Posted on 05/26/2007 1:49:46 AM PDT by JohnHuang2
To the long list of liberal non sequiturs, such as "Pro-Child, Pro-Choice," we can mark this Memorial Day weekend by adding "Support the Troops: Bring Them Home."
That's the message from former Sen. John Edwards, whose website supportthetroopsendthewar.com is urging people to crash Memorial Day ceremonies and parades with anti-war protests. He's even asking people to take pictures of it all and post them to his website. What nifty souvenirs!
We're still waiting for the media outrage over this hijacking of a sacred day to honor the war dead.
Can you imagine being a U.S. Marine and going out today on a mission in Fallujah, Iraq, searching for the killers in the latest civilian massacre, and hearing that a prominent U.S. politician is urging people to hijack Memorial Day for political protests?
Would you feel "supported"?
Paul Morin, national commander of the American Legion, was blunt about Edwards' crassness: "Revolting is a kind word for it. It's as inappropriate as a political bumper sticker on an Arlington headstone," he said in a press release.
"Edwards is hardly the first politician from either political party to exploit this day, a holiday that was consecrated with the blood of American heroes. But the e-mail makes me sick nonetheless."
Memorial Day was established when Gen. John Logan, commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, proclaimed a day of remembrance for the Civil War dead on May 5, 1868. On May 30, 1868, flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. One by one, the states began marking the day until Congress made it a national holiday in 1971.
The holiday is very specific: It is a day set aside to honor those who have made the supreme sacrifice for their fellow American citizens.
Apart from Edwards' attempt to use Memorial Day as one more way to bash the Iraq war effort, others are chipping away at the holiday's unique character. In USA Today, for example, columnist Craig Wilson summed up Memorial Day Weekend as "the opportunity to remember people who are gone, who were taken not only through war but by the passage of time." Well, that would be everybody, right? We're all going to die someday. So much for honoring the brave soldiers who lost their lives so that we can live in peace.
It's similar to abandoning special recognition of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln by creating Presidents' Day. Who cares? They're all winners! Why differentiate between Jimmy Carter and the Father of Our Country?
Instead of protesting the war or watering down the meaning of Memorial Day, there are far better ways to observe it. Here are a few.
On Thursday, members of the Third U.S. Infantry placed small American flags on the more than 260,000 gravestones at Arlington National Ceremony. They've been doing this since the 1950s, and some of the volunteers remain behind as guards 24 hours a day so that all flags are flying on Memorial Day.
At Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park in Virginia, the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts are placing candles at the more than 15,000 gravesites.
American Legion Commander Morin offered these suggestions: "Attend a parade without the divisive political signs. Make cards for the comrades of the fallen that are recuperating in military and VA hospitals. Lay a wreath at the stone of a departed hero."
The National Memorial Day Parade will take place Monday at 2 p.m. in Washington, D.C., and feature veterans from every war beginning with World War I and up to Iraq and Afghanistan, and with heroes from World War II, such as the Tuskegee Airmen, Doolittle's Raiders and the Flying Tigers. The grand marshal will be actor and veterans' activist Gary Sinise, who played Lt. Dan in "Forrest Gump." In addition, the G.I Film Festival at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C., from May 26-28 will feature great movies all weekend that highlight American bravery.
Cities and towns across America will hold ceremonies and parades honoring the war dead. See more information about Memorial Day events and history can be found online.
It's worth a look, and it's a lot more inspiring than Mr. Edwards' "Support the Troops, Surrender Now" site.
Can’t somebody bitch-slap this little blow-dried punk?
Flag Day is coming up. Maybe he can burn a flag to show his patriotism.
Charley Manson had other folks do his dirty work for him too...
At the risk of arguing “against the man” in this case this vain elitist humbug is dragging Honor through the “loam” on his McEstate.
His candidacy (did I spell that right? It’s still too early for big words) is toast. Only the far left loons will still support him after this.
Personally, I thought he was a joke when he ran with Algore in the last presidential election.......
Hope they do...it’s about time some ass kicking took place. I personally don’t think the left has the nads.
Maybe this will play well with the loonies at move on but I doubt it goes over well in Peoria.
Flyover country won’t forget this stunt by the little turd breck girl lawyer.
Thanks for posting.
Sunlight is the best disinfectant.
I hope everyone will take a moment this weekend to remember those who paid the ultimate price.
Freedom is not free.
Semper Fi,
Kelly
What a cowardly pimple Edwards is. My gosh the guy’s completely nuts, and has just kissed away his presidential ambitions.
BUMP!
He ran with Algore?
My mistake.... he ran with Kerry..... Brain muddled during the holiday weekend........
Edwards is still a loon, though
Edwards, a loon? You are way too kind. ;-)
don’t forget.
LMAO!
I am sure Silky Pony is wondering how he can get George Soros on board so that Obama is left swirling in the bowl.
If so, he can come over to my house, and I'll fix it for him.
5.56mm
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