Allow me to make myself clear – I am not in any way a proponent of breast cancer.
Breast cancer can be painful in more than one way, and it can be deadly. I haven’t known anyone personally who has suffered or succumbed to breast cancer, but I’ve known people with other cancers. I watched my uncle go through chemo for colon cancer. My grandfather recently beat esophageal cancer only to have it crop up in his lungs and liver. A coworker’s spouse was recently diagnosed with leukemia. I have myself had a touch of that all-too-common cervical cancer. The point being, there are other cancers.
I recognize that there was a reason the whole pink ribbon thing came about. Awareness is the first step and all that. But I would challenge any American to find a neighbor who doesn’t know what that pink ribbon represents. At this point, it has become crass commercialism. It’s like Valentine’s day or Christmas or Grandparents Day. Another excuse for people to buy a bunch of crap they probably don’t need to make themselves feel better about their own ugly lives for a few minutes. Only this is every day of the year.
Is all this pink stuff really helping to fight breast cancer? How much of the profit on that pink toaster is really going to research? Are we any closer to a cure now that nearly every consumable and most household appliances come in pink? If I had a house full of a bunch of pink shit, I’d want to get cancer, and fast.
The pink ribbon, like the yellow bracelet, was a great idea whose time has passed.
I am with you on this one.
It’s a shame that something that brings so much good to an organization is getting so streamlined that people are just using the ribbons and bracelets as just a fashion trend. How many of these little 16 year olds wearing pink and red bracelets really understand the meaning be hind it? How much money is being wasted on these products, which could be money going towards the actual cause? Sure, You pay big bucks for the pink Kitchenaid mixer, or 5 bucks at Aldo’s shoes for the AIDS bracelet, or 60 dollars on a t-shirt at the Gap where I doubt much of the proceeds are going to the RED campaign.
With all these high publicity charities, causes, and events, our country is missing out on some of the most important causes and devastation’s right in our own areas and homes.
I’m not trying to sound mean, sure, breast cancer is a horrible disease. But through so much research and care, they are finding more and more innovative ways to prevent and treat it.
What about our schools? I myself graduated from public high school with an absolutely terrible education system. The school is now ranked 3rd in the state for being the worst, and its sad where our education system is going.
With all the hype and big businesses backing these charities, why can’t they get behind other charities that are just as important, if not more.
This comment may have made no sense, I tend to go all over the place when I rant, lol.
Jacqueline from 180
Speaking of RED, my company had a fleeting opportunity to participate in that campaign, as most of our apparel manufacturing goes on in Africa. The point, I was given to believe, was to support the African economy and bring attention to the plight of the African countries. The funny thing is, if you go to Gap and check out the labels, at least half of the items are made in China. And I think we can all agree, China does not need Bono’s help for anything.
My friend Jen had breast cancer and HATES the color pink.
You are correct in your assumption that many of the “pink” type items do not raise money for the charity they are representing.
My brother has his masters in non-profit management and tells me all kinds of horror stories about certain “charities” like when you see “a portion of the profits”… Sometimes it is as low as a penny for every $1,000 BUT it is legal since they state “a portion”!
If you didn’t know or notice already, going “pink” has hit the grocery store aisles as well. I saw pink “Pink for the Cure” boxes of Hamburger Helper today at a local supermarket. It’s a little overwhelming, especially in a pyramid display.