Just Say "No!" to the Magnetic Ribbon

My family is on a mission. Rid the world of the yellow magnetic "Support Our Troops" ribbons.

"Why," you may ask, "would a family with a member in the military oppose such wonderful support for our troops?"

How many people do you know, who have these ribbons, do something to support the troops and their families other than a)saying they support them and b)putting a magnetic ribbon on their vehicle?

These ribbons are extremely popular here in our area of the midwest. People will have several of them on a single vehicle. I about gagged when someone had one that was actually for an NFL team. My mom went to the bank our family has used for years and there was a display of them (the ones that actually were for the troops) that were being sold on behalf of the local chapter of a non-profit. My mom inquired about where the proceeds were going. The local softball program.

There's nothing like hitting people up for their "support" of the troops to support something other than the troops. I don't find these nearly as suspicious as the ribbons that I see at Wal-Mart that I suspect only support the supplier's profits. I find it cheap to use the military, especially during a time of war.

The thing that really gets us, the member in the military included, is the idea of people displaying a ribbon and it absolves of them of having to do anything else because they "support our troops." These same people don't have a clue about military pay, veterans affair benefits, or the practice of stop loss.

As my brother prepares for activation, my mother and I contemplate what we will do while he is gone. The nearest family support group is over a two hour drive away for my mother. Not exactly feasible (therefore not exactly supportive) for my family. I have been my mom to start her own support group that meets locally, and she has finally agreed. She's starting a group with the idea that they can do a lot, and they can. We are talking way more than care packages, though there will definitely be care packages.

So this 4th of July, I encourage you to ditch any ribbons that might be lurking on your vehicle and do something more meaningful for veterans/members of the military. Ask family members if there is anything you can do for them (such as babysit, mow a lawn, chip in money/goods for a care package) or simple ask them how they and those serving are doing. It's amazing how people will act like a person serving overseas has ceased to exist until they return. Study an issue that affects them and write to your elected officials about it. Heck, write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. Your mind is your limit.

Whatever you do, don't buy a magnetic ribbon.