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[ciroccoj]

Can somebody explain to me why I have the song "Tie a Yellow Ribbon" buzzing around my head incessantly? Not that I don't like it, but whaddup?

And does anybody know which came first, the song or the tradition of using yellow ribbons as a symbol for loved ones far away?

In other news, I'm slowly turning my Critical Race Theory Paper from red (outline, unpolished, notes to myself) to blue (written but needing editing for grammar, spelling, style, clarity, and flow).

PART I. The Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA): Origins
PART II. Crime And The Aboriginal Community
PART III. Research
PART III. The YCJA: The Theory
PART IV. YCJA: The Reality
PART V. Conclusion

Scary stats: A treaty Indian boy in Saskatchewan turning 16 in 1976 had a 70% chance of at least one stay in prison by the age of 25.

Examining the incarceration rate (per 100,000 youths age 12 to 17) in Canada and the United states reveals that Canada has an incarceration rate of roughly 1,046 while the US has an incarceration rate of roughly 775 per 100,000 youths age 12 to 17. (figures from 1997)

Comments

[daf9.livejournal.com]

Scary statistics for someone with several neices and nephews in or about to enter that age range - and they must be even more so for parents.

[jessebee.livejournal.com]

And does anybody know which came first, the song or the tradition of using yellow ribbons as a symbol for loved ones far away?

I don't know, but I can theorize, using the knowledge I have. ;-) The practice of tying ribbons is very, very old, going back at least to the Dark Ages period of Europe. It was, and in some places still is, common to see trees, frequently by sacred or revered well, which have have ribbons and shreds of fabric tied in the branches. These ribbons represent the wishes, hopes, and requests of those who leave them. They are sometimes referred to as prayer ribbons.

The color yellow has historically stood for happiness and joy and healing, among other things. So when these things are put together, the idea of a yellow ribbon for a missing loved one makes sense.

Fwiw....

[umbo.livejournal.com]

I always thought the genesis of the thing was the song, at least for as wide-spread as it is now. I don't remember hearing of any yellow ribbons going along with people in Viet Nam, for example.

[umbo.livejournal.com]

I googled, and I got this explanation (http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_008.html).