Tying One On

Dwight David Eisenhower knew it all along. Many of us knew it all along. The fact is, the military industrial complex has so enmeshed itself into America's cultural DNA that we hardly notice it. Remember when because of or in spite of Tony Orlando and Dawn, we were encouraged to tie the ribbon around the old oak tree? Well when those dire straits that inspired the visual show of support disappeared, so did the ubiquitous yellow, (cowardly), ribbons. Now, folks we have yellow, pink, yellow and pink, yellow and blue, green, and virtually every color under the rainbow, (and, yes, we have one of those too), ribbons and pins on prominent display. We are literally wearing our emotions on our sleeves. Also our lapels. Also, especially the pink, on virtually every surface available, for mostly good causes. Yet we believe that we are bigger than that. We believe that we can address our maladies and retire most of these visible signs of our miseries, we fight conquer, and move on. We can raise funds and conscienceness without the hang dog mentality. We need not employ emotional blackmail at every sporting event in coercing participants to flash fey pink accessories and equipment to appease those who benefit most from this travesty: Apparently, Susan G. Komen and the corporations who use the pink tie in to try to convince consumers to buy their product because they "care" Yeah right! Care about that bottom line. We imagine that most guys are going along with the program largely because they know that what helps their bosses, helps them, and by the way, they know, they really know, that they must keep the women happy, or................... Getting back to the late President Eisenhower, we are sure that he would be appalled at the militaristic display of badges and ribbons on folks' lapels and dresses nowadays. Dry cleaners are noticing this rise in other than moth holes, and we KNOW that we can do better, and not emasculate ourselves, and show that we care simultaneously. HRM