 BartendingBear says: I guess we only honor vets who like war. Dissenters deserve no respect? Army veteran Carlos Dillenbeck said the occasion was to honor veterans, making it unfit for protesters to march in the parade. Ann Wright, an Army veteran, said that although the annual event is organized by a private nonprofit organization, it doesn't reflect the true spirit of the holiday because they "just invite the veterans who agree with their point of view." "That's not really what being a veteran is about," Wright said. See that is what is wrong with this place. Everything is an issue and it all becomes one big freakin soapbox. Sometimes its nice to just have a parade and some fun and maybe honor the soldier/vet for supporting our country. Don't erect your soapbox on my porch and complain about my porch! You have every right to put your soapbox on your own porch and spout off to anyone wanting to listen. I have the right not to want to listen. You are voilating my rights if you force your way onto my porch and yak and complain about my porch. The porch belongs to the dissenting vets as much as to the non-dissenting vets. It is a dishonor to the dissenters to say that their vet status isn't enough, no matter their expressions. It is a dishonor to the other vets to allow a parade in their honor to be dishonored. What about two parades. One to honor the vets and one to dishonor them. A vet that is ashamed of his service to his country is what? There is no draft. They volunteered. If they were drafted back then, and they still are dissed about it all then they don't honor themselves either. Chances are, there are not that many people that actually SERVED in this protest. The loudest mouths are from the scum that want to stir the pot. I didn't agree with all the stuff I had to do in the service of my country but I do have pride that I was honorable enough to serve my country. The dissenting vets do not have the ri... said the parade is supposed to thank veterans and not serve as a political demonstration.That's the bottom line right there. You want to voice your gripes, dissent and outward hatred towards your fellow vets, have YOUR OWN PARADE on your own day. Don't try to steal the fire from those who are grateful and fully support our military. And last I checked America's military was ALL VOLUNTEER, that means nobody forced you to raise your right hand, you did it of your own accord. Don't like the miltary? Don't like killing people? Don't like taking orders even though you don't always like them? THEN DON'T JOIN! Go work at a burger joint since thw starting pay is about the same. They weren't protest the vets, they were protesting a war. Two very different things. Which need to stay separated After all, if we started to tell the truth right out in the open about what happens to people who believe the patriotic shtick, the balloon would be pricked. They might find out a quarter of the homeless are vets. They might realize their chances of getting their lives ruined for some fool politician's wild hair notion were incredibly good. They might realize that the military rarely defends freedom, but is simply the muscle of Corporate America, ready to put the hurt on anybody that limits the right to suck profits out of poor nations. You gotta play the game to keep things the same. But a parade to honor the vets is not the place for it. There are more wrongs in the world than even you can percieve. Lets get all uppity and righteous about it all and while you are on your soap box How about a word or two for the people in prisons. Or the fate of chickens or global warming how about a nice NASA scandal Oh wait, George Bush, There, That should get you all worked up. When you decide to honor vets you should also decide to honor what those with first hand experience have learned about the nature of war and justice. Or you can just have the parade where soldiers are presented as mindless robots following orders. I'm done. Screw the issue anyway you want - you know how I feel When you decide to honor vets you should also decide to honor whatI agree. I don't see why they couldn't march silently and let their presence be known. To deny them that was disrespectful. Iraq Veterans Against the War Veterans for Peace Military Families Speak Out Next year I'll make it a point to find one of these organizations' events to attend. "it doesn't reflect the true spirit of the holiday because they "just invite the veterans who agree with their point of view." "That's not really what being a veteran is about," Wright said." Isn't that about something called free speech, are Veterans still expected to obey orders, when one of the things they were supposed to be fighting for was free speech. Maybe that changed when the constitution was suspended. A Veteran is only required to be a returned member of the Military. Perhaps he means: " Veterans are entitled to be honored when they are dead, and we're doing our best to make sure this happens as quickly as possible " You can say anything you like, just don't mention the War. Th... Dissent is not "hatred" (thats propaganda). Dissent is patriotism when done on right principles, which is how America began; i.e, dissent against the British government, their corrupt church of England (which supported their tyranny, trampling Presbyterians and Baptists), and the corrupt "Union Jack". If you really love your country, you will hate the corruption of its government, its unjust wars, which corrupts its flag, making it a symbol of imperialism or oppression, instead of true freedom. These vets are neglected, after they were abused by the neocon war-mongers. http://www.ivaw.org/node/1792 Veterans Day has become propaganda "to push a political agenda" (force worship and praise for unjust wars) which is the very thing they claim in Long Beach to prevent. Whew! I wanted to say something but after reading some of the above tirades, I got a headache. None are more dangerous than the self-righteous. I believe in free speech, the right to protest, and most of all PEACE. Killing is very difficult to justify. I respect others' rights to disagree with me. If this country is so divided in opinion, maybe it's time to make the country smaller - split it in half and put like minds together. That will really stifle growth - at some point the war-lovers will slaughter the peace-lovers. It is all madness. It is all madness.Our world today Way to go Blueridge for adding a very useful thought - Veterans events are inherently political; they honor those whose efforts contributed to certain political objectives. We live with the delusion that the armed forces are used a-politically for the defense of freedom, and we, therefore, owe them much. And many have joined up as a result of the patriotic spirit recommended by these events. To truly serve and honor veterans, there should also be inclusion of those vets who say, "Damn! We were screwed by fools! Our best friends died for political foolishness! Don't let it happen again! Stop it where it is happening now! Don't give us the dishonor of pretending what we did in ... Skwirl, you're missing a good point, and the result will be just the opposite of what you intend. Flag waving is a political statement. If a town has a ceremony, and veterans who aren't comfortable with flag-waving's implications are not to participate, the town has said (but probably hasn't considered what it is saying): 1. You who disagree are not to be honored (and isn't this simply the old "support the troops" and don't question the President position?) 2. We are here to make a patriotic political statement, and that is more important than honoring veterans Separate but equal is never equal. the town has said (but probably hasn't considered what it is saying):Yes, it's become all "rah, rah, Go Team!" like a parade for a high-school football team. Veterans' Day should be a somber reflection on what these soldiers have done and are being made to do, and why. |
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