Sometimes I have to ponder a question because I've forgotten that there's a simple rule that resolves that question. I search for answers when there's a formula that would give me the solution easily. In this case the rule is: never attribute to reason that which could also be attributed to stupidity. The rule came into play when I was driving home and saw a bumper sicker with a picture of a ribbon painted like the United States flag.
Ribbons are all the rage now and people seem to have them for everything. In fact, their popularity has been a problem since there are limited useful colors and limitless problems for which a ribbon might be designated. For instance, I'm pretty sure a yellow ribbon signifies "support our troops" but also "fight cancer". Mixing up the meanings can be disastrous. The eye being what it is and color discrimination being difficult at a distance you can't really go with lemon for one cause and goldenrod for another, but here's one that uses multiple colors (and without employing a plaid!); a red white and blue ribbon, representing patriotism and respect for the good ol' USA.
But here's where I begin to ponder; here's where I needed to remember the rule. Isn't there already an icon with red white and blue and stars and stripes that means all those things? Isn't that what the flag is for? Why create a ribbon that represents the flag that represents the United States? Is the second level of abstraction important? Is the flag too revered to be mounted on a car bumper that might eventually be run into or catch fire? Should I refrain from pointing directly at the flag or referring to it in conversation? Is this level of abstraction a form of respect?
Then I remember the rule. Nope, there is nothing intelligent implied by the use of a ribbon to represent the flag that represents the USA. It's just that a bunch of people have some kind of patriotic consumeritis and they end up buying a bumper sticker with a picture of a ribbon of a drawing of a flag that represents the country. I'm not sure how much more abstract you could go. Maybe if it were a picture of the reflection of the ribbon in a mirror. Or maybe the URL for the website www.StaringAtTheReflectionOfABumperStickerOfARibbonPaintedLikeTheFlagOfTheUS.com and some young man, eyes filled with emotion, saluting that URL. It makes one abstractly patriotic just thinking about it.