The Saratoga Springs Adirondack chapter of Veterans for Peace has been excluded from the Flag Day parade in the past, and was denied again this year, members said. The parade is put on by the Saratoga-Wilton Elks.
“There’s been this tension,” said Veterans for Peace member Michael McGraw of Malta, a Vietnam veteran. This year, the Elks group said members could march only if they stood with another veterans’ organization and did not carry their own flag, a black-and-white banner that depicts a military helmet and a dove holding an olive branch in its beak. Veterans for Peace has volunteered in community causes and worked with other veterans’ organizations like the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, he added.
But the Elks Club apparently sees the peace group as conflicting with the meaning of Flag Day. (Elks feel they understand the 'meaning of flag day', but they feel American Veterans don't)
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
...yeah, they hate peace. Another lie from from another communist democrap. Can democraps or the govt-controlled media even open their mouths without telling a lie? I think it is impossible for them these days.
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
Should a group of Veterans made up of those serving in many of our wars be excluded from taking part in Our Flag Day Parade? The Elks, many of whom are NOT veterans dictate who is 'patriotic enough' to meet their standards.
Is "PEACE" a undesirable objective for the ELKS?
Who is the next victim of the Elks prejudice? SAC (Strategic Air Command) has as their motto "PEACE IS OUR PROFESSION" ... Will the Elks outlaw those Veterans also?
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
People who want to take Flag Day and turn it into a Goddamn anti-American protest and make a political statement, apparently don't have a right to march in the Elks' (private) flag day parade. You want to force the Boy Scouts to have homosexual scoutmasters (all the better to recruit) too, so I guess you are at least consistent. However, forcing such crap down Americans' throats is something you democraps do well, and it usually is why you lose the faith of the people, even after republicans screw up. When people see how extreme and intolerant you are of people having views that don't march in lockstep with yours, they tire of your $hit pretty quick. So keep trying to sue your way into things like this, and yes- keep saying things like the "Elks hate peace." That wins people over real well. Maybe the chairmen of the local democraps can put that in a letter to the editor and get your lib-boy Murphy to sign it too.
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
WTH is an exclusively white, male, private organization like the Elks doing by having a flag day parade??????
I mean who the hell are the Elks???? This makes absolutely no sense what so ever.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Banning Veterans from marching in a Flag Day Parade... Says a lot about the S-W Elks Values.
I wonder if the Elks also thing that PEACE is Un-American.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
GB--whoaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Veteran's for Peace are great patriots. These guys have fought in all the wars. Why exclude them? I have been trying to get them to march in Rotterdam for years. HV would never invite them.
The Elks don't allow women (some don't--Rotterdam) they don't let Jews in and they are discriminating against Vets? No GB you're bigger than that--you know that is wrong. You recognize patriotism in so many folks--why not these guys. They also put their life on the line for the flag.
Come on GB--change your tune. I know you can do it.
Why is it that organizations advocating peace or espousing critical thinking skills when it comes to questioning this country’s policies and practices in pursuit of war are viewed as threatening or subversive to this country? Why do these organizations, whose life-affirming tenets in support of our choices in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness continue to be discriminated against by other organizations, whose very name would indicate an all-inclusive and protective organization? I am speaking here of Veterans for Peace [VFP], specifically the chartered Saratoga Springs Adirondack Chapter #147 that has been denied participation in the Flag Day parade which has been organized by a local chapter of the Benevolent Protective Order Of Elk (BPOE) lodge. You would think by the very names of these two organizations that they would have more in common than not. Unfortunately, the BPOE has shown only the “not” side in its indifference and disdain toward the local VFP chapter in its refusal to allow the free-standing (under our VFP flag and banner) participation in this parade. Veterans for Peace, made up of both veterans of the various military branches and associate members whose collective philosophy and shared vision of a world free from war and injustices, finds that it also has to stand up against the hypocrisy against the selective representation of this country’s fl ag. The Stars and Stripes flies for all here in America, which, if I remember my civics lesson, is what this country is all about. I, as a Vietnam veteran, take the BPOE’s exclusionary practice as an affront to all of this country’s citizens. The American flag cannot be co-opted by any private organization, regardless of how big and hairy the mascot.
Because it is not about politics. It is about the flag, and patriotism. Every year, the same group wants to make a "statement." Instead of just honoring the flag and the troops, we have to have a group wanting to politicize it. That is why. If there was a group "Vets against Obama" THEY would not be allowed in either.
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
GrahamBonnet, Veterans for Peace... Do veterans who promote PEACE offend you??? I think All Americans should promote PEACE, don't you? If there were a group of "Veterans for War" I think many Americans would be offended, but to exclude a group of Veterans who are accepted by other Veterans groups like VFW and American Legion, would seem to be Excluding a large part of main stream America.
Americas Veterans fought bled and died for their country... Our Flag symbolizes that country and their sacrifice... Americas Veterans come in a variety of religions races and political views... and all are patriots.
The Elks didn't argue to have these veterans "excluded" from the fighting or from the dying... but the Elks deem it necessary to 'exclude' them from the celebration that they have earned by their sacrifice.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
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