PAULA WHYMAN
curiouswriter

In which we wonder about writing, food, music,  
& random curious events. 

Or are you numb to the profusion of yellow, red, pink, rainbow, purple, etc., ribbons trumpeting support and sympathy for a seemingly limitless number of groups and causes? Has the ribbon’s ubiquity rendered it meaningless? And was it somehow more sincere when it was an actual ribbon and not a magnetic facsimile? In the great American tradition of taking a good idea, building it to its zenith, and then beating it into the ground until it’s a sad caricature of itself (cf, Michael Jackson), does the sight of a ribbon (magnetic or not) still engender reflexive sympathy or merely a reflexive eye-roll?

Has the ribbon jumped the shark?

As best as anyone can determine, the ribbon as a symbol was first mentioned in a folktale about a convict released from prison. The story goes that the man’s family couldn’t afford the long journey to visit him in prison. When he was ready to be released, in order to know where he stood with them, he wrote and asked them to leave a sign, a single ribbon, if he was still welcome at home. As his train pulls into the station, he sees a tree filled with ribbons.

Before you sigh and brush away a tear, recall that this guy was in jail for a crime, not held hostage against his will for doing nothing wrong. The message being, transgression can be forgiven, love conquers all, etc., etc. All well and good, and we wouldn't want it any other way. (Though I can’t help wondering what the guy did, because, like, that would have some bearing on whether he really deserved to be forgiven...)

Meanwhile, the song that popularized the original ribbon story was recorded by Tony Orlando and Dawn back in 1973. Tie a Yellow Ribbon became the number one single that year, and when the album was released, it also went to number one. The album spent over 5 months on the charts, and sold more than 7 million copies. Cover versions were cut by more than 100 other artists. Tony Orlando and Dawn performed together until July 1977, when Orlando shocked the audience (and his back-up singers) by announcing his retirement. (He then broke down on stage and was hospitalized.)

In 1979, the Americans were taken hostage in Iran. In December of that year, Penne Laingen, the wife of hostage Bruce Laingen, hit on a brilliant way to raise awareness of the daily plight of the hostages. Inspired by the popular song, she posted a large yellow ribbon on a tree outside her home.

The ribbon symbol was taken up by humanitarian organizations, and 10,000 yellow ribbon pins were manufactured and delivered to union members, college students, members of hostages’ families…and TV weather forecasters. Throughout 1980, the ribbon grew to a national symbol of remembrance and reflected Americans’ continued determination to see the hostages released. The ribbon story was reinvented, the meaning of the symbol continued to evolve.

The song, as performed by Tony Orlando and Dawn, was revived during the hostage crisis because of the promotion of the yellow ribbon symbol and quickly became an anthem for remembrance of the hostages. The day of their release, January 20, 1981, it was played on radio stations across the country.

Now, the symbol has evolved again to include remembrance of soldiers sent to war, and awareness of the chronically and/​or terminally ill, sexual orientation, research into chronic or terminal illnesses, and developmental disorders. Does the ribbon work because it’s instantly recognizable, or would these causes be better served by different symbols? Is it time for a new symbol? If you can think of one, post it on the Blog.

My novel is set in 1980, and in my research I was reminded of some interesting events I thought I'd mention here. This section will change frequently.