Out Cole
Pages to Fold
A Trash Bin Quandary
Introducing Ask Torontoist
Strike Watch: Day Seventeen
At random intervals, two Torontoist staffers square off to debate an issue that's important to our city. We invite our readers to join the debate in the comments section following the post.
This past week, there was considerable uproar when it was revealed that Toronto emergency vehicles would be forced to remove magnetic decals saying “Support Our Troops.” However, following much public outcry, and the deaths of three more Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan, Mayor David Miller did a 180 degree opinion shift and came out in support of the decals. On Thursday, City Council voted unanimously to allow the decals to remain indefinitely.
Read on as Torontoist considers both sides of the issue.
|
PATRICK METZGER So Mayor David Miller has kowtowed to public and media pressure and agreed to keep magnetic “Support Our Troops” decals on emergency vehicles for the foreseeable future. While that ought to get the Toronto Sun out of the Mayors hair and back to sports, crime and sports-related crime, was it the right decision, or simply the politically expedient one?
The original objection made to the decals was that they could be construed as support for the military mission in Afghanistan, a political sentiment by no means universally shared by Torontonians. It’s inappropriate, so the argument goes, for the city to be taking a stand on political issues far outside the scope of responsibility of municipal government. Fair enough. I’d be a little nonplussed if firefighters were driving around with “Nuke Iran” or “Impeach Bush” stuck on the back of their trucks. But that’s not what’s going on here. Whatever one’s opinion on the morality or practicality of the Canadian mission in Afghanistan, it’s worth remembering that our soldiers there are men and women who have voluntarily placed themselves in harms way in defense of the greater society. They are isolated, far from home, and at risk, showing courage and professionalism in a difficult, dangerous, undertaking that we as a nation have decided is worthwhile. To acknowledge who they are and what they are doing is no judgment on the battle they’re fighting. Surely our Remembrance Day poppies don't make us cheerleaders for pre-WW1 British imperialism. A still more specious objection to the decals is that they do nothing to help the troops, that they are purely symbolic. But symbols matter. They create awareness, evoke emotion, and inspire people to action. If the decals – or the controversy around them - prompt a single person to send a letter, they’ll have done their job. True enough, the decals won’t put more armour on jeeps or pour coffee for the troops on a cold morning. But since when do we evaluate our actions on the basis of what they don’t accomplish? The decals are indeed a small gesture, but a worthwhile one, reminding us that there are men and women in uniform who are quietly making tremendous sacrifices on behalf of the nation. What’s more, where better to place that symbol than on fire trucks and ambulances, vehicles driven by those who've also chosen a career of public service. If they aren’t cynical about the yellow ribbons, what right do the rest of us have? | KEN HUNT In a famous episode of Seinfeld, Kramer is attacked during an AIDS walk because he refuses to wear a red ribbon. It doesn't matter that he's against AIDS, or that he's participating in the walk, the fact that he eschews the symbol is the only thing that anyone cares about. The yellow ribbon decals on Toronto's emergency vehicles are promoted and defended with the same sort of fanaticism. It doesn't matter what anyone actually thinks about the war in Afghanistan, all that matters is whether or not you are willing to buy into the symbol of the ribbon itself. If you happen to be against empty symbolism, or if you think that city vehicles are not the best place to advertise causes, well then, you're slapping our troops in the face. What a bunch of hooey. This is the problem with symbols and slogans. People would much rather put bumper stickers on their cars than engage in a real debate on any issue. It is part of the general erosion of public discourse that pushes meaningful action and thought aside. At best, the yellow ribbon decals (like all the other ribbon campaigns) are merely a form of advertising. Putting on a ribbon is a way of acting like you're doing something, without actually making the effort to do anything. The yellow ribbon is especially powerful and popular because, like the Nike swoosh, it lets us affiliate ourselves with heroic actions and individuals without ever breaking a sweat. At worst, the yellow ribbon is a deliberate attempt to squelch debate. Even if the ribbon isn't explicitly pro-war, the message "Support Our Troops" implies that there are certain things that we should not do. We should not question the war or our mission there, because that is not "supportive." We should not raise questions about POWs and how they are treated. We should not attack the military or political leadership. We should not protest in the streets. We should not demand an end to war. We should just think happy thoughts, pray for everyone to be safe, and let the people in charge do their jobs. Of course, if you want to put a yellow ribbon on your own vehicle, by all means, go ahead. That's your choice, but ribbons of any colour do not belong on public vehicles. Even if the purpose of the yellow ribbon is not to limit debate, why are our troops more important than the people in our communities fighting AIDS or cancer or diabetes? If we're putting ribbons on things, shouldn't emergency vehicles that are often called to scenes of domestic abuse display white ribbons? Why not plaster "Just Say No" bumper stickers on every police car in our fleet? If we decide the troops are worthy of advertising, how do we continue to say "no" to every other cause? Perhaps, rather than turning our public vehicles into moving slogan-of-the-moment-mobiles, it should be our actions that speak to what we think is important. That's the best thing any of us can do for the causes we believe in. |
add to digg
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
email this
add to facebook
add to del.icio.us
Practically speaking, "Support Our Troops" should be read as "Support Our War". There are very few people who would come out against the *people* wearing the grunt uniforms, or against Canada having armed forces, so ribbons like this really can't be read literally. They frame the issue -- we're at war now, that's already decided, so pick a side (with us or against us).
It was quite ballsy for Council to even bring the issue to the table, but a waste of time. Aren't schools falling apart? Public services in jeopardy? You know, that sort of stuff?
I just don't buy that at all.
In the US, once the troops went into Iraq there was a huge upsurge of jingoism and irrational hyper-patriotism, leading to a climate of intellectual intimidation. Certainly the political administration and many others promoted the view that to oppose the war was to be anti-American.
Canada, however, isn't Texas or West Virginia, and the environment is entirely different. It's difficult to imagine any city in the US - except maybe San Francisco - having a public debate on whether city vehicles should be allowed to sport yellow ribbons.
You're right - very few people would come out against the troops themselves, but that doesn't mean the decals favour the war. They're simply a visible measure of support for the soldiers.
i think everyone supports the troops...if you have to wear a pin saying it or any sort of label then it just means you are shoving it in someones face and most of the time its from pro war people.
As far as I'm concerned, one can support the troops, but not support the war. However the confusion between the two is there regardless. Much like the confusion that equates the war in Iraq and the war in Afghanistan.
Personally, I feel the yellow ribbons are an American import and do not reflect what the Canadian Army is (supposed to be) about. I would much rather see "Support Peace and Acceptance" ribbons all over the place.
But this begs the question, why this cause? Why aren't there any AIDS ribbons on ambulances, or Cancer ribbons on Parking Enforcement Vehicles? Why does it take a war to rally people together? Shouldn't these issues be at the forefront of the Canadian consciousness too?
In the end, only time (and a historical readings of the events from those who win the war) will tell...Rob
Patrick - How often does one see widespread Support Our Troops-type propaganda when the Troops aren't overseas, you know, trooping?
Ribbons, just like any other symbol don't mean anything. If you have a bumper sticker or a ribbon that somehow translates to "support the troops" then it doesn't do anything to actually help the troops. This is the whole point of good propaganda. You want to create a slogan that nobody's going to be against, and everybody's going to be for, because nobody knows what it means, because it doesn't mean anything, but its crucial value is that it diverts your attention.
"How often does one see widespread Support Our Troops-type propaganda when the Troops aren't overseas, you know, trooping?"
Never, for the same reason I don't send a get-well card whenever someone sneezes. There's a big difference between being under fire in Afghanistan and driving a truck in Trenton.
It's interesting how the last two commenters use the word "propaganda" as though it were widely understood to be the case, when in fact it's a gross misrepresentation of what the decals mean. If a sneaky government wanted to divert the public attention away from the war in Afghanistan, they'd be far better served to discourage ribbons and bumper stickers, which serve largely to generate this kind of debate.
Do the decals mean anything? Not to you, Gregg, obviously. But,to people with sons, daughters, wives, husbands who are in danger overseas, to returning soldiers who have comrades still in the field, it means that someone remembers and honours their service. And that makes a difference.
I think there is some kind of knee-jerk response to a false syllogism here; i.e. Americans have these ribbons - Americans are crazy militarists = if we have these ribbons, we'll be crazy militarists.
I really don't get it.
Do the decals mean anything? Not to you, Gregg, obviously. But,to people with sons, daughters, wives, husbands who are in danger overseas, to returning soldiers who have comrades still in the field, it means that someone remembers and honours their service. And that makes a difference.
-----------------------------------------
Do you really think that some mom driving home from work will look out of her window and see a "support our troops" sticker on the car, ambulance, biker's ass next to her and feel so happy inside that someone is thinking of her son?
i am just saying that if you look back to the history and origin of the saying, it's meant as a way to sneak a policy debate into a symbol. i mean you cant disagree with support the troops, and we dont even really know what it means, and as you see in america the right wing tries to make anyone that is against the sticker/saying to be coming out against the troops. it may not be the same here, but that's how it is there.
i think if a family is looking towards a sticker to make them feel better about their son/daughter going off to fight a horrible war, then they really need to have a beef with the govt policy for not bringing their son/daughter home.
the problem is that the policy is wrong and that's what everyone should be arguing about.
Well, to be honest Gregg, I hadn't considered the "emotional impact of seeing a decal on a bikers ass" argument, so I may have to re-examine my views. But in general, I'm quite sure the decals give a warm and fuzzy to those who have family overseas.
I know what it's like in the States, and it's not in any way the same here and won't be until every car sports a Canadian flag decal and a "God, Guts, and Guns" bumper sticker.
That said, I may well have a bias on this issue - unlike the US adventure in Iraq, which is a military folly, political disaster, and moral outrage, I think that overthrowing the Taliban was damn fine work.
Patrick - That was my point. You don't see that messaging (if you prefer it to propaganda) unless there's a war on. Support Our Troops doing what? War. It's not about getting behind the men and women at all, but it reframes the issue that way. The troops are synecdochical.
(Propaganda is an appropriate word for it.)
patrick is wrong, everyone else is right. be quiet now.
When I started seeing the ribbons in the United States, my thoughts were "thank god we're not so jingoistic and obnoxious." Never mind.
As a former US Army soldier, I see the ribbons as an empty token of appreciation. It's funny that during the war these ribbons were given out willy nill, but, at the same time the current administration was thinking about cutting back on the funding for the VA (Veteran's Affairs). So which do you think is a greater way of suppporting our troops? A ribbon or ensuring that all military servicemen and women who come back from the war will have proper medical treatment? And it's also interesting to note that the only time I've seen the yellow ribbons is when my father fought in the first Gulf War and I fought in the second. Other than that I've never seen a ribbon and I've served just about everywhere overseas. Personally I don't have to have a ribbon to remember my comrades alive and fallen who have served over there. I've seen it first hand.
This is equivalent to the people who jump on the Raptors bandwagon when they make it to the playoffs.
I'm not convinced it's either/or, i.e. let's put ribbons on our vehicles instead of funding veterans programs. I do think it would make far more sense if they were sold like Remembrance Day poppies, with the funds going to support some worthy related cause.
Are the ribbons political? There's no doubt for some people they're a statement about the war that's being fought, particularly in the US (note that according to the FT demand has collapsed in the US as the Iraq war has become unpopular http://www.ft.com/cms/s/4793da48-c8f7-11db-9f7b-000b5df10621,_i_rssPage=6700d4e4-6714-11da-a650-0000779e2340.html). But for some they're not.
As to why they haven't turned up elsewhere and when, there have only been a couple of bona fide wars since Tony Orlando and Dawn introduced the yellow ribbon concept back in 1973. Not to put too fine a point on it, there have to be a certain critical mass of soldiers actually fighting before enough people are going to be interested to make a statement.
Frankly, I find them jingoistic and obnoxious too. But that doesn't mean I think they're inappropriate if some people find meaning in them, even if those people drive fire trucks.
I can understand why Toronto City Council would debate this issue: They're all insane. But TOist? Come on you guys, really?
who let you on the computer again? i told you to do the dishes and go to bed.
Sorry mom!
...And all these years I thought that I should tie a yellow ribbon round the ole oak tree... It's been three long years, do ya still want me... If I don't see a ribbon round the ole oak tree... I'll stay on the bus, forget about us, put the blame on me... If I don't see a yellow ribbon round the ole oak tree.
As a proud supporter of our troops everywhere , I believe that all Provincial and Federal vehicles should display the "Support Our Troops Decal".It's not about supporting wars, it's about supporting a very special group of people who wear the Canadian military uniform and serve our country.
Whan happened in Toronto over the past week (some people wanting the Support Our Troops Decal removed from city vehicles) was both shameful and disgusting and showed complete disrespect for our veterans that have served both yesterday and today
steve- i guess you havent read the string of posts above you. we have already proven your argument to be a sham. better luck next time. what shows disrespect for veterans is a. sending them to a phony war and b. treating them like shit (va hospitals) when they come home.
i mean on the other hand though, i guess i kinda do support the troops, except the ones that rape and kill innocents...so maybe i should get a sticker that says "i support certain troops."
Hello, I own just one of the many fine factories in China that makes these stickers...and on behalf of the women-slaves and childr-- uh, er... employees, who work in our factory... THANK YOU for your' support.
We are working on a new sticker, "Support Our Troops, or I'll Kick Yo' Ass!"
It has a picture of a pitbull wearing the ribbon...sell like hot-cakes.
Ha! Joke's on YOU, Poindexter...Those ribbon-stickers are made in Taiwan. In your' face!
-Homer J. Simpson
It's just so easy...the ribbon stickers, I think, are like the Creation theory. It's a short-cut, who needs to think when the answer's right there?. How was the world created? Oh, easy, the Bible says God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. But, what about evolution, science? SIX DAYS, that other stuff is too hard to understand.
The sticker makes it easy. Are you for the war?
Well, yes or no, doesn't matter, you have one of those ribbons and you're good. But what about the reasons we were led into it? What about foriegn oil dependence, the future generations of terrorists, the ages old struggle for the past 3,000 years between East/West, Muslim/Christian? The hegemony of Britain and the US since WW1? Oh, they're all just a bunch of crazies over there, religious nuts...I support our troops, I pray they'll be safe. But what about inadequate training, equipment, extended tours, vet benefits and healthcare being denied or slashed, vet suicides, dependency, jobs?
Oh, that's just the liberal media, I mean, who knows what this war is about or when it will end, I trust our leaders, but you gotta support the troops. Why don't YOU have a sticker? You're just emboldening the enemy. Where's your' patriotism? If you don't have a ribbon, then the terrorists win. Ask Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh.
Anyway, what I really wanted to ask you was, who is your' favorite "Idol" this year?
Which way is the wind blowing today?
Isn't that the way of those on the left side of the political spectrum.. like Miller.. like Layton.. like McGuinty..
et al!!
It's no wonder that Toronto is the scourge of Ontario!!
Interesting reading.......are you all exhausted yet? I have several friends who have and currently are serving in Afghanistan. I also have two ribbons on my car. When I see other people with ribbons on their cars I feel proud; proud to be Canadian, proud of my friends and our troops and proud of our heritage. I also wonder who they are supporting, maybe they also have a loved one over there. Hmmm.
I'm not by any means pro-war, however neither am I ashamed to stand up and say I support my team. The ribbon means something to me, its not empty symbolism and its not to "shove something in someones face". It's not about politics or creation, Britain vs. America, etc etc.
My ribbons say "support our TROOPS". The "troops" are people, some pretty special people that I miss and love, and until they're all back home for good I'll have two ribbons on my car.
Wow - how can everyone get so uptight? It's a sentiment, like sending a get-well card! If someone cares to do it - leave them alone for pete's sake.
I guess if the Mayor or who-ever wants to allow the ambulances to continue to participate for awhile - so be it. In 10 years whose gonna remember anyways?
I can't remember who sent me a get-well card 10 years ago - but I remember it was nice to get one. Period.