People Yearning To See Red
By Mitch Berg
ApplePieMom is the mother of a recently-deployed serviceman, and the proprietor of a new, eponymous, blog that is probably already on Janet Napolitano’s watch list.
And she wants to see red on Friday:
Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing red every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called red-blooded Americans, and are also acknowledged as the “silent” majority. While we receive precious little media coverage that gives voice to this position, we are showing our love for our troops, our country and our homeland in record breaking numbers. When asking a soldier, “What can we do to make things better for you?” the first answer is, “We need your support and your prayers.” Americans, like you, me, and many of our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of us want to offer this support. Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops, starts this Friday by wearing something red and continues each and every Friday, sending a visual message that they may see or hear about overseas.
I suppose it’s more tactful than a “kill ’em all and let G-d sort ’em out” T-shirt.
Please help me get the word out: if every one of us will share this message with acquaintances, co-workers, friends, and family, I have no doubt it will not be long before the USA is covered in red on Fridays. It will let our troops know the “silent” majority is on their side more than they realize. Let’s lead this visual effort, silently, respectfully, and with dignity, just by wearing something RED FRIDAY.
Count me in.
April 21st, 2009 at 7:04 am
ApplePieMom didn’t invent it. It’s called “waving the bloody shirt.” It’s a Republican tactic that dates back more than a century.
Beats teabagging, I suppose.
April 21st, 2009 at 8:34 am
‘Waving the bloody shirt’ wasn’t a metaphor when the Republicans did it after the Civil War, Angry Clown. Besides, those were the radical republicans, the ones you like, who imposed Reconstruction on the one-time Confederate states. But not Missouri, because Missouri was never a confederate state.
April 21st, 2009 at 9:14 am
why do people write G-d and not God? I’ve seen it before and always wondered. Like it’s a swear word or something.
April 21st, 2009 at 9:23 am
“why do people write G-d and not God?”
Yeah, like that. Mitch?
April 21st, 2009 at 9:31 am
This is not particularly new.
It was circulating through the internet and through more traditional paper newsletters for a number of years; people have been wearing Friday blue, not red, in solidarity with our troops overseas, in harm’s way.
The blue was not a political statement; it was completely non-partisan, symbolic of fidelity / keeping faith. I applaud ApplePieMom’s support of the idea of supporting our troops in this visible way; I am less keen on the idea of trying to bogart the notion of supporting our armed forces on behalf of other agendas.
There are people from across the spectrum of political views who support our troops, and not just silently. To try to make this divisive, by linking the support to a political agenda does a disservice to those troops — who also reflect a spectrum of views.
We seem to be covering the spectrum of primary colors – the yellow ribbon decals marking the wait for those who are away; the blue and red clothing. I will happily promote solidarity with the troops; with those who want to hijack their service to support other agendas, not so much.
April 21st, 2009 at 9:32 am
Mitch Berg? He spells it G-D because he is yekke.
April 21st, 2009 at 10:03 am
Good comment, Dog Bone.
On the “G-d” question, here’s a source you wackos can respect:
http://www.gunownersalliance.com/Rabbi_0206.htm
April 21st, 2009 at 11:47 am
Sixth Commandment.
And isn’t Yekke the former state Ed commissioner? I forget.
April 21st, 2009 at 12:25 pm
AssClown inaccurately reminisced: It’s called “waving the bloody shirt.”
AssClown confused ““waving the bloody shirt” with his father “waving the bloody BVD’s”; an old AssClown family tradition.
April 21st, 2009 at 12:39 pm
was that an answer to my question? IDK. Going over my head again, I guesss. :-/
April 21st, 2009 at 1:07 pm
re: “G-d” – yep, what Rabbi said. AC – even a blind squirrel like you can come up with a grain of truth once in a while!
April 21st, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Sixth Commandment.
Then shouldn’t it be Y***H?
April 21st, 2009 at 4:15 pm
And it matters to anyone precisely why?
April 21st, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Yekke is non-derogatory Yiddish term for a German Jew who was punctilious about following the Law.
You may not believe this, but sometimes my humor falls flat. Too cool for the room, I guess.
April 22nd, 2009 at 7:07 am
You know what, wingnuts? I think this is a great idea. Don’t launch it this week – you need some more time to spread the word. Next Friday is perfect. Friday, May 1. A lovely MAY DAY – easy to remember, the start of the month. Just the day for you kooks to proclaim to the world: “I’M A RED-blooded American who supports the the troops.”
But why stop with red shirts? How about a parade with red flags to launch the campaign? You could even include pictures symbolizing the far-right’s commitment to working people. A hammer to symbolize blue-collar workers and maybe something else to symbolize farmers. Haven’t quite worked that one out yet, but I’m sure you’ll come up with something appropriate.
Couldn’t be worse than that teabagging thing.
April 23rd, 2009 at 9:34 am
Terry, I got the reference to Yekke. Might help next time to elaborate on the less mainstream references.
For what it is worth, there was at least one chuckle.
April 24th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
What is “worse than that” 1st Amendment right to free speech, AssClown?
Please don’t bother with another idiotic reponse.