| v> | | | | meaning individual tied the ribbons to the non-native |
| Observations from the EdgeRobert T. NanningaBuzz | | | | palm trees along Pier View Way? A lot of blood has |
| PublicationsJune 18, 2007 | | | | been shed since Operation Shock and Awe began |
| While having breakfast at Oceanside's Long Boarder | | | | bringing freedom to the Iraqi people. |
| Cafe, a friend visiting from Minnesota asked why there | | | | Haunting me for days, the faded yellow ribbons made |
| were white ribbons tied around the palm trees at the | | | | me question the value of the ribbons. Why did they |
| Civic Center. Ms. Minnesota found them to be rather | | | | fade? Are non fading ribbons even possible? Why |
| sad. The locals at the table smiled: They were | | | | haven't they been replaced or removed? Who put |
| yellow, once. was our response. | | | | them there? Had they been forgotten and |
| Yellow ribbons, long a symbol of waiting for the return | | | | overlooked? Did they occur to anyone else as litter? |
| of a loved one or of military troops who are | | | | Perhaps it was just the morning June gloom tripping |
| temporarily unable to come home, made their cultural | | | | me out, but the white ribbons also occurred to |
| debut in 19th century. In 1979, yellow ribbons were used | | | | me as an insult to the men and women serving in Iraq. |
| to show solidarity for American hostages in Iran. | | | | Left to linger, these ribbons, exposed as propaganda |
| In the early '90's the yellow ribbon became | | | | party favors, are a metaphor for the superficial |
| synonymous with support our troops as part of | | | | reasoning that led to the Bush Iraq debacle. |
| Operation Desert Storm and again in the 21st century | | | | Perhaps a better, more apt interpretation of the faded |
| for Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Iron hammer, | | | | yellow ribbons, is the Tony Orlando and Dawn hit of |
| Operation Phantom Linebacker, Operation Lightning, | | | | 1972, where the Yellow Ribbon was tied around the |
| Operation Squeeze Play, Operation Steel Curtain, | | | | ol' Oak Tree. Their song takes the yellow ribbon |
| Operation Together Forward, Operation Ivy Blizzard, | | | | and applies it to federal prisoner's request to a loved |
| and Operation Red Dawn. | | | | one upon his release. A yellow ribbon was the sign of |
| Sun-bleached, the faded yellow ribbons serve as | | | | welcomed return he was looking for. |
| metaphor on many levels. Neglect and time, robbing | | | | Of course I'm not implying U.S. Soldiers and marines |
| them of their intended relevance, these white | | | | are criminals nor convicts. What I am saying is that the |
| ribbons could easily symbolize the federal | | | | men and women deployed as freedom fodder in Iraq |
| government's commitment to bringing U.S. Troops | | | | are prisoners of a U.S. Foreign policy from which they |
| home and ending the occupation of Iraq. Like U.S. | | | | should be released. |
| involvement in the Persian Gulf, the ribbons were oil | | | | It's not only time for someone to remove the faded |
| based. | | | | yellow ribbons from the Civic Center palms, it is also |
| Looming like ghosts, I can't help wonder how long | | | | time to demand that we the people demand more |
| those ribbons had been there. A year? Two? Four? | | | | than the simplistic thinking that put them there in the |
| How many thresholds had passed since a well | | | | first place. |