magnetic ribbon overload

This morning I was stuck in traffic behind an SUV that had 7 magnetic ribbons on the back - all variations on the theme of supporting troops and blessing the US of A and blahblahblah. (i wish i'd had my digital camera with me...) 

I am SO over those ribbons.  Part of what I don't like about them is what I perceive as an "us/them" vibe, and that really bugs me.  When they're on an SUV the irony lands heavily too.

Lately I find myself walking in parking lots fantasizing about taking all the magnetic ribbons off the cars and tossing them into a trash bin somewhere.  Or maybe collecting them and melting them down and turning them into something useful.  (oh, if only i could...)

I know...this is not very neighborly of me.  Not very tolerant either, and oh how I pride myself on being tolerant.  (but i'm not always tolerant.  i practice it as best i can, but i fall into the hole of not being able to tolerate intolerant people...)   

But I digress...

Wouldn't it be great if people took the money they spend on these things and give it all to a charity instead?  They could give it to veterans (talk about supporting our troops!) or ... anything but those damn ribbons.  It would add up too, cause there are just SO many ribbons!

The people who buy them must know that they're not actually supporting the troops or cancer research or whatever they claim to be showing support for when they buy one (unlike the livestrong bracelets that have also become annoyingly fad-ish, but at least they started out as a great idea to raise money for lance armstrong's cancer support foundation...) instead, when you buy a "God Bless our Troops" or any of those variations on the theme, you're supporting the marketer who was savvy enough to make them and the store that sells them.  That's it.  The fact that they pose as charity/support thing really pisses me off.  (grrr) 

I just get so riled up about them, and I know it's out of proportion. It reminds me a bit of those old "baby on board" things.  They used to drive me batty - as if, by telling me that you have a baby on board, I'm going to drive much more carefully now...because before, let me tell you, I was thinking of driving you off the road.  But nope, now that I've seen that "baby on board" sign your car is safe!

OK, enough ranting...cause like the great poet/philosopher Ricky Nelson once said: "Ya can't please everyone, so you got to please yourself."

What pleases me?

Here are a few ribbon makers I could get behind.  Click on the ribbon to support some savvy - and very funny - marketers. 

And too bad this one on the right isn't for sale, cause if it were, maybe I'd cave in and put it on my car. 

Nah, probably not.

Comments

[Kerstin]

Hi Deb,

Found you via the comment you left on my blog, thanks!

Can't believe that I haven't come across your blog before. You know, that whole mindblowing thing about the infinity of the universe still drives me nuts today. I mean, WHERE does it end??? NOWHERE! But WHERE is that??? Aaaargh ...

In my detached non-American way I look at all these blantant displays of patriotism with a mixture of disbelief and amusement. It's probably because I am German; you would NEVER EVER (sorry about using so many CAPS words in this comment!) see so many displays of our national flag in Germany. I mean we would be accused of becoming Nazis all over again. That's our legacy from WW2, our generations were not brought up to be proud.

Love those alternative ribbons, too funny!!

Thanks for a very refreshing post :)

Kerstin

[maria]

YEAH ... what is up with THAT? Stuff like this makes me think of the '100th monkey' stuff and how weird (creepy?) it is that certain things can just infiltrate our culture so quickly ... and not cool things, like being courteous and compassionate, but bizarre things like the ribbons, Baby on Board signs, etc., that you get sick of seeing after the first week.

... now if we can just come up with the next 'dumb but highly profitable idea that catches on like wildfire,' we could go on QVC and make a killing ... I think the key is to make it under $5, and chintzy, and likely to land on us on www.justafad.com. Got any ideas?