Collegiate Times

Walk through any major store in any town in the U.S., and you will be convinced that as an individual you have a direct impact on your fellow American.

Walk through any major store and you will experience sensory overload: consumer products in bright, shiny colors, politely asking you to pull together a couple dollars with which to purchase a piece of happiness. Whether that happiness is meant for you to savor independently or to share with others  is up to you to decide.  

I cannot help but notice AA batteries on the shelf at Wal-Mart with the pink breast cancer ribbon on them. I think it is fantastic that organizations such the Breast Cancer Society are reaching out and collecting money for cancer research. They understand consumerist America and are now being sponsored by products in every aisle of the store to help raise donations.

Pink pots and pans, pink cell phone covers, pink bags of sugar, pink picture frames - all products that women of contemporary America want and would be happy to purchase, especially for a good cause.

Of course, pink is not the only color invading our pantries and closets.  Product Red, co-founded by U2's Bono, has gained support from major companies through their production of red cell phones, shoes, credit cards and more to help promote AIDS awareness and raise money for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Mostly, this organization relies on the high-profile promotion from big names such as Apple and Converse. While the anti-corporation activist in you may flare up at the thought, you cannot ignore the generosity and community involvement they are demonstrating.

The yellow ribbon is symbolic of many things, such as suicide prevention and testicular cancer awareness; however, we recognize it most as a sign of support and love for our military currently away from home.  Try walking down a row in any parking lot to find a yellow ribbon magnet.  

I bet it will not take long.  So many Americans feel deeply connected to this issue, whether they know someone overseas or were one of them at one time.  

Buying a ribbon allows them to show pride in their armed forces while they collectively pray for the soldiers to come home.  It is hard to ignore the symbolism of hundreds of thousands of yellow ribbons on the highways.

Environmental activism has claimed the color green as its spokesman.  It makes sense, too.  What better way to evoke naturalism than with the color that prevails over winter to bring us spring and new life?  "Green" light bulbs boast better energy efficiency, while "green" cars promote better air quality and gas mileage. Now companies are pushing "green" versions of their products, including clothes, electronics and paper goods. Saving the environment has become a lot cheaper by purchasing more efficient and cleaner products, thus giving more people a chance to make a difference.

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