I don’t look good in pink. I never wore it, even as a child. My parents knew better. I’ll try to explain further my reasons for not becoming part of the pink blog beau monde.
I feel the whole “pink campaign” just feeds the breast cancer cash cow, a cash cow which now includes Yoplait Yogurt. Breast cancer will remain a cash cow until something comes along to replace it, another illness common among upper middle class citizens with the money to pay for new and expensive treatment, something to feed the greed of corporations who use breast cancer as a pubic relations tool.
Most women know about breast cancer, it seems silly to turn pink for a month every year unless you work diligently all year long to promote education in regard to breast cancer. Real education. There are great strides in breast cancer research, though sadly the research is not pooled or coordinated between government and private research. There is still no cure, the five year survival rate, if caught early is between 95% and 97% depending on what you read, and the disease is most prevalent among older women.
I support events in my community which make funds available for women who otherwise would be unable to get yearly mammograms and expensive treatment. I support research into earlier detection and causation, more research into environmental issues which may be associated with breast cancer — issues which could be investigative in finding a cure, if not a way to prevent it. I support education events which give real facts about breast cancer.
I also support a more coordinated effort of the different research bodies. Those truly looking for a cure should not find this idea outlandish. I support this all year long, and do not need a “pink month”. I hope all the pink blogs out there are posting some real facts about breast cancer. I think some are quite sincere, many though are disingenuous. I would bet that on most pink blogs you will not find breast cancer mentioned once in the preceding year.
Many here know this, but for those who do not, my grandmother died from a normally non-lethal virus picked up in South America. She had post breast cancer chemotherapy induced immune system suppression and this virus killed her. She was attending an academic conference in Santiago Chile, I accompanied her. I’m glad I got to spend the last week of her life with her. The last time I saw her alive was upon leaving her at the airport in Charleston South Carolina. I waved goodbye to her and headed to my connecting flight home.
This in my opinion. You have all the right in the world to pink up your blog, and people should respect your right to do so.
Can Wearing a Bra Cause Breast Cancer
Study suggests DDT, breast cancer link — I believe it requires a sign in.
There Is A Voice Inside Of You
That Whispers All Day Long,
“I Feel That This Is Right For Me,
I Know That This Is Wrong.“
No Teacher, Preacher, Parent, Friend
Or Wise Man Can Decide
What’s Right For You– Just Listen To
The Voice That Speaks Inside.
Shel Silverstein
Pink does not become you.
Your points will not be well taken by those who have pinked up their websites in order to take part in something they care nothing about, those who care about the issue will understand.
Think critically or not at all.
“pink blog beau monde“
You’ve got to stop with the French words, they are killing me.
That’s why I take supporting causes so seriously and rarely put my support in through my website. There are just such a variety of issues that I know next to nothing about that it would seem false to say I support one of them. I never feel like I have enough facts to tell people my opinion is educated enough to be valid.
I believe pink blogs, yellow ribbons, or fake magnetized ribbons posted on Chevy truck-bed tailgates (to surpport our troops?), red ribbons for aids, and most all gimmicks are pretty superficial. Luckily society is growing increasingly aware of the idiocracy involving these attempts to appear to care when actually doing nothing but gaining awareness that does nothing.….
Soon someone will invent a ribben that means nobody cares about doing anything, but I think that’s been done, but I don’t care about that.
I am rather curious as to why in medical advancements we haven’t gained any really big answers to anything, but fixing things like hair loss, yellow toenails, restless leg syndrom??…things that don’t really seem to matter with life or death…
Perhaps more fetal tissue, and cloning needs to be studied but since the Mack Daddy Jesus forbids this, we’re stuck waiting for other countries that aren’t forbidden to discover true cures.
Wow. I’ve always cringed at the pink-ribbon product tie-in, but was too much of a wuss to address it. Hard to criticize something so close to the sisterhood. Corps will do anything to make a buck. Great post. Thank you.
Let’s not forget why AIDS is not a a marketers dream even though somewhere around 3 million people died from it in 2006. It is not a marketing cash cow, as you so truthfully put it. Fifty-nine percent of people with AIDS live in Sub-Saharan Africa and almost thirty percent are from parts of Asia, the majority in South and South East Asia. Estee Lauder and Mercedes aren’t such big hits in places where clean water is a luxury — no money to be made there. You can’t carry water three miles in a pink bag.
Had to come back and add that. I wasn’t thinking last night.
My wife thanks you. I dislike all the gratuitous pinking. Like you said some people genuinely care and might be providing information all year long but that is a rare case. She has always cringed at these campaigns. An aunt she was very close to died a couple of years ago so breast cancer is something she pays attention to.
Pia is the only one that can wear pink anyway.
Good Point John.
Sorry to go off-topic, but I wondered if you saw this
charming little story:
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/1002071jena1.html
I think Shel Silverstein should come in every Skinner box. By the way, do you think we can use a metaphor other than “cash cow” for breast cancer?
I’m with you on this.
Doug made a very good point about the cash cow.
I’d rather just give my money, if I had any money which I don’t, directly to whichever charity I support. Pink websites are useless the people are doing something in real life all year long a bout the issue. The world is aware of breast cancer, I don’t think anyone needs to go there. A post educating people about some of the lesser known facts would serve better than a pink website.
John, good point about AIDS.
Well, no wonder you are a girl after my own heart! I make it a point to shirk such gimmicky shit for many of the reasons you so brilliantly outline and add to the list, for my own personal shirking, the use of animal research…
I am also for true, constructive research in the ways you have outlined oh brilliant chica! Oh what a breath of fresh air to come and read you after meeting bimbo after heart-sinking bimbo out there!
As for pink, I never wore it, grew to loathe it, until I had Lil’ BoheMia… her love of all things girly and all things pink actually has me with quite a few pink items in my closet! I know… I have sold out to the color but I figure that it’s ok as long as it’s to Lil’ B! ;-P
Big boho besos to you sweet Cooperina!
Right on, girl, right on. Thank All That Is Good at least some people in the world still know how to think.
Harriett, you are right on about thanking God that some people in the world still know how to think. Between the poor education system we’ve had for about 50 years, and the mainstream media medical indoctrination it looks as though the public is being led to the slaughter. For the few of us who have done research on overuse of medical radiation imaging, it’s a battle with our GP’s as far as being radiated, especially since as all they have for treatment is the same garbage they had when they began treating cancer many years ago. The benefit to risk ratio (and who made that up?) is a hoax. Radiologists are very useful if there are broken bones or another extreme emergency , but are overdoing it with patients who have minor complaints. I’ve studied the research of John Gofman, M.D., Ph.D. Prof. of Molecular Biology as well as Sam Epstein, M.D. Research Oncologist, head of the National Cancer Coalition, who are the guys that radiologists are trying to shut up. I guess they have body guards or something. Anyway if I get cancer again (l4 years survivor of breast cancer) I would definately rather deal with the disease than the so called treatment. You know my radiation therapy was aborted early on all those years ago due to messy problems as well as incision opening, They said I wouldn’t make it. Well here I am and I believe it is because I was unable to complete their radiation “therapy”.
Can’t help but think about my grandmother who falls for every gimmick and probably has thousand of dollars worth of over priced make-up and what not sitting around right now. Makes her feel better like she’s really done something. I don’t think she ever lifted a finger to educate or attend anything; she knows no more about breast cancer now than she did ten years ago.
She’d be one of those pink bloggers.
El movimiento se demuestra andando.
Las “pink blogs” se las lleva el viento.
I don’t necessarily see a need for a “pink month”.
Both of my maternal grandparents died of cancer: lung for gramps, ovarian for grandma(it spread to her liver.) My mother in 2004 lost her kidney due to cancer. So…I figure about 20+ years from now, unless I get to eating better foods, exercise religiously, never drink and other bad habits stopped, I’ll be looking for my first bout. (Genetics play a role…as you are probably aware.)
On a lighter note, pink isn’t a color I’d wear unless I was major league confident, had plenty of cash and Crocket and Tubbs also “had my back.”
On a more off topic note: Sorry, Baltimore needs to go back to being a minor league team. Great park, shitty team.
MoJo: You are wise oh mojo.
Bennet: The answer is economics dear friend. I honestly believe that. So much money to be made. That of course is mere speculation but one which I have spoken to both scientists and physicians about and it seems it is not uncommon theory.
Two Knives: Your welcome, yes it’s hard to post something you know is going to offend some but it is what it is at least in my opinion.
John: That is most true, no money in the third world at least not for purchasing state of the art pharmaceuticals.
jacob: gratuitous pinking. Nice term.You’re right only pia looks good in pink.
Dedd: i hadn’t seen it until I looked at these comments earlier this morning. Thanks dedd.
Doug: yes, yes he should and honestly it’s the perfect unintended metaphor.
G: As we all would, or would anyone really if they gave it any thought.
MizzyB: Well it’s ok because it was the new black, or something like that. If one truly likes the color I see no harm in it of course.
So sweet to see you doing a little visiting. I miss you in your “bizziness”.
Harriett: There are many more but some remain silent. I didn’t recognize you in that outfit Harriett.
This is why I keep coming back. This, your P’s, and something about magnetic screwdrivers.
A nation of robots and fools.
The point above me about AIDS is something everyone needs to get in to their heads too.
I lost my Father to cancer of the parathyroid glands 5 years ago and my Mother fully recovered from Ovarian cancer 4 years ago…
I’m not a big fan of pink but I have posted a fuzzy teddy on my blog…
I think I’ve said this before…stunning layout !!!!
Brilliant post Cooper.
I never knew how your grandmother died and am so glad that you got to spend the last week of her life with her.
Back to that magical year of your birth. It was also horrible. The news was filled with school districts refusing to open and other truly stupid things because of AIDS.
The same newscasters who would report this news, smile and seem to agree with it, were all wearing red ribbons the next year
I have never watched the news on TV again
I do think red ribbons served a big purpose at first. they shocked people. But the shock wore off and the ribbons became a cliche.
Though if people hadn’t been fighting for AIDS research 20 years ago – when in America it was considered a Gay and Haitian “thing” we wouldn’t be up to having fight for it in Africa.
To deny how AIDS was in America before it became sexy – is to deny history, and we can’t. I might cringe at the red ribbon, but how it came to be is important.
i do believe that bloggers who know something or even feel something strongly have a responsiblity to talk about that subject – but am not writing about breast cancer for the reasons you said.
And yes my blog is pink. I look good in shades of pink but generally wear black, gray, taupe, olive etc.
I just like to shock
This is Katrina, communications associate at BCA. Thank you for your support! It means a lot to all of us. Don’t forget to ask the six critical questions of pink ribbon marketers: how much money is going to the cause, what is it funding, how much was spent on marketing versus the amount being donated, what is the maximum donation, and, most importantly, is the product making us sick.
Take action on our 2007 campaign at: http://www.thinkbeforeyoupink.org/Pages/TakeAction.html
Thanks again and keep blogging!
JoeG: I’m glad you’ve stuck around all this time Joe. Magnetic screwdrivers…that was a hot search term for a year or so after that post. God knows why.
Laketrees: My personal feeling on cancer is that we could do a whole lot better. Yes I think you have said before how you liked this. I too am still rather fond of the design.
Pia: One thing I often forget is that I was posting in a private journal among friends the summer before my sophomore year, so when she died the entry was in that journal. I didn’t start at blogger until a few months after she actually died.
You also wear pink better than most.
As for AIDS, the fact that it is not killing enough of the right people hurts the research.
Katrina: I was happy to find your site when I was looking around for things to substantiate my opinion.
The approach with pinking the month is similar to what they do with Black History Month. Some teachers take it to mean they should teach black-related history only during February. It’s a bit annoying in the effor to move forward. I am certain the MLK would disagree with the school administrator who stated on television that teaching about slavery was best done during that one month!!! Especially since James Earl Ray shot him down during April.
Still, every bit helps. I just wish they’d make those pink car magnets in some place other than China.
I’m glad you don’t fall for it. It would have been easy to fall for the marketing part after your grandmother died. I never buy anything I wouldn’t buy anyway.
You know, I will admit, I have a pink ribbon; it is out of respect and upon request of my dear friend Dee who was diagnosed with breast cancer over 5 years ago and who is now cancer free. And I love pink; I’m just a girl like that.
But I will not fall for all the marketing bullshit of going pink for an entire month. That is a ploy to make this a money making machine at the cost of people’s lives. I will not be a part of that.
Every bit does help, but I don’t see a whole lot of encouraging to do anything or education just pink blogs following the crowd.
KAITI: i know you so I know that.
Marvallus: That is a whole different story of course, and there are many people who do it for good reasons. Just educate, send people to places to get information, and tell them to donate their money directly.
It all really just ridiculous, there is a cure (more than likely) however the money machine would come to a screeching halt if it were released. After all it only affects women (mostly). If breast cancer was killing off the male population a cure would be out and available immediately. Isn’t it strange how men are cured of their testicular and colon cancers, but woman are dying from uterus, cervical and breast cancer. Male doctors are quick to remove a woman’s uterus etc. rather than find a cure for what is killing them.
Debohobo, with all due respect, colon cancer affects both genders. Look at all the work Katie Kouric did after her husband died of it. Testicular cancer has a much lower “cure” rate than does breast cancer, even when caught in early stages. I have a cousin who is in the terminal stages of that disease now. And then there’s the big one: prostate cancer. That’s what killed Jerry Orbach. And a very common form of treatment, if it can be called that, is to leave it alone until it becomes serious. Hardly what I call a cure.
What you wear on the outside doesn’t matter. We are all PINK on the inside.
I put the following on our home page in hopes it would stand out.
Not everyone will read that. Not everyone who is Going Pink will think it’s more than a cool, fun way to “raise awareness.” It truly is my hope that people educate themselves and pass that knowledge on to others. You never know how knowledge will influence someone, but I hope it can be in a positive way in at least a few people.
I don’t advocate buying pink vacuum cleaners to show support. I hope people will donate money to organisations that actually help, but only if they have money to spare.
If any one would be interested in sharing their opinions (hopefully laced with facts) on the Pink for October blog, please register and we will publish it. We only do rough copy editing to make sure spelling and grammar are correct and all links work.
Thanks for linking this up on the 9rules note.
You’re so right on this, Pink for October seems to be a bandwagon that website designers jump onto for a month to show off their design skills. I’m sure it was started with good intentions but that’s unfortunately been lost amidst all the hullabaloo about the colour rather than the disease.
Weishing, have you looked through the list of sites Going Pink? Most, and by most I mean almost all sites that are participating are not run by people who are website designers. Look through the list, see how people are responding beyond the color.
As I said above, many will just change the color of their site and leave it at that. But many will do more than that too.
Your statement sounds like an assumption to me. And if you feel this way, please join Pink for October and do more than turn your site pink. Unless you are already doing something, in which case please leave a link to it.
Debo: I have no idea if there is a cure I do believe the medicines they just keep inventing are just more and more toxic and not near enough is done on research for causation, that is much more expensive and no where near as profitable but much more likely to actually lead to an cure.
Matthew: I have no objection to people doing something they always do. I have a large problems with a bandwagon full of people who do things for no reason, and I have a much larger problems with the marketing done by corporation who sell all year long under the guise of breast cancer. I think people know about breast cancer. I think if they care they should actually advocate for better health care education affordable treatment and real eduction. I feel they should list the facilities doing research on breast cancer and encourage people to support whichever one they prefer and why.
I rarely if ever write about breast cancer, so for me to turn pink would be ludicrous, but I understand others wanting to, but as I said I find most pink for the month blogs disingenuous.
This particular post was written because I have had people ask me several times over the last couple of years why I do not go pink or have pink ribbons considering my grandmother died as a result of breast cancer treatment. It wasn’t written necessarily in regard to any blog campaigns it just so happens many blogs turn pink and people send emails advocating going pink so blogs get mentioned.
I also think that there are many people who do things routinely for breast cancer, other illnesses or any cause as part of their daily life, overall I find this a much better way to actually do something about issues one cares about.
I feel there is an acute awareness of breast cancer. I don’t think people need to go pink. I have other things I think people should be aware of and have only so much time to blog so I prioritize these things, I think many people do the same. I fully appreciate that everyone has the right to do what they want and should and hope the people out there going pink are offering up some worthwhile information. I’ll look through some tomorrow if I have the time.
Weishing: I think the pink thing started long before blog designers got in to it, entrenched in the heart of corporate greed.
wow, where have I been.
I see both points of view. I see your point clearly because people fall for a lot of things without thinking. Most people don’t think they just follow randomly, which is why they go pink, bllue, or purple whatever the case may be.
You should have expected to offend some people with your post even if you didn’t mean to. People get really upset when their motives are questioned.
Matthew, I’m not questioning the spirit behind the campaign to go pink on blogs (which I know you started!). It’s just I get a little irked when people go pink merely to jump on the bandwagon rather than understanding what it really signifies. Some do it to freshen up their site, some others do it because they think their theme looks nice in pink, these aren’t reasons for going pink. Someone who merely places a badge in support but writes a thoughtful article on breast cancer awareness is much more relevant.
I guess I shouldn’t generalise, I’m not criticising the spirit of your campaign. My ire is directed more towards those who go pink yet don’t really understand the purpose of it all. I myself don’t “go pink” because there are just too many campaigns to support. I’m actually more concerned about the massacres in Burma at the moment. There are lots of things that kill a lot more unfortunate and innocent people, like the military action in Iraq for example.
Also, if you happen to peruse some of the comments on “pinkified” blogs, you’ll find that quite a few of them focus on how beautiful the site/theme looks in pink rather than on breast cancer, which is unfortunate.
weisheng: I think I like you.
I do think that those who do something with reasonably good intent do get hurt by those who do not. I happen to agree with you on Burma and other issues because they are things many people in this country are not aware of and need to be. Some people disagree with me on this as I’m sure they’d disagree with you. Matthew wants to bring attention to breast cancer. I hope he brings education. I just don’t happen to agree that pinking is the way to go but says he has had some success in raising awareness and education and if he has than in the end he has served his purpose and has been successful for his intent. I can understand that though a multitude of pink blogs some have to be worthwhile and have worthwhile information. I just think most are disingenuous and of course that is not the fault of Matthew or anyone. I participated in the boobi-thon when younger. Until I looked at the campaigns they supported and where the money went and them I realized it was not for me. I just want people to think before they do things. A pink blog in and of itself does not raise awareness, and buying Estee Lauder or whatever will not find a cure.
I guess I’d admit my mistake at directing my first comment at the Pink for October campaign itself, because Matthew’s aim is admirable. It’s more an irritation at those sites that don’t reflect that aim, so for that generalisation I would apologise. The problem with such campaigns is they always start with a noble intent but some of those participating end up derailing it. I guess that’s just inevitable. For example, as much of an Apple fanboy as I am, I get irritated when I see them promoting the product(RED) iPods. These are meant to promote AIDS awareness, but at the presentations it’s pretty obvious Steve Jobs himself doesn’t have much interest in the cause and people buy it because they like that “pretty red colour”.
Well, I brought up Burma because I saw your banner below. I was quite struck by a Burmese friend’s post on Facebook because she’s living in semi-exile in the UK while her family remains in Burma. She described how her mom came so close to death when a soldier pointed a gun at her head and told her to walk and not look back. I come from the nearby state of Singapore and the West often points a finger at us for being a nanny state and having an authoritarian government. That’s true but for us Singaporean citizens it doesn’t make a difference because we’re enjoying a prosperous economy and a fantastic standard of living. But a government like the Burmese junta massacring its own citizens is entirely different and very regrettable.
Unlike you, however, I think I’m very apathetic when it comes to promoting causes. I just feel, probably wrongly in your opinion, that what we do doesn’t really make a real difference in the end. There are so many layers of power that it’s impossible for our thoughts to filter to the top. Look at the US, that’s why it’s citizens vote on such a narrow spectrum of issues, because that’s the agenda that the power brokers are defining.
I don’t always agree with you, but I see that you are objective in your
postings. Despite the differences I still enjoy reading your posts and I
often learn even when our viewpoints are different.