May

12

The Meaning of Yard Signs

Filed Under Books and Culture 

I have been noticing yard signs lately. I realize that they have been around since the long run up to Iraq but recently I have found myself thinking about them again. Herewith some quick analysis of a couple of different signs:
- The sign that first caught my attention was “Wage Peace.” I found this vague and unhelpful and not just because I supported military action in Iraq. The problem I have with this sentiment is that is obviously motivated in opposition to military action (i.e. “Wage war”) and yet it lack clarity or specificity. It simply raises all the difficult questions. It simply begs the question how do you “wage peace.” Many supporters of our action in Iraq in fact saw what they were doing as waging peace; taking steps that would lead to a better more peaceful situation. This flippant sign is not really an argument rather it expresses a sentiment and sends a signal about the person who staked it. Those who post the sign I am sure see themselves as rebelling against the rest of society who tend to instinctively support the president and the troops in the field. This sign says I have a different opinion and attempts to re-take the moral ground by promoting peace.
- This leads us to our next sign: “peace is patriotic.” Again this sign is overly-vague and unhelpful. First peace is hard to define. Do you mean simply a lack of military violence or a cessation of hostilities? The most obvious contradiction would come if your country was attacked directly and was in a state of war. Peace would not necessarily be patriotic in that case; in fact promoting peace, if it meant surrendering to the enemy, might in fact be treasonous. Again this sign ignores the hard questions. It simply asserts that peace is good and patriotic regardless of circumstances. It doesn’t seek to balance national interests with values or weigh the benefits of acting now to insure later. Again this sign is really saying that I can be patriotic and disagree.
- The political statement on the other side of this issue is captured by the “Another family supporting President Bush and out troops” sign. This is obviously an attempt to link what you see as a good idea (support for our troops risking their lives) with our current president. Republican parties across the country are passing out these sign because they want to connect their party leader with a popular cause: the troops. I suppose this is fair to a degree, after all if the minority party can castigate the president for his actions in leading the country to military action in Iraq then the majority party can try and take the credit for the obvious skill and valor of the American military. On the other hand it leaves unsaid that one can obviously support and encourage the brave men and women in the filed without wishing political success to President Bush. A little politicization of the troops but pretty common and relatively harmless.
- Last but not least is the sign I find the most straightforward: “We Support Our Troops.” This seems clear cut and relatively apolitical. Their is a long tradition of tempering ones criticism once the troops are in the field. You can argue heatedly and earnestly about what strategy to follow militarily but once troops are committed we rally round the troops and seek only their success and safe return. It doesn’t attempt to input the moral high ground or political success to one side of the other but rather supports those in harms way. It leaves aside the arguments about peace and patriotism, about politics and morality, and concentrates on human beings. This is the sign for mothers and fathers, siblings and cousins; neighbors and friends. If I had to guess I would say this is the sign for those who aren’t intent on making a cultural or political statement but who just want the military to know that the people back home believe in them and respect what they do for their country.

So what sign do I have in my yard? None of the above. What does that say about me? I am not sure but if I had to guess I would say laziness . . .

Useful Tools:
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • TwitThis
  • Digg
  • Google
  • StumbleUpon
  • Print this article!
  • E-mail this story to a friend!
  • LinkedIn
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • Technorati

Comments

One Response to “The Meaning of Yard Signs”

  1. Len Durst on October 13th, 2003 7:55 pm

    I love the “We Support Pr4esident Bush and Our Troops.

    We are at war with the terrorit, and Amerian Troops are dying, yet the Ant-American politicians are not supporting our president or our troops.

Leave a Reply