There is no Democratic Party in Minnesota. Instead, we "Democratic Farm-Labor Party," or DFL. Yeah, they're basically Democrats, and are aligned with the National Democratic Party. But they work the words "farm" and "labor" in there like good little socialists, so I at least give them credit for being honest.

While driving yesterday, I noticed a car with an interesting magnet - it was a flag-colored ribbon, much like the ribbons used to "Support the Troops" -- except that this flag-colored ribbon said "DFL -- Schools" on it.

It's all fine and dandy if you want to go around making vague claims that you support "schools." Way to take a well defined, thought-out position there, station-wagon lady. You like schools. Woo hoo. Me too. Hey, I also have a favorable impression of roads, perhaps I can get a ribbon for that?

Just picture it: "Roads." (Perhaps next to an image of a road?)
How poignant.

I have to wonder, though - is this ribbon supposed to be making a not-so-subtle point of saying that the DFL supports schools at-the-expense-of the troops? As in "this is _my_ version of the ribbon you doo-doo heads, we should only spend our money on schools!"

Because if so, it's a fairly offensive magnet. Both the yellow ribbon and the flag-colored ribbon have a long and established symbolism in this country and in many others - they both mean "I support the soldiers." To alter that solely for the sake of making an unrelated political statement is low.

And it's not just making a statement, it's also a two-fold personal attack on people with a largely-unrelated opinion to the contrary. It's twofold because it's both an attack on someone's position on Troop Support, and also an attack on the fact that people have opinions on things not Schools-related.

These folks are, in effect, saying 'Hey you with your Support the Troops ribbons, you're idiots, why are you supporting the troops, you should be supporting this other cause instead. Check out my ribbon, it'll tell you a thing or two. see it? see? see?"

Why do you never see these people attacking other groups? "Kelly Clarkson fans, how can you waste your time and money so, Schools is where it's at! Schools! Schools!"

I'm not saying that people can't hold the opinion that the Iraq war was not in the country's best interests. And I'm certainly not saying that station-wagon drivers shouldn't be allowed to announce their undying love for all things "Schools," whatever in the world that may mean. But the alteration of a universally known and well-recognized symbol for that purpose is crossing the line, in my opinion.