Milwaukee disses Geezers for Sitting on Our Hands

Every year, the Geezers for Sitting on Our Hands (in some circles known as Veterans For Peace) get mad because someone won’t let them march in a local parade on Veterans Day. This year it’s Milwaukee;

Members of Veterans for Peace have again been barred from participation in Milwaukee’s Veterans Day Parade.

Although the parade website says the event is “Honoring all Americans who have served,” it has refused to allow Veterans for Peace members – many of whom are combat veterans with Purple Hearts – from taking part in the observance on Saturday, Nov. 7.

The parade committee said Veterans for Peace is “a politically motivated group,” and therefore not welcome to be in the parade.

So much for “honoring all Americans who have served.”

Yeah, I’m heartbroken. This is from the Milwaukee Veterans For Peace website (excuse the all caps – they’re a rowdy bunch, apparently);

MILWAUKEE VFP MEMBERS PLEDGE TO RESTRAIN OUR GOVERNMENT FROM USING WAR AS A FOREIGN POLICY. THROUGH OUR COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE WE SEEK TO BRING A PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE REAL COSTS OF WAR. WITH JUSTICE AND HUMAN COMPASSION WE CAN LEARN TO LIVE IN A RESPONSIBLE AND NON-DESTRUCTIVE MANNER WITH OUR PLANET. OUR PURPOSE, GOALS AND WAY OF LIFE ARE DEDICATED TO ACHIEVING THIS.

Now what that says to me is that they are necessarily a group that honors veterans, but rather a group of (dubious) veterans who want to use that status for political gain. Is that what Veterans Day is all about?

According to reports, Chairman of the Milwaukee Veterans Day Committee, David Drent, answered VFP’s application for participation with this;

“There is no doubt that your organization is a politically motivated group. One visit to the organization’s website makes your views perfectly clear.

“We don’t make judgment on your purpose. End the war or escalate it carries the same weight with the board. A political statement is being made and there is no room in the parade for it.”

“We thank you for your service in our Armed Forces, but our goal has always been to have a day of honor that is 100% politically free.”

So VFP is outraged that other veterans groups are allowed to participate;

Yet the Veterans of Foreign Wars is welcome to march in the parade, even though its commander, Thomas Tradewell of Sussex, WI, recently called on President Obama to “heed the assessment and advice of his military leaders” and send 40,000 more troops to Afghanistan, suggesting that as commander-in-chief Obama’s job is to do what the generals recommend.

And politicians, some of whom are not even veterans, are invited to participate in the parade.

Apparently the parade committee doesn’t consider pro-escalation positions or even politicians to be “political.” Veterans for Peace is in a class by itself.

Yes, VFP is in a class by itself in this case. And that bonehead response proves it. The VFW commander doesn’t support the troops for political reasons – only VFP does that. The other VSOs that are participating in the parade support the troops using political means.

VFP uses troops to support their politics. See the difference, Gomer?

In addition to the official Veterans Day parade, a peace-focused event is being organized by Veterans for Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War and Vietnam Veterans Against the War. Organizers say it will revive the traditional spirit of Veterans Day and the Armistice Day celebrations following World War I. The event will be held at 7 p.m. Nov. 11 in the City Hall Rotunda.

Then what the hell are you bitching about?

Category: Antiwar crowd, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Phony soldiers