Pissed off Wiccan for Peace: Peace group's display angers veterans

Saturday, November 12, 2005

Peace group's display angers veterans

Peace group's display angers veterans

"WATERVILLE — Outraged veterans are calling for the removal of 2,000 white flags that members of a local peace group planted to commemorate America's war dead in Iraq. Calling the flags and signs in Veterans Memorial Park "a disgrace" and "illegal," veteran Wayne H. Elkins asked the city to revoke the group's permit."

My hubby called me about this Thursday morning on my way into work, cause he does that every once in a while when he hears something on the news he knows I'll be interested in. Now usually we are totally on the same page about these things and sort of share a laugh or righteous indignation, whichever is appropriate. But I kind of have mixed feelings on this one. He's pretty firmly on the side of "Yes, it's a good idea but they shouldn't have done it on Veteran's Day out of respect for the veterans." And while I can see the point, it's their day and we should allow them to have it with dignity and respect, I also see the other side. Which really isn't as polarly opposite as one would think.

Yes, they put 2,000 white flags up with a sign stating that they represent the soldiers that have died in Iraq. But...isn't that the point of Veteran's Day? To honor the soldiers and veterans? I know Bridges of Peace probably had a political agenda in mind when they did it. I realize that it was probably a protest disguised as a memorial. I didn't just fall off the turnip truck yesterday. But in a more "meta" point of view, this is the reality of war and signing up to be a soldier. It's no different than Vietnam. I think the fact that they are honoring these guys, whether it be for the fact that they think they are heros for what they're doing or victims of the Evil Empire running the country, they are honoring them. They're not spitting on their graves, burning flags, spray painting epithets on the markers of veterans in the actual cemetary... They are bringing attention to the fact that 2,000+ members of America's military died in war on the day when members of the miltary, dead and alive are to be remembered. And if part of the agenda is to keep more from dying, I really don't see that as a bad thing. The fact that some people think this war is a good thing and that anything that even remotely suggests that it isn't is Un-American and disrespectful to the pResident ( © Joel) and the military is...well...disrespectful.

posted by Unknown at 5:23 PM :: ~#~
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