Humans, Canines and Yellow Ribbons.

Over the last few decades, no single form of expression documented in the Archive of Folk Culture has stimulated more letters, more phone calls, and more in-person inquiries than the “Yellow Ribbon”

It was in 1870’s, a written agreement of a pledge by a worker not to join a union was commonly called as the ‘Infamous Document’. They were widely used in the United States and Great Britain which enabled employers to take legal actions against union organizers for encouraging workers to break these contracts.

The infamous document later started to be called as a “Yellow Dog” contract – because a dog is always loyal to its master. In the US the word ‘Mongrel’ was added, for sure it reduced the level of a man.

 

In 1932, Yellow-dog contracts were outlawed in the United States and later in Britain.


                           
                             
                                        Lady with a Yellow Ribbon  (American Artist circa-1900)

The origin of the idea of a ‘Yellow Ribbon’ as remembrance may have been the 19^th century practice that some women allegedly had of wearing a yellow ribbon in their hair to signify their devotion to a husband or sweetheart serving in the U.S. Cavalry.

“She Wore a Yellow Ribbon” is a popular U.S. military song that is used even today to keep 'Marching Cadence'.

This song is from a 1949 award winning ‘Technicolor Western’ film, the most expensive movie with a budget of $1.6 million at that time.

The story of “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon”...

After Custer and the 7^th Cavalry are wiped out by Indians, everyone expects the worst.  Captain Nathan Brittles (John Wayne) is ordered out on patrol but he’s also required to take along Abby Allshard (Mildred Natwick), wife of the Fort’s Commanding Officer, and her niece, the pretty Olivia Dandridge (Joanne Dru), who are being evacuated for their own safety.

Brittles is only a few days away from retirement and Olivia has caught the eye of two young officers in the Company, Lt. Flint Cohill and 2^nd Lt. Ross Pennel.

Olivia’s taken to wearing a Yellow Ribbon in her hair, a sign that she has a beau in the Cavalry, but refuses to say for whom she is wearing it.

                                                    Movie Theme from She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949)

Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree…

A song by Dawn, featuring Tony Orlando.

A worldwide hit song in 1973.  It topped number one in both US and UK for four weeks, seven weeks in Australia, and ten weeks in New Zealand

The song is told from the point of view of a prisoner who has completed his sentences but is uncertain if he will be welcomed home. He writes to his love asking her to tie a yellow ribbon around the ‘ole oak tree’ if she wants him to return to her life.

To his amazement, there are 100 yellow ribbons around the tree – a sign he is very much welcome.

                                                      Tie a Yellow Ribbon round the ole oak tree (With Lyrics)

Hanwell, West London:

Hanwell streets remain awash with yellow ribbons for 14 year old, Alice Gross, who was found dead on 30^th September.  While photos of Alice are being removed, the family have requested the Yellow Ribbons be kept up as a lasting symbol of solidarity.

Eccles, Greater Manchester:

You will find similar Yellow Ribbon tributes to hostage Alan Henning, who was beheaded by the Islamic State extremists in a video of 3^rd October.

                                                     Alan Henning's Yellow Ribbon

How did the Yellow Ribbon become such a powerful tool for uniting communities and is its meaning universal?

The Yellow Ribbon as it is used today stems from the unlikely 1973 hit song Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree and the 1979 US-Iranian hostage crisis.

It was Penne Laingen 82, wife of US hostage Bruce Laingen 92, who transformed the Yellow Ribbon meaning.

It was December 1979. There were some Iranian students in the streets protesting when some of American college students began throwing dog food at them.

A reporter asked Mrs Laingen, what she thought.

“I told her that it won’t help our hostages, and that we should teach the Iranians that you can’t protest on the streets without being harmed”, said Mrs. Laingen.

Inspired by the 1973 song, she suggested that they tie a Yellow Ribbon to nearby trees.

As the tributes show, this practice has crossed the Atlantic. Both in the US and the UK, Yellow Ribbons have become a more general symbol of support for soldiers fighting abroad.

The Yellow Ribbon in the west has always been a symbol of sorrow or empathy.

            Penne and Bruce Laingen with their yellow ribbon on a tree near their house.

Democracy Movements:

Around the world, the yellow ribbon has adapted further still in the Philippines, it is associated with former President Corazon Aquino,

While in South Korea it became famous for those who died in the Sewol ferry sinking. 

Recently, we seen it on the streets of Hong Kong as democracy protesters submerged the city.

                                                                               Hong Kong Protesters with Yellow Umbrellas

                                                            

When Penne Laingen was told about her simple movement for her husband has spread in every corner, she was touched and said:

“Isn’t that wonderful.  Really, it’s just about showing that people care about 
you”.



                                                                                                   The Yellow Dog Project ...

THE YELLOW DOG PROJECT:

Nature of Caring for each other…

We teach our children to live with kindness and respect. If they live with love and compassion, they learn how to love and be caring and compassionate. Caring entails feelings of concern and solicitude for each other.

It is time we humans took this a step forward to have the same compassion towards our four-legged friends.

Whenever dog bite accidents happen, the first one always blamed is the dog.  Is it really just to point fingers at all dogs, or people should take the blame?

Animal experts claim that dogs are just like humans, they have temperamental tendencies that once triggered they will react.  In the case of canines, they react by attacking or biting people.

Anyone who has ever had an infirmed, unsocial or elderly dog is going to love ‘The Yellow Dog Project’, a global movement has now made its mark in 45 countries.

Fans are calling it “Brilliant” and “The best thing to happen since the invention of the leash”.

The Purpose:

The Yellow sign of a ribbon on a leash or a bandana on a dog is to give dog owners the ability to signal when their dog needs space, allowing them to give their dogs a better chance of overcoming problems, and therefore a better standard of life.

Even small children can learn the meaning of the yellow marking.

                Yellow Bandana                                                     

                       Yellow Ribbon on Leash


                                                                                  T-shirt message...

Program to:

·         Give dog owners the possibility to take extra care of their dogs that are sensitive in any way.

·         Prevent unnecessary misunderstandings.

·         Give both dogs and their owners more space or time to move away from people and animals.

·         Create the possibility to slowly train a dog and by that make better training progress.

·         Make life easier for those dogs which for a shorter or a longer period in their lives, need more space from people and animals.

·         There are ‘Lots’ of reasons why some dogs need some more space.  They may be ill, hurt or may be just old.  They may have a new family or bad life experience and need a greater distance to slowly train to cope with their new surroundings.  A bitch may be in season.  Another dog may be having ‘everyday training’.

                                                 Bandana with a message...

o   Reasons a dog may need space:

o   Maybe it has health issues

o   It may be a rescue dog being rehabilated. The world can be very scary place for these dogs.

o   It may have had a bad experience with another dog or is just not like the kind of friendly dog.

o   A bitch may be in heat.

o   May be old and arthritic.

o   It may be very nervous or shy of other dogs which causes it to stress.

§  Visible, easy and affordable to use:

§  It’s visible from a distance.

§  It’s easy to use for everyone.

§  It’s cheap to use for everyone. You can buy ribbons or fabrics to make your own ribbons and bandanas, or you may have some yellow fabrics at home to use.

§  It works internationally.

§  It can be used as long-term or short-term.

§  A ribbon or bandana is easy to put on and off.

§  Even small children will easily learn the meaning of the yellow ribbon – keep away from the dog.

§  It can’t be misunderstood in those countries that are using yellow vests on working dogs, assistance dogs.

§  Common dog products are already found in different colors and are to be used for other reasons.

Never Punish Your Dog:

Punishing an aggressive dog will only make his/her reactions worse. A dog who goes through bad experience will always feel insecure. 

A dog who acts aggressively is only expressing its “Feeling of being scared and/or insecure”. They need ‘Space’ or ‘Distance’ as a need to protect him/herself and it is the responsibility of the owner to look into their insecure needs. 
It is very unfair to punish a dog who is already going through a rough patch.

Invest quality time with your pet, learn to work with him.

Act as a strong, calm, assertive clearly-defined pack leader to your pet. 
Your dog can sense it and will mirror you with trust.

Many in your community may not know the meaning of the Yellow Ribbon.
You can help spread the word as this is a community effort.
We cannot spread the word far enough without YOU.


Read more on facebook...

https://www.facebook.com/TheYellowDogProject?fref=ts