June 21, 2006
Ribbon
While we're on a sign roll, as an American Patriot, I am always eager to document the latest magnetic car ribbon for posterity. I am also distressingly myopic. I can definitely see the big stuff, like pedestrians, but I can't always read a bumper sticker.
I was following a van the other day with two magnetic ribbons on it's behind, one a Support our Troops, which had faded to pink and baby blue, and a new one. Aha!! I recklessly chased the van, camera poised, until I could get close enough to shoot the mystery message.
For the five minutes that I was hot on the trail trying to bring the ribbon into focus, I thought it said, "Herpes Live Forever". What a message. That van owner, I thought, is on the cutting edge -- bringing a shameful subject into the light. Displaying his or her affliction openly as a support and caution to others.
It's true, genital herpes live forever, and it is epidemic -- one in five American adults have it. In my day, I have known a number of people who have contracted the disease, and have had to deal with the shame, (particularly if they are single and must disclose to every potential partner) discomfort, and long term consequences (inadvertently passing it on to a spouse after many years of a monogamous partnership, having to have a C-Section to avoid exposing a baby). It's traumatic.
As I drew close enough to shoot, I realized that the ribbon said, "Heros Live Forever". Oh. Maybe. Bet the kind of hero to whom they're referring, actually has a good chance of being blown to smithereens. Dead, not alive. In my opinion, not one American soldier should have been required to act heroically in this trumped up war about greed and power, its the architects behave heroically by sitting smugly behind their desks, showing us their determination and fortitude. I'm waiting for the Swift Boat Veterans to complain.
Herpes Live Forever, on the other hand -- now there's a truth. You can imagine my disappointment when I focused enough to see "hero".
It's catchy though. I think I may have some magnetic "Herpes Live Forever" ribbons printed. I can hit parking lots and affix one to every fifth car.
Photo note: I made the picture teeny tiny, so that you could imagine how I could make this mistake.
Field Guide to magnetic ribbons
Posted by Dakota at June 21, 2006 06:58 AM