Editor:

    The symbolism of the yellow ribbons displayed in a
community is a fairly recent development. It started during World War
II, not the Civil War, as many believe. According to the information I
found, it is a symbol displayed by individuals or communities that have
sons or daughters serving in harm’s way. It is simply a reminder to all
in a community there are neighbors serving on your behalf and please
remember them in your thoughts and prayers. Typically, these ribbons
are to remain until those sons and daughters return.

    Nowhere in any of these explanations was there
mention that they also stand as a symbol of your support for Bush and
Cheney or the Iraq War. Nowhere was there a mention that the ribbons
were a call to arms for anyone with a liberal point of view to ask
others to tarnish their benign symbol for your neighbors serving. No
instructions were given to display some opposing political propaganda
alongside the yellow ribbons.

    The letter [in the July 27 Sentry] “What color will
your ribbon be?” was shocking to me. It was written to convey a great
miscarriage of justice being perpetrated by the city council on an
uninformed public. The comparisons made were ridiculous. Incidentally,
the wording of the ordinance as published by the Sentry states, at the
end, “provided that this shall not be construed to prevent any public
official from doing so for any public purpose.” It seems to me that if
the city council had any courage at all, they could use this clause to
end this debate and leave the ribbons up.

    Where was the outrage from these editorial writers
when the city council was wasting our time and tax dollars to discuss
and vote if South Portland was going to pass a resolution to oppose the
Iraq war or not? It was meaningless. I don’t expect my taxes to go to a
city council that takes time and energy to debate and vote on something
not in their control or sphere of influence. Leave the public-funded
debate and votes to the branch of the federal government that is
charged to deal with it. Apparently, no one thought that was a
miscarriage of justice perpetrated by the city council.

    For once, I must agree with the city council on
their decision to do nothing– Linda Boudreau’s challenge to citizens to
rip the ribbons down not withstanding.

    I did not know Angel Rosa or Jason Swiger. I wish I
had. There are two families in this community grieving for their sons.
I am sure that amid that grief, they must also feel great pride. I know
I do when I see those ribbons. Not because of my politics or because I
feel the war is right or wrong, but because two of my neighbors that
I’ll never get to meet and many more that I hope I’ll get to meet are
giving everything they have to defend my country and my family. That
may sound like an overused cliché to anyone who gets angry when they
see the ribbons still up, but to them I say, “get over yourselves.”
There are plenty of venues to express your liberal point of views and
blind hatred of Bush. Please don’t smear or cheapen the memories of
your fallen neighbors and those still there simply to convey a
political view that has already been expressed ad-nausea.

    I am not asking anyone to amend or change their
views, just don’t hijack this small symbol of support for our troops,
and more importantly, our neighbors. These yellow ribbons are not
hurting anyone. They are only offensive if you choose for them to be
because you feel they imply some political statement. Be bigger than
that and express your views another way.

    I never thought I would say it, but to the city
council, “please continue to do nothing.” The color of my ribbon will
continue to be yellow. I hope yours will be too.

Sterling Kierstead

South Portland