Chapter 9. Bit by Bit by Bit
When Tony Orlando requested in a 1973 song that his beloved “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree,” he wasn’t asking for elaborate explanations or extended discussion. He didn’t want any ifs, ands, or buts. Despite the complex feelings and emotional histories that would have been at play in the real-life situation the song was based on, all the man really wanted was a simple yes or no. He wanted a yellow ribbon tied around the tree to mean “Yes, even though you messed up big time and you’ve been in prison for three years, I still want you back with me under my roof.” And he wanted the absence of a yellow ribbon to mean “Don’t even think about stopping here.”
These are two clear-cut, mutually exclusive alternatives. ...
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