A ribbon for your thoughts

While on Facebook today, I noticed that my friend, Fabio Comellini, posted an image of a black ribbon in memory of the victims of the earthquakes in central Italy. Currently, former classmates of mine are spending the semester at the Rome Study Center and, of course, our dear friends live in Rome. One couple even owns a mountain home in the Appenines about halfway between Rome and the epicenter near L'Aquila. As one who recently donned a hardhat to deal with melting ice shards dropping from the trees, I cannot begin to imagine the horror of ancient buildings falling to the ground, let alone on one's head. It would appear that the Italians have chosen the image of a black ribbon to express their solidarity with their fallen countrymen. Sadly, it is an image that evokes a strong reaction in Americans, and I hadn't realized until Fabio posted the picture that ribbons have acquired international significance as an icon.


My own recollection as to the origin of the ribbon's iconography goes back to the days of the Iranian hostages and to the song made famous by Tony Orlando and Dawn, "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree." To test that theory I went to the internet and found the following site which provides greater discussion on the origins of the significance of the yellow ribbon: http://www.loc.gov/folklife/ribbons/ribbons.html. Having been around for a while, long enough to remember both Watergate and the Iran Crisis, I wasn't surprised to see that the symbol was adopted during the Gulf War(s). Nowadays magnetic versions of the yellow ribbon often appear on American bumpers as a show of support for our veterans.


Yellow isn't the only color in use. In America you can find red ribbons at the Academy Awards and on cereal boxes. Although the color is the same, the significance differs according to context. Red ribbons at the Academy Awards recall those who have lost their lives to AIDS. The red ribbon on my Kellogg's Smart Start cereal is in support of healthy hearts.



Later this month we'll see a plethora of pink ribbons in support of breast cancer survivors. In fact, I'll be walking with Roberta, herself a survivor, in the 1-K Komen Walk for the Cure at the end of the month.



While I have never lived in L'Aguila or Onna, I have lived as a Roman for a total of half of a year. So in a sense the earthquake victims are also my countrymen. I am moved by the black ribbon, especially as the somber days of Holy Week approach. The state funeral for the earthquake victims will be held on Friday, Good Friday. May they rest in peace.

P.S. While watching the evening news last night, the reporter commented on how the wife of Capt. Richard Phillips has tied yellow ribbons to their picket fence and trees at home. Capt. Phillips is currently being held hostage at sea.