Upfront
Blue Ribbon For Awareness
November 17, 1999. Primarily on PPML there has been much traffic on CaP CURE's recently announced blue ribbon as our "official" symbol, with many decrying this in favor of the PCa Awareness Stamp pins.
For openers, I would like to point out that these two are not mutually exclusive. It has already been pointed out that the stamp pin is temporary as it is tied to the life of the stamp, which as a commemorative is a max of 2 years. Others have claimed that they can't even remember what color the BCa ribbon is, much less what ours should be according to CaP CURE.
But what I'm seeing here are the usual combatative stances, bickering, and divisiveness that characterizes the PCa annointed. And therein, one and all, lies the basis of our failure to be anywhere near as successful in promoting PCa awareness as the ladies have been in promoting BCa awareness.
I recently read somewhere that men are confrontational while women tend to be collaborative. And when I read it, I said to myself, that is for sure!
We would rather argue over how many symbols will fit on the head of a pin than address the promotion of PCa awareness. And for those who decry promoting PCa awareness in favor of running out and getting a cure, I would suggest that they consider this: IF a cure were found tomorrow, we would still lose men needlessly to PCa unless we raise the level of PCa awareness and get men evaluated for PCa.
I think we all can recognize that the ladies of BCa are extremely successful in promoting their cause at every opportunity. And I believe it is obvious that the level of their research funding is several times greater than ours.
How they did this, and continue to do this, is no mystery. They prepare themselves thoroughly, have dedicated leadership, are unified, and have one helluva attitude.
We men, on the other hand, hardly know anything about our PCa predicament, have no leader(s), would rather bicker than unite, and exhibit a short attention span and extreme indolence whenever the subject of PCa awareness comes up.
I've been in these trenches since the birth of PPML 4+ years ago, and I'm increasingly fed up with our ineptitude in promoting our own awareness.
Should we get behind the ribbon? Many of you know me as the major promoter of a gold walnut as our symbol. And I will tell you now that I think we should knock off this bickering and posturing and get behind this blue (blue is for boys) ribbon and hit the bricks.
Why?
- Because CaP CURE is the single most effective mover and shaker in PCa, and they have declared the blue ribbon our "official" icon;
- Because the ladies have made their pink ribbon one of the most recognizable symbols in America, and by using that ribbon in blue we benefit from their promotion of the ribbon;
- Because, as CaP CURE found out again and again, prompting them to come up with the blue ribbon, an icon (symbol) is essential for promotion in the media;
- Because in adopting and displaying this blue ribbon we create at least the perception of unity and power, and we would promote PCa awareness.
I am flying to Phoenix tomorrow for their 3rd annual prostate cancer symposium. I will be carrying with me a large box of the blue ribbons (sent to me by CaP CURE) along with their promo piece. In that small way I hope to get this blue ribbon started on the path to nationwide acceptance as our uniting symbol.
MORE on this: A RIBBON AT LASTThis article is archived from November '99.
