C_Fox's Blog

I know I'm going to get flak from this post, but it's mine and I'm going to say what I think.

What is it with people that feel the need to put up signs in public to express their personal opinions?

Ride down the highways and by-ways and guaranteed you'll see some kind of 'memorial' to some kind of issue; they'll be crosses and flowers planted into the ground at the location where someone was killed in an accident.  There'll be yellow ribbons hanging from trees.  There'll be graffiti sprayed on buildings and bridge overpasses.  There'll be political signs stuck in someone's yard.  They'll be balloons attached to trees along with direction arrows leading the way for a quarter mile.  When you come off an exit ramp, they'll be organizations and club symbols lined up so that you can't miss them.  There will also be yellow ribbon stickers on just about everyone's car.  We are turning into a nation addicted to symbolism and signs!

Where did this all start?  It didn't use to be this way. What does this all accomplish?  Isn't it better to put our efforts into sending cards and gifts to soldiers?  I'm pretty sure everyone State-side KNOWS we support our troops when they are at war.  You don't have to tell me that with your sticker or your homemade flag.  So what is it? 

It almost seems to me that its a self-serving act.  A "Look at me!  I support the troops and here's my proof!  Aren't I wonderful?"

And, the crosses along the roads.  I don't need to be reminded daily of someone's loss....but, THEY need to remind me, because they somehow can not accept it or get past it...and we will have to bear that cross along with them.  We all lose loved ones eventually, myself included, but are we suppose to make our feelings of loss a permanent reminder by sticking up signs on the sides of the road?  We have cemeteries for a place to memorialize someone.

What about yardsale signs and political signs in practically every house's front yard these days?  Half of them never get taken down or retrieved from the trees and telephone poles, and turn into nothing more than an eyesore after a while. 

I've never bought a 'yellow ribbon' sticker.  Why?  Because the only one who was really benefitting from it was the people who sold them.  I'm not going to pay Shop-Smart or ABC Printing Co., to let everyone else know I support our military.  I'm an American patriot, and that should be a 'given' if you live in the U.S. of A., right?  People will use anything...death, war...anything to make money.  They aren't getting mine!

Look at the site of the WTC!  They are now having to raise money to build a memorial to accommodate people's loss so the flowers, pictures, etc., don't over-flow into the roads.  (But, little do they know...they'll be leaving those things at the 'new' memorial site, too.)

Also, let's not forget graduation sheet signs!  We have to advertise our child made it through H.S., right?

Where's this all going to end?  Or is our landscape going to end up looking like a city dump with ripped plastics, torn papers, broken signs, faded flowers, dirty objects all littering the grounds, buildings, and bridges?

The only thing I want to see flying in the breeze is the American Flag!...and we sure have an abundance of those, too.  I have come to find out that because of strict sign laws in my hometown, many flags are flying for a dual-purpose...mostly to attract attention to a business establishment.  I counted fifteen in a one mile distance one day, riding down a main road.  Some were on public property, some on private, but almost always at business sites.  (I do get annoyed when I see flags faded, ripped or improperly hung.  Or left out in the rain hanging limp and 'lifeless'.  And, I believe if you are going to leave a flag up during the night, it is suppose to be high-lighted with a floodlight, otherwise you are suppose to take it down at dusk. 

Maybe I should put a sign up to let everyone know how I feel?