Many people are accustomed to the pink awareness ribbon which is breast cancer awareness. But what about all those other ribbons that could use some much needed attention? Many of you may not have realized that there are actually 26 ribbons for various degrees of awareness or never really cared (like I used to), but you should because many of you may know a person, family member or friend who you should proudly wear or display these ribbons for. My main goal is to get this message out there so everyone can start seeing more ribbons instead of just the breast cancer ribbon.
The breast cancer ribbon is pink, which many of us know because it is proudly displayed on soup, cereal, yogurt, cars, and many other items. I am very happy that this ribbon is proudly displayed and we are making advances towards finding a cure for breast cancer, but I am also disappointed that other ribbons seem to be lingering in the shadows waiting to be discovered and displayed. So lets explore the other ribbons.
1. Pink- Breast cancer, but can also be a symbol for birth parents
2. Yellow- This is another more common one I have seen for supporting our troops, but it can mean other things as well. POW, suicide prevention, adoptive parents, amber alerts, and a yellow ribbon with a heart is used to show the surviviors left behind after a person has committed suicide.
3. Pale yellow- This is a symbol for spina bifida
4. Red- The most common meaning for this ribbon is AIDS or HIV, but like many it has other things associated with it. Heart disease, substance abuse,stroke, DARE, MADD,Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy and Epidermolysis Bullosa.
5. Burgundy- brain aneurysm, is worn upside down it can mean C section, hospice care, headaches, hemangioma,vascular malformation,William's syndrome,multiple myeloma,Antiphospholid Antibody Syndrome, Adults with disabilities, and Thrombophilia.
6. Purple- Most important for me is the awareness of Lupus, because my mom suffered from this disease, and the pain I have had with dealing with her death. This also stands for fibromyalgia, domestic violence, ADD, alzheimer's, animal abuse, religious tolerance, victims of 9/11 (which includes firefighters and policeman), Crohn's disease, cystic fibrosis, leimyosarcoma, and colitis.
7. Lavendar- This is the symbol for awareness of cancer and general. Also rett syndrome and epilepsy
8. Periwinkle- Eating disorders ( which most have had including myself or known a person with it) and also pulmonary hypertension
9. Blue- Child abuse, drunk driving, victims of hurricane Katrina, Osteogenesis Imperfecta, acute respiratory distress syndrome, dystonia, Education, alopecia, Save the Music, Epstein-Barr Virus, and I Love Clean Air/ILCA Campaign (Japan).
10. Dark Blue- arthritis, victim's rights, child abuse prevention, free speech, water safety and water quality.
11. Light Blue- Trisomy 18, scleroderma, and prostate cancer.
12. Teal- Cancers of the females organs (cervical and ovarian) uterine cancer, tsunami victims, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and sexual assault.
13. Green- Childhood depression, missing children, environment concerns, and kidney cancer ( there are a few more, but I am trying to focus on really important things)
14. Orange- mainly for leukemia, but also; humane treatment of animals, hunger, self injury awareness, and cultural diversity.
15. White- Innocence, violence against woman, victims of terriorism, peace, right to life, retinal blastoma, and bone cancer.
16. Pearl- emphysema, multiple sclerosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer.
17. Black- Mourning, gang prevention, and melanoma.
18. Grey- Asthma, diabetes, and brain cancer.
19. Silver- Children with disabilities, mental illnesses ( Bipolar, anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia), and Parkinson's disease.
20. Gold- Childhood cancer
21. Jigsaw Puzzle- Autism awareness
22. Lace- osteoporosis
23. Pink and Blue- stillborn, miscarriage, infant death which includes SIDS.
24. Flag- Can also be for 9/11 heroes and victims, patriotism, and I mainly see it for support our troops.
25. Rainbow- Gay pride, support for GLBT community and seeking equal rights.
26. Brown- anti-tobacco, and colon cancer.
Raising awareness only takes one person, this one person can spread the word, and then eventually everyone will catch on. Changing awareness or anything takes all of us, if we want to change the outcome we all must come together. Remember: Rock those Ribbons!!!
Wow. I had no idea there were so many! This was very informative.
I know of #23 - I wear my pink/blue ribbon in memory of my son, Christopher, who died August 7, 2008 in the womb, just four days before he was due.
I am so sorry to hear of your tragic loss. I can only hope your pain lessens as time goes on.
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Thank you so much. The pain has dulled, but I know its not going anywhere. What shocked me was, every second or third woman I spoke to told me it had happened to her as well. It seems that stillborn deaths are much, much more common than I had thought. But there is not much progress in determining why some of them happen and what can be done to prevent them.
I am sooo sorry as well he will always be with you spiritually. I am saying this from a spirtual stand point not religious, just wanted to make that clear. Once again that must have been hard, but he is still with you. That is a tragic thing to go through and I can't express how sorry I am.
Yeah I didn't realize there were so many ribbons either until I researched it.
http://www.progressiveu.org/043043-mom-i-can-finally-write-you-letter
Sorry to disappoint you, but I am voting for Lewis Black.
DrifterDani~
Thank you. :-)
What they need is a universal ribbon and then have what they stand for printed on it.
This is a great post, and I agree totally. There are so many issues out there, and it's hard to really know and realize that until you or someone you know is affected by it. A lot of that has to do with the fact that these aren't pretty things to deal with, they aren't things that you want. I know that I personally knew nothing of rape or sexual assault until it happened to me. Sure, I'd been told and instructed numerous times throughout the years on how to prevent it, taken self defense, never left a drink unattended. It's what they don't say, like the fact that 73% of rape victims know their assailants, that is important as well.
Thank you for posting this and making it available to more people.
I am so sorry you went through that. I hope he/she was punished.
Awareness is important. I think it's great that people who have been through difficult events can unite and bring awareness. Even with just a ribbon.
That's a LOT of ribbons. Whoa...
Last year I bought a ribbon for autism and it had a pattern on it of puzzle pieces. That was probably a groups individual choice and not the "official" symbol for autism, but it was still showing that someone donated to help kids with autism.
And nice new profile picture by the way. I really need to update mine one of these days...
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Mind Control is Easier Than You Think
That is a good thing you did Bridge! I think in the blog I have the one for autism, but it is hard to describe unless you display a picture of it. I believe it is the official symbol for autism.
Thanks about the picture, My other picture was 4 years old I was very reluctant to put this new one on here, because I look so different. That would be cool if you found the time to update yours also!
http://www.progressiveu.org/043043-mom-i-can-finally-write-you-letter
Sorry to disappoint you, but I am voting for Lewis Black.
DrifterDani~
Puzzle pieces does seem right to represent autism, doesn't it? Even if it wasn't official.
Yeah, I like the new picture. I'm still hesitant to put a real picture of me because of underlying paranoia of Internet stalkers...and maybe some slight issues with the way I look. I don't pose all cool for cameras like other people do. I just smile and think, "When is this going to be over?"
Who knows? Maybe I'll get brave and use one of the pictures I had taken of me for a project last year. I don't completely hate those...
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Mind Control is Easier Than You Think
I think it represents it well. From what I read it seemed official.
I haven't recieved any internet stalkers..so I am sure you will be fine. Have some confidence in yourself..I really don't like the way I look either but I just said screw it.
I am also like that. My mom used to love to take pictures and all I wanted to do is get it over with. This new picture is very new if you can tell I have my nose pierced and I got that done in july and I believe I took the picture in sept or something like that. I felt like I was deceiving everyone by keeping a 4 year old picture on there.
You should put up a picture of yourself I bet you are pretty don't worry what people think!
http://www.progressiveu.org/043043-mom-i-can-finally-write-you-letter
Sorry to disappoint you, but I am voting for Lewis Black.
DrifterDani~
I'm so glad to see someone bring this to the attention of so many others. A lot of people are only aware of breast cancer and prostate cancer (the ones most discussed).
I am aware of many of the ribbons for many reasons. I support the pink ribbon because I know many with breast cancer (I even have a "Save The Ta-tas" shirt).
I have a yellow ribbon on my car because I support our troops and Amber Alert. Since Amber Alert came about it has saved so many children.
We have a burgundy ribbon in our home because my mother has a disabiltiy.
I was given a candle with a purple and dark blue ribon on it because I am a survivor of domestic violence. I also support the purple ribbon because of animal abuse...I'm totally against it. My dark blue ribbon is for child abuse...I know so many children who have died from it and go through it.
The brown ribbon is for my great grandmother who died with colon cancer.
I haven't yet had time to get ribbons together.
I am glad you are a survivor of domestic violence and I am so sorry you had to go through it.
I want to get a purple ribbon because my mom died and she had lupus.
And that T-shirt sounds awesome!
http://www.progressiveu.org/043043-mom-i-can-finally-write-you-letter
Sorry to disappoint you, but I am voting for Lewis Black.
DrifterDani~