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Today's Local Deals: Should the U.S. hold a military parade?

By Howard B. Owens
Howard B. Owens

I'm glad the results are running mostly to no. I was deeply saddened when I heard this proposal. This just isn't something we do in this country. It's the kind of thing we associate in our minds with North Korea and Russia.

I was taught in the military to respect the separation between the civilian world and the military world. A military parade, to me, violates that tradition.

If it happens, I think I'll cry that day. We don't celebrate our military might (think of Teddy Roosevelt, "Walk softly and carry a big stick.") It will be a sad day for the Republic if it happens.

Feb 7, 2018, 1:01pm Permalink
Ed Hartgrove

I agree with you Howard. At least, on "having" a U.S. military parade.

To me, anyways, it would be a waste of taxpayer's funds. The estimate that I heard was that it cost somewhere around $20,000,000 (or more), to do... what? Keep up with the Putin-Jones' and Kim-Jones'?

How many starving Americans would benefit from having that 20-million dollars? Or, should I say, how many starving Americans would benefit from a military parade?

When I first saw the poll question, I wondered why it was even being asked. Then I searched for "military parade". I was shocked to see that it was being proposed. The very next thing that came to mind was the countless images I've seen of tens of thousands of goose-stepping Nazis, Soviet and North Korean military personnel.

The world already knows we carry a big stick. We don't need to waste money advertising it.

Feb 7, 2018, 2:39pm Permalink
Bernie Thompson

I am sorry to say this but as a Viet-Nam Vet I would say this a wrong thing do.
Sure we can Thank the US service people in other ways, but why should we show all of the Power we have?

Feb 7, 2018, 3:52pm Permalink
david spaulding

If the Genius wants a military parade there will be a parade. It'll be the biggest and best parade the world has ever seen. Bigger and better than any military parade in N. Korea, Russia, China, bigger than any parade ever. Failure to stand and clap your hands will result in your treasonous ass being deported. Make 'Merica Great Again

Feb 7, 2018, 6:54pm Permalink
Daniel Jones

America traditionally has military related parades for Memorial Day, to honor the fallen, and victory parades, to celebrate the safe return of those who serve and a successful ending of the war. Going to war in this country has always been viewed as a solemn, serious affair, and not something to celebrate by having artificial shows of force. We have the strongest military on the planet, everyone knows it, we don't need to flex our muscles when we're already the biggest bodybuilder in the gym. This is just blustering and is playing into the hands of Kim Jong Un, who along with his advisers want instability in the area and escalation in order to consolidate his power base.

Feb 8, 2018, 11:28am Permalink
Julie Morales

From Howard’s link:

“Trump’s patriotism is more grounded, and insists that we are a nation, not just an abstraction.”

And that’s where I quit reading.

Anyone who thinks Trump’s parade isn’t all about TRUMP, is delusional.

Feb 8, 2018, 3:46pm Permalink

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