Veterans peace group blocked from D.C. parade »
Posted by: bubba2 2 months, 2 weeks ago257 CommentsReflectReport this Story
Veterans for Peace, a group that opposes the war in Iraq, has been blocked from marching in a Memorial Day parade in Washington after being told its plans, which once included a casket representing war dead, would be too political for the event. The group dropped the casket plan when the producers of the parade objected, but they were still barred
Read Full Story at armytimes.com
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mark-stevens2 months, 2 weeks ago
If we stop killing sons and dads cause it seemed like a good idea at the time... Memorial Day would have a more honorable feel.
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ETproductions2 months, 2 weeks ago
Voltaire's biographer, Evelyn Beatrice Hall wrote, "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." That sentiment is enshrined in the US Constitution in the 1st Amendment.
BOTH sides have the right to free speech. Baring either side is a direct violation of their 1st Amendment rights. In this case, you only need to Bar the oposition to the war to turn the Parade into a political speech in favor of it.
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ML20072 months, 2 weeks ago
Hear. Hear. ET. You are exactly right. This is a memorial day parade and the veterans who hope for peace wanted to pull a casket in memory of the fallen. How appropriate. A good ACLU lawyer should be contacted and a law suit filed, as I believe this group has been legally wronged. It won't help for this year, but it may help in the future. I wonder what those neutral marchers are for, do they parade in memory of perpetual war, or is being neutral a political stance?
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fourthtunz2 months, 2 weeks ago
McPhearson said the group does not dishonor veterans. The parades, which highlight wars waged for political ends, are inherently political, he said.
"It is ridiculous to say we have this political objective when the whole thing is about politics," McPhearson said.
MAYBE YOU DIDN'T READ TO THE END?
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dunkirk2 months, 2 weeks ago
"Teolis said the group dropped the casket plan when the producers of the parade objected. But he said the Veterans Center still barred the group from the parade"
Except they dropped the "political" (Im still trying to figure out how honoring the fallen is political) part the parade organizers objected to. SO it seems there is more going on here.
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winstonsmithredux2 months, 2 weeks ago
After listening to extreme - and even some moderate - right-wingers shout to the effect that those held in Gitmo are the worst of the worst, proven criminal terrorists and whatnot, can someone tell me why they and the administration they claim to worship have not been asked to explain the releases of sooooo many? With no charges having been brought? With allied countries welcoming them back with open arms?
Why is that? Do you think CBS, ABC, NBC, CNN, MSNBC and the media in general are still shilling for BushCorp?
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Dionys2 months, 2 weeks ago
" You mean like the one who just blew himself up along with several innocents? "
This might be a more valid argument if the other hundreds rounded up and kidnapped by the CIA in foreign countries had done anything more than go back to their families as broken people and simply went back to work (if they could).
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Poulenc2 months, 2 weeks ago
When is the "political" not political?
When it disturbs no one who might otherwise be given cause to think about the motives of those in power.
The notion that, because no pro-war marchers are allowed, anti-war marches shouldn't be is a canard: what does a veterans march mean, in the largest sense, if not war works?
To have a pro-war contingent would be redundant.
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Justice4All2 months, 2 weeks ago
It feels so good when I stop banging my head against the wall.
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koranagirl2 months, 2 weeks ago
Well, some people think they need hate, despair, vengeance, revenge because it will work out well in the end. Maybe what we learn from a bad situation is that it is a bad situation.
See? Everyone has free will. The free will to wake up one day and say I'm going to help others in need, or the free will to create war, violence, vengeance and anger.
And when we realize that negativity gets us nowhere, we just turn to peace, love and angels.
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Aidenag2 months, 2 weeks ago
This same thing happened in Washington state last week in the City of Bellingham. Vets for Peace was blocked from participating in that parade. Though they still showed up and walked the parade route after the parade had technically ended, but people were still lining the steets.
Got tons of attention on my local news. Mostly for the fact that the "Support our troops" crowd who went to the parade were calling combat vets who don't want to see anymore young men killed such nice things as: scum bags, traitors, commies, terrorists and more than a few things i won't repeat here... Was pretty disgusting.
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ciera-marie2 months, 2 weeks ago
Aidenag I'm glad that the citizens of Bellingham WA stayed after the parade was done to support Vets for Peace.
It saddens, but doesn't surprise me, that people attacked the Vets for Peace. Anyone, including combat vets, that dare speak out against the war, question this administration, seek the truth, is considered the enemy by the right. That's the nicest thing I can say.
I guess the people calling them the names are afraid of what the truth really is.
I am proud of them. Hope they continue to march in other ciites.
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saintetienne2 months, 2 weeks ago
"I am proud of them. Hope they continue to march in other ciites."
Let's draw the distinction between the two different types of "Veterans":
There are the vast majority of veterans, whose service I am proud of and am grateful for. These are primarily older vets, in their 70's, 80's and 90's, who served in WWI, WWII and the Korean War. This group also includes the vast majority of Vietnam Vets and Gulf War Vets who selflessly gave service and continue to act honorably and in a dignified manner. Most of them signed up of their own accord, wanted to serve their country, and are proud they have done so. But whether or not they were drafted or joined up out of their own volition, they act dignified, are disciplined and are respectful of their country, their government and, most of all, the citizens they serve. Their service and honor for their country comes before any personal opinions they may harbor.
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walden32 months, 2 weeks ago
Jeesh, it seems to me like we should be honoring dead veterans on Memorial Day. Americans need to be reminded everyday that war leads to death.
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ciera-marie2 months, 2 weeks ago
walden I agree we need to honor our dead veterans. We also need to honor and support our living veterans as well. That's the best way we can honor those who made the ulitmate scarifice for us.
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mark-stevens2 months, 2 weeks ago
A person forced into combat by the draft and killed in a war they knew was wrong, how is that the "ultimate sacrafice"
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