November 5, 2005
Did some reasearch today on Awareness Ribbons. You know, the ones that you can wear (or display) in a bazillion different ways? Wear a plain fabric ribbon on your lapel, put a ribbon magnet on your car, attach a ribbon charm to a necklace or bracelet, and presto! everyone knows what cause you support.
Or do they?
In my research for an article for BeadingHelpWeb.com, I found colors and color combinations for everything and anything you can think of. Orange, for example, is for “Fighting for Democracy” as well as leukemia and lupus. If you want to show your support for lupus, however, and don’t like orange, it’s perfectly acceptable to wear a purple ribbon. But then again, you might be mistaken for someone who works against domestic violence (which can also be represented by dark blue ribbons) or animal abuse.
Confused yet?
Well, to be honest, a colored ribbon, while it does provide solidarity when used by the masses (is there ANYONE out there who doesn’t know what a pink ribbon is for????), can stand for whatever the wearer or displayer wants it to. It’s meant to show support, promote awareness, and begin conversations.
So the next time you see someone wearing a yellow ribbon, don’t just assume they are supporting our troops overseas, smile, and move on. Ask them what their ribbon stands for. You may hear an interesting story, or find a commonality with a stranger who may become a friend. (Yellow ribbons also represent adoptive parents and are a general symbol for hope.)
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