TV Schedule

Vets for Peace booted from Memorial Day Parade

  2. Mulcahey
  3. related topics
Veterans for Peace applied and was accepted to join the National Memorial Day parade. But then, late last month, the group was told that it didn’t meet the criteria to participate.

The American Veterans Center, which runs the parade, told them “we cannot have elements in the parade that have any type of political message or wish to promote a point of view.

“We’re striving to keep political statements out of the parade,” says Jordan Cross, communications director of the American Veterans Center. “Last year, we had two groups who supported the war, and we turned them down.”

---
Does that mean that there aren't any war-supporting groups in the parade this year? Check out the list of major sponsors for the parade. They include: Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, the nation of Kuwait, the U.S. Army, and even the NRA. Hardly a neutral crowd when it comes to the war.

Parades are political statements by themselves. They express cultural values and demonstrate popular support for ideas and individuals. What values do we promote in our Memorial Day parade? And why can't peace be one of them?
Mulcahey

25 responses // Vets for Peace booted from Memorial Day Parade

  • Our government keeps those groups fighting amongst themselves and then has their way with them, just like they do the rest of us.
    cadsuch
  • Oh, so politics never started a war? Lame excuse to deny free speech.
    JanforGore
  • And there goes another freedom.
    current89
  • For a day that celebrates and commemorates veterans, the parade officials certainly sent a message of disrespect by denying these vets participation. You would think that at least this one day, all veteran voices should be heard and respected.
    renbyrd
  • Most people in this parade probably don't even care about the veterens...they just want everyone else to know their point of view.
    Bertelsen
  • Decades upon decades of waring for peace and where has it brought the human race? No where near no war. Why would you want to be in a parade that is apparently about war to state peace? Have your own parade for peace. Parade for Peace. Nice ring.
    J_Jammer
  • Even though I'm not a fan of the war I believe that they had a good idea not to let them march. This should just be about commemorating the fallen. No politics BS.
    dreamland15
  • Yes, but achieving peace would reduce the number of fallen, wouldn't you think??? I thought the parade was supposed to be about honoring veterans, not picking and choosing which veteran's groups can march. The AVC obviously has a preconceived notion of which veterans' groups are 'politically correct', and therefore eligible to march -- so their cant about not being 'political' is blatantly hypocritical, imo.
    shelchak
  • I say fuck the American Veterans Center and hold there own parade that is not funded by companies that promote war and violence. I think more veterans would be honored at a parade that is about peace and bringing our troops home safely.
    etosha_pent
  • Peace is a word forbidden by the Bush administration--they liken it to weakness.

    Keep the internet alive with your voices, my friends, and if you get the chance to march in a peace parade, join in..
    wildspirit
  • It has been my observation that this administration does not appreciate veterans, but they sure enjoy creating them.
    EbahDyke
  • This administration has been the worst one ever for military retirees--take for example where I used to live, the former Naval Home. The Secretary of Defense in 1991, then DICK CHENEY, started the ruin of it, which was completed in 2002 by the appointment of its current Chief Operating Officer, by then Secretary of Defense DONALD RUMSFELD, a civilian with no military experience, Mr. Timothy C. Cox. You can read the aftermath at my blog and selecting COO WRECKS AFRH (Armed Forces Retirement Home). My blog is http://www.navyafrhspook.blogspot.com. The administration loves to pose itself as chief supporter of the armed forces, but once you read how they treated a former nurse (on president Clinton's staff as AirForce One flight nurse for three years), our Deputy Director, you will see how duplicitous the administration is.
    wildspirit
  • Typical!
    skeet381
  • http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/downloads/carlos/inde...
    I just Googled this about a father of a fallen soldier who was allegedly beaten.
    CarolynGillis
  • http://current.com/items/88978122_letters_home_from_the...
    So much to say and do.
    macosveteran
  • Just look at some statistics concerning the amount of young US Marines who commit suicide after returning from Iraq, and that should give you an idea of why the vets for peace have that very message. Could those poor tortured souls have marched their coffins in a parade for us to honor them as any other vet? Would Lockheed sponsor them, you think? Oh man, wait... is that not 'PC'...?
    artist_speaks_out
  • Makes me wonder what the imbedded informants of the VFP reported to their superiors.
    huntre
  • They should march behind the parade. They should also carry signs telling how they were not included in the Memorial Day parade.

    I think it is sad that the ones who fought the wars to ensure our freedoms are the ones being silenced from the very rights they fought for.
    vixen0078
  • I don't even know where to start with this! Accepting them for the parade and then kicking the veterans out is F-ing ridiculous!
    northstar13
  • the government can't have any dissention especially if it
    hints of the truth they have bull shit 'd us tor 7 years now
    they have to finsh with a bang and drive us into social and financial ruin
    charleskaj
  • http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=z73B_wuXP8w
    Here is an interesting video that looks at the "humorous" perspective on war. I think it makes a statement. You decide....
    HeadNtheClouds
  • Vixen, that's because all Memorial Day and Veterans' Day parades and such do nothing, it seems, but to glorify war. Sure, it's for remembrance of war dead, but YOU ALWAYS HEAR THE PRO-WAR VIEWPOINT. The anti-war viewpoint always seems to be shunted to the side. It's a crime.
    Cynic2
  • in other news , reliable sources have reported Bush commented to an aide , before appearing at Arlington : " boy , i sure wish i could have created the 'unknown soldier' "
    malathion
  • Peace, the new F-word.
    Greg_Bunker
  • I was honored to march with the Veterans for Peace in Maine several times.
    They should definitely march ..this is a shame.
    recommended by  Chique
    CarolynGillis
  • Keep marching, Carolyn. We who cannot join you wish you well!
    wildspirit

Add your response

Login/Registration is required to add a response.