Freedom Flees, Freedom Flourishes

Okay, okay, I admit to feeling pretty glum about the anti-flag burning movement that seems to have our nation's representatives so giddy these days. (See my previous post, " Latest distraction from *real* attrocities," June 23rd.)

I confess I'm not a big flag burner. In fact, I've never burned a flag. But I've always thought such a shocking act a wonderful symbol for the freedom of speech we supposedly claim to enjoy. But now that's very much at risk by our faux freedom defenders in Washington.

That had me very depressed--until this morning. You see, yesterday I took a little drive amid cars ladened with those little yellow "Support the Troops" ribbons. But I noticed other ribbons with messages like "Bring 'em Home, Baby on Board" or "Spay and Neuter" (obviously, this one, an extremely brazen suggestion for Condoleeza Rice and George Bush!).

Beginning to feel ostracized, I even joined the ribbon crowd awhile back when I was referred to the Support Our Ribbons site by my friend Nona over at Fish Wars.

It was there I fell in love with a "One Nation Under Ribbons" ribbon. On a recent shopping trip, I parked my little ribboned rig next to a monster truck with a ribbon that demanded, "One Nation Under God." I confess to intimidation, knowing how intolerant some on the religious right can be. Fortunately, I left before they ever saw my retort to their suggestion.

A recent episode of "Law and Order" involved an accident with a hit and run vehicle sporting a yellow "Support the Troops" ribbon. One of the officer's rued they would have an easier time locating the guilty party if his car did not have a ribbon!

According to SupportOurRibbons, a news crew was sent out by Boston's Channel 5 to interview representatives of that alternative ribbons maker. But sadly, after shooting an hour's worth of material on the new craze as it relates to consumerism, politics, women, etc., the story was scrapped. In its place Channel 5 ran a feature on Boston's first all female masked wrestling group!

Apparently, ribbons on cars is too controversial to be shown on television.

And here's where my new found optimism was born. Those little yellow ribbons and the alternative ribbon responses they're generating have become our newest icons, from herd mentality to spirited individualism. Maybe--just maybe, if our freedom-of-expression right to burn flags is stolen from us, we can replace it with our new symbols of nationalism.

So don't fear. If we can't burn our flags, we'll just burn our freakin' ribbons!