Say it with a ribbon and/or bracelet

Is there any sentiment that isn't best expressed via ribbon or bracelet? First there was the AIDS ribbon (red), followed quickly by the breast cancer ribbon (pink), the "remember 9/11" ribbon (red, white and blue) and the Support Our Troops ribbon (yellow). According to this web site, which claims to be the web's largest compendium of cause-based ribboning, there are ribbons to remember Matthew Shepard (blue) and Titanic victims (grayish -- perhaps the color of an iceberg?), for leukemia awareness (green) and chemical injury awareness (purple and yellow). There are ribbons in favor of Christian Rock (blue) and in celebration of Pagan Girls (lavendar).

There's even a ribbon against partial-birth abortion, though its pink and baby blue design could be easily confused with this ribbon in favor of Genital Integrity.

Yesterday, driving through Iowa City, I saw someone with a ribbon-shaped sticker on the back of their minivan that said "Spay and Neuter Your Pets." A few blocks later, I saw a purple ribbon that said "Save Dance." Perhaps there's some sort of Footloose-style controversy brewing?

Then there are the bracelets. The Lance Armstrong Live Strong bracelets were huge with the college kids, though I think I freaked out one of my students last year when I asked him how long he had to wear the thing. "I don't know," he said, suddenly looking very panicked. "Forever?! I have no idea!"

It wasn't long before there was a breast-cancer awareness bracelet (pink), then a yellow bracelet that just said "Hawkeyes" on it (for those who wanted the fashion statement of the bracelet without having to support a cause). There were even Drink Strong bracelets for idiot frat guys.

Now, apparently, you can wear bracelets for just about any cause on the color wheel: Gray for allergies, burgundy for Caesarian section and light blue/purple for irritable bowel syndrome.