IT HAPPENED TO ME

I read your article regarding the people stealing the yellow ribbons off of local cars with minor irritation (see "Steal a Yellow Ribbon," July 8, by Amy Martin). And then my own yellow ribbon was stolen.

While I recognize and appreciate the frustration regarding the commercialization of this symbol, I feel strongly that stealing ribbon magnets off people’s cars is hardly the answer. For the record, you’re never quite sure who you’re stealing the ribbon from.

In my case, I had a ribbon on my car as a "welcome home" to my roommate and close friend who had been in Afghanistan for four months. To me, this symbol was not a hollow, commercialized idea, but a way to demonstrate my loyalty to our troops despite my strong feelings against the war in Iraq. While my roommate, from the local Air National Guard, was overseas, I helped his new wife around the house, watched their children as needed and provided moral support. As a household, we sent care packages and emails to show support of our own trooper and his fellow soldiers.

Thankfully, my friend only suffered a couple of broken ribs while on his tour of duty. I wonder, however, if the people stealing magnets have considered the possibility that they might accidentally steal a magnet from someone who has lost a loved one.

A friend of mine offered this thought that I wholeheartedly agree with. If you’re truly committed to de-commercializing this symbol, sell your own magnets and stickers to the local community and put all the proceeds toward care packages and supplies for our local soldiers. I, for one, would be happy to buy one from you.

Diane Russell, Portland

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DOUBLE YELLOW STANDARD

I couldn’t help but notice the glaring contradiction regarding free speech in the July 8 edition of the Portland Phoenix. Just a few pages away from Dan Kennedy’s list of affronts to the First Amendment ("8th Annual Muzzle Awards"), was an article about Portlanders stealing magnetic "support the troops" ribbons (see "Steal a Yellow Ribbon," by Amy Martin). Odd that such theft didn’t deserve a Muzzle Award. In fact, it almost seemed like the Phoenix might be in favor of such theft. The message? Free speech for hammered dulcimer players in Boston Common, no free speech for "patriotic" lemmings with yellow ribbons. A double standard, yes?

Rob Rosenthal, South Portland

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PARK YOUR ANARCHIC WAYS

Regarding Amy Martin’s (and to a lesser degree, Mike Gorman’s) slant on "support the troops" magnets (see "Steal a Yellow Ribbon," July 8): "support" does not mean financial support. Read the other definitions in your desktop Webster’s; in the sense it is used, it means to stand behind the men and women serving in our armed forces, It is not meant to mean financial support; that’s what taxpayers do with the small portion of the Federal budget spent on defense.

The use of the yellow ribbon dates back to the Iranian hostage crisis, when people wrapped yellow ribbons around trees to express support for the 50-plus diplomats being held hostage by Islamic radicals. The simple yet elegant design used for AIDS awareness, and now many other causes, takes that as a source of inspiration, as well as other simple badges going back to the tricolor cockade of the French Revolution. As for putting them cockeyed, well, blame the auto designers who don’t leave you enough room to make them stand up properly.

But what bothered me the most was the casual acceptance of theft explained away as civil disobedience. Just because you don’t like something doesn’t give you the right to take someone’s property. The people who display those magnets have just as much right to free speech as you do; imagine how you’d feel if I came around to your houses at night and scraped off the Kerry-Edwards bumper stickers on your cars, or stole your Che T-shirts off the line. The freedoms of this country are meant to extend to all of us; park your anarchist ways at the door of your home.

Steve Moore, Gorham

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