Yellow Ribbons

I was out on a run recently and some redneck-looking guy in a 1980’s era pickup buzzed right by me. He missed my shoulder by just inches. I was watching him closely as he came at me, ready to drop out of the way of the side view mirrors or if he started to veer at me.

I could smell his breath, yes it really was that bad, and he didn’t bother to put down his Big Mac, stop slurping on the Big Gulp, toss the cigarette aside, or put the cell phone down. Just as he got passed me, I stopped and turned, and perhaps I hollered something at him, and it is even possible that I waved at him with one of my fingers higher than the others.

And then I saw them. Those yellow ribbons. “Support the Troops” they say. Here’s another sanctimonious wanker driving a gas guzzler down the road and the only support he gives the troops is to buy an imported sticker so he can give the impression that he bothers to support the troops.

No way dude. Get off the road. You want to support the troops? That doesn’t cut it.

About 25% of the homeless people in the US are veterans. That is not ok.

But since this blog is a not a negative rant or my soapbox, here’s some positive steps he can take instead of a bumper sticker.

Contact someone in Congressman today. Tell them you want Line Item 1 of the Federal Budget to speak directly to veteran’s benefits. And they better be really, really, extremely good benefits. Nothing else comes first.

That would be a start and hell of a lot better than a sanctimonious yellow ribbon.

Here’s a couple of web sites for that dude in the pickup truck.
Any Soldier
roosevelt institute
homes for our troops
troop support
Reps: House of Reps
Senate: Senate

Unlike my PV panels, you can put your yellow ribbons where the sun don’t shine.