't getting a point across.

I was actually going to mention this ribbon phenomenon a while back. It seems that this area has been overrun with these ribbons. I see so many cars with assorted ribbons and I think it is being affected by LBS (Livestrong Bracelet Syndrome). It's almost scary to think that it's running rampant in Ohio as well.

See, but there's a difference. That's the part that irritates me. It has gotten to the point where people in this country feel that if you put a flag in front of your house or a sticker on your car, you're being a good American. I think that's crap. By itself, it doesn't mean anything. If you give money to the Red Cross or a cancer charity, yeah, you're doing something. If you send a care package to a soldier, yeah, you're doing something. What we're seeing is hollow bandwagon gestures, warn on your sleeve, as the new American way. If it's for something that you believe in, how could that not piss you off?

This song has been out for a little while now, but it definately says a lot for the people that do truly care about the magnets they adourn. (The song, as opposed to the lyrics, helps relay the message.)

Chely Wright - Bumper of My S.U.V.

(Copyrighted lyrics removed... come on, you know better than that. -J)

I see what you're getting at with the song lyrics, but I don't think you see my point at all. Perhaps this is something for another post, but philanthropy and charity are becoming fashion. That's what annoys me. It's not genuine. We support breast cancer charities, sure, and we show it by donating money to the cause. It's not about being trendy or jumping on a bandwagon, or standing up and saying, "Hey, look what I did."

I'm not suggesting that's why everyone does it, far from it. However, when you see it everywhere, that's the fashion, not the cause. It's like finding the meaning of Christmas at the mall.

I'm with Jeff on this one. What also bothers me are those who participate in church activities only to enhance their social status. I've got nothing against supporting the troops or participating in church, but the effort has to be genuine to earn my respect.

I'm personally looking into sending care packages to soldiers, unfortunately whatever I send won't be delivered in time for Christmas. Better late than never I guess.

Jeff,

I am here in Iraq. My family and friends back home are supporting me 100%. they send me packages of things that I need like shaving cream and other personal hygiene items. they send other nice things like snacks and candy. I can't ask for better help while I am gone.

Is there something wrong with being proud that they are supporting their "troop"? NO.

When we deployed we could not get enough of the car ribbons for our friends and family. we sold them for 1 dollar a piece to cover the printing costs only.

If these ribbons on cars get someone who doesn’t normally think of what is going on here in the sand box, and that results in an extra prayer, extra donation to a wounded warrior fund, then it has done its job.

As a soldier it makes me proud that my family and friends think enough of what I am doing to putting a ribbon on their car.

Joe, All Prayers and Care packages are welcome, Before or After Christmas.

BTW Chely Wright was here in Iraq to sing to us not long ago. That is a good song

Well, I guess we have to respectfully disagree on this one. I realize there are families of soldiers and such, and those aren't the people I'm addressing.

As long as you turn on the TV, trust me, you'll see what's going down in Iraq. It's hard to watch anymore, because I'm tired of seeing people my age and younger dying, while soldiers on the streets of Baghdad are asking what the point of the war is at all. I realize the job is their choice, and they're doing it, but they shouldn't have to be in that position. They certainly shouldn't have to get up in front of the defense secretary and ask why they don't have the tools they need.

This is what is wrong with most people our age, they sit behind a keyboard and type opininons that are not based on anything but is what is on the back of a car that they saw on the highway, and obviosly wouldn't lift a finger to help out this great nation in its time of need.

Who exactly is that directed toward?

I have family in Iraq but I don't see the point in all of the bracelets saying Live Strong, or the Yellow Ribbons people use to symbolize there support for American Freedom, because they aren't symbolizing it, they are exploiting it. People are just supporting the cause so they can be apart of something, and for all the other wrong reasons.

Not all people, just quite a few.