I never have understood about the yellow ribbon thing, either. Remember, the song was not about hostages, not about soldiers, but about a common criminal who was returning home from prison, and wanted to know if his girl was still waiting for him. I sorta liked the song, although I think you accurately described it as silly. But there is no equivalence between the sentiments or situation described in the song and those people associate with it today. It is too passive a symbol for America.
And yellow is the color of cowardice. It's a good color for liberals, too.
oooh --- yellow states...I like how you think!
The song was about someone waiting for a man who'd been through a lot, changed very much as a person and away for a long time. It was powerful. This had much to do with yellow ribbons being used for Iran hostages in 1979.
But there was also the old US Army basic training song:
Around her neck she wore a yellow ribbon
She wore it in the springtime
And in the month of May
And if you ask me why the heck she wore it
She wore it for her soldier who was far far away
Far away, far away
She wore it for her soldier
Who was far, far away
Around the block she pushed a baby carriage
She pushed it in the springtime
And in the month of May
And if you ask me why the heck she pushed it
She pushed it for her soldier who was far far away
Far away, far away
She pushed it for her soldier
Who was far, far away
Behind the door her daddy kept a shotgun
He kept it in the springtime
And in the month of May
And if you ask me why the heck he kept it
He kept it for her soldier who was far far away
Far away, far away
He kept it for her soldier
Who was far, far away
I've been railing against yellow ribbons in these circumstances for years. You may have come across my urging that we "fly the flag, flush the yellow." Or my, "We won't mourn our way to victory."
It's gratifying to learn this century's combination of Mark Twain and HL Mencken is on the same page as I.