That is fantastic news. However I do hope the show will NOT simply drop the WristStrong bracelet donation campaign in the light of this result. Granted, the timing of the release of the bracelets is bit of a fiasco.

Nevertheless, I suggest we endow the ‘Wrist Strong’ bracelet with new significance by making the phrase a monthly mnemonic for: (Hey dummy, put down that latte): Walter Reed Injured Still There. Show Them Regularly Our Nation’s Gratitude.’ Meaning by ‘Nation’ the CN. (I’m feeling just a tad alienated from the ‘nation’ nation at the moment). Or something less corny, if anybody has a better suggestion.

We all know that TCR will loom large in future histories of the television of this era. Think how awesome it would be if such tomes INVARIABLY contained a remark such as the following: ‘The Colbert Report was also known for the devotion of its largely youthful audience. During the third season (2007-08) ‘the Colbert Nation’ donated over $1 million dollars to the Yellow Ribbon Fund, a charity for wounded veterans of the Iraq and Afghan wars.’

That would be a reality if a hard-core fan base of 10,000 ridiculously poor students or recent grads cut a check for $10 (or more) to the YRF once a month for 10 months. That’s two beers or two Starbucks a month. And if 20,000 or 50,000 fans did the same? That would be…(‘Stephen’ doing math in his head)…uh…let’s see…carry the one…a lot of salve on open wounds.

Remember you are already paying for this war to the tune of one trillion dollars. Remember that many of the wounded must undergo excruciating multiple operations, and will remain blinded, mentally impaired, or horribly mutilated for the rest of their young lives. Remember you (probably) didn’t throw a chair through a plate glass window, or howl at your representatives, the last time you heard on the news, ‘14 soldiers and 60 civilians died in Baghdad today’. And remember no one presently has the slightest idea how to extricate the troops safely from the quagmire into which they have been so recklessly and wickedly thrown. As for the Iraqi civilians….we are steeped in blood up to our elbows.

I don’t know how many viewers TCR (or NFZ) has; but I do have faith that 10,000 fans could *quietly achieve this, on their own initiative*, without further prompting from the show.

Though this is a lesser consideration, I think this would also be a great way to thank Stephen for all he’s done for us. (Like keeping us sane). I suspect he’d be delighted if we
pulled it off. So let’s do it. Make a pact with five friends who are die-hard fans to remind each other to contribute at the end of each month.

(Falls off soap-box, breaks wrist).