Ribbon comments hardly un-American

EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK

They are elected to question. It is their job to accept comments,

questions and even criticisms as elected officials.

But when do criticisms cross the line to harassment?

At last week’s City Council meeting, Councilwoman Debbie Cook

questioned a resolution that would string yellow ribbons in support

of U.S. troops all over the city and tie them on every city vehicle.

She asked how long they would stay up, what would happen when they

became tattered, would it be politically impossible to ever take them

down, and would this not open the door to every group wishing to

cover the city in ribbons representing their cause.

Since asking those very good questions and saying that she thought

there were better, more productive ways to support the troops, Cook

has received dozens upon dozens of hate e-mails prompted by the Young

Americans for Freedom, the ultraconservative group behind the

campaign.

They are blasting her for being un-American and a [expletive

deleted] liberal.

A liberal she may be -- and she probably wasn’t offended as the

writer intended -- but she did nothing un-American.

Shame on those people who are using patriotism to further their

own cause and attack another person for having a varying opinion,

which is what America is founded on.

There are few more patriotic than I. I have shared my humble

beginnings in Concord, Mass. on April 19 (Patriots Day) in this

column before, and how I suspect growing up in an area steeped in our

nation’s history, not to mention being the daughter of a Minuteman,

all played a part in this patriotism.

And yet, as a logical, reasoning person, I found myself last week

agreeing with many of Cook’s “un-American” points.

I continue to be disgusted by cars and homes that sport tattered

American flags in the wake of the post-Sept. 11 patriotism. These

yellow ribbons would undoubtedly become an eyesore as they fall into

the same neglect. Councilman Gil Coerper, who brought the motion

forward, at the behest of this right-wing group, and not his son --

wishes the yellow ribbons to stay for at least two years.

And it will absolutely become politically impossible to take them

down. When are we going to stop supporting our troops? Never, I hope.

Finally, what about other causes? What about the pink ribbons that

honor breast cancer survivors and support those fighting the disease?

What about red ribbons supporting those fighting for their lives

against the incurable AIDS epidemic that were so prevalent in the

past, but now seem forgotten, despite the continuing spread of the

disease? Is the city to say no if they come forward asking for equal

space on our city light poles and car antennas? Or should we just

coat the city in every color ribbon?

I certainly did not agree with all Cook’s points. I do not see

yellow ribbons as pro-war.

But whether you agree with Cook’s point of view on yellow ribbons,

she is doing her job as an elected official by questioning things.

Better that than being a bobble head doll and just agreeing with

something blindly because it would be politically unpopular to

question it.

* DANETTE GOULET is the city editor. She can be reached at (714)

965-7170 or by e-mail at danette.goulet@latimes.com.