OPINION & EDITORIAL
Tragedy can’t be solved with ribbons
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Also by Sean Kittridge:
- Hybrid SUVs drive U.S. into hypocrisy (February 6, 2008)
- Drug incarceration rates real buzz kill (December 11, 2007)
- Stressed out? Current testing schedule unnecessary burden (November 28, 2007)
- Lady Justice turns blind eye (October 30, 2007)
- Al's inconvenient truth: Awareness not award-worthy (October 16, 2007)
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- UW: "Just do it" (November 4, 2003)
- A 'head' in advertising (January 27, 2005)
- U.S. government not entirely blameless (September 12, 2001)
- Casual initiations lead to serious acts (November 3, 2005)
by Sean Kittridge
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
We have long passed a time in American history when branding was meant only for cattle and fraternity pledges. In this golden age of marketing, the Cadillac represents class, the American flag symbolizes occasional liberty and the Nike swoosh is a testament to Malaysian stitch work. But somewhere along this cross-country sprint to slap a logo on anything that sparkles and effectively turn this nation into a mutant NASCAR, we appeared to step over a few lines. While I am more than willing to wear a “motion W” on every article of clothing I possess, there are simply some things people should not brand.
I’ve spent the last 10 minutes struggling to properly introduce the tragedy of the shootings at Northern Illinois University, but there is no easy way to do it. No easy way without some cutesy logo, that is.
We have developed a formula for dealing with a campus shooting, and we are perfecting it before a nation of cable news watchers and Internet users. The first step is to flood a town already busy in a state of panic with satellite vans and blonde reporters. Next, we interview those on the scene and happily replay their statements all night long, which typically range from “I ran” to “I ran like hell.” Later, we work to paint the shooter as an outsider and quietly debate among ourselves whether or not to sympathize with such a person.
And finally, we take a little piece of ribbon, throw the school symbol in front of it, hope the student body can find a sports team to rally around — if not for the kids, at least for the ESPN ratings — and wait for it to happen again. Lather, rinse, repeat.
Oh, but that thin strand of ribbon, how you’ve become a sight for sore eyes. I am an incredible fan of your work, and it’s nice to see this tumbling economy isn’t keeping everyone out of business. Back in 2001, you helped show me the importance of supporting my troops. Of course, the message you were really trying to get at was “support our president,” but even so, it was nice to see you take the place of Confederate flags and stickers of Calvin urinating on the back end of Ford trucks across the land. I could barely support myself, but you helped me understand the soldiers needed me, so I bought you and positioned you nicely on my Huffy.
After a couple years of lying idle, you made your return over in Blacksburg, Va., and it’s a day few people will forget. Luckily, we were able to soothe our national conscience by making you our Facebook pictures, ironing you onto the sleeves of our baseball jerseys and telling the rest of the world, “Hey, look! I care.” So what if I don’t really think gun control is a great idea? And what if I can’t say I really work to promote solidarity on my campus? I had a ribbon.
And now you’re showing up again. But you know what, buddy? I’m starting to forget why I liked you in the first place. I mean, you make me feel like I care, and you show other people what a good human being I am, but at the end of the day, I’m not really helping anyone. I’m just a boy with a ribbon. It’s almost as if you have become bigger than these events you’re supposed to represent. After all, it’s serious hard work to actually do something on my campus to help ensure a tragedy like the shootings in DeKalb won’t happen again. But you’re easy. And we like easy.
In no way am I trying to suggest that these are situations about which nobody cares. Events like the shootings at Virginia Tech and NIU have an overwhelming effect on their communities, and there are still many good people who work to make this country a better place. But calculated public outcry is an oxymoron, and the possibility of branding human emotion could result in a tragedy so great, not even a ribbon could save us.
Sean Kittridge (kittridge@wisc.edu) is a sophomore majoring in journalism.
Anonymous (February 20, 2008 @ 8:53am):
I don't think that anyone is trying to fix these situations by wearing a ribbon. Is it so bad to show support for one another by wearing a ribbon? If there is any good that can come out of these tragedies, it is the reminder to look out for our friends and classmates, and to unite to take care of one another. If a ribbon helps to remind us to do that, then that is wonderful.
Anonymous (February 20, 2008 @ 11:14am):
couldn't agree with you more...well written. Hey people, facebook pictures aren't enough. Write your congressman. Do something.
Anonymous (February 20, 2008 @ 12:37pm):
You're all wrong. Tragedy is solved with ribbons. That's the whole point.
Anonymous (February 20, 2008 @ 1:13pm):
Sean,
Cynical but true. Nice. Keep doing what yer doing.
Anonymous (February 20, 2008 @ 3:39pm):
Who?!? Who doesn't want to wear the ribbon?!?
Anonymous (February 20, 2008 @ 4:33pm):
Awesome article.
Anonymous (February 24, 2008 @ 7:35pm):
In response to February 20, 2008 @ 8:53am
The point isn't that the ribbons don't do something like remind us to watch out for each other, because if that's the case, fine. But the idea of the article is that the ONLY thing people do is put on a ribbon, slap it on their car, or make it their facebook picture, and that is not helping anyone. If we want things to change and we want these tragedies to stop happening we need to educate people and make new laws. We can all do a little something to bring about change, but wearing a little ribbon is simply not the answer.
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