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Opposition to parade high, but not unanimous

Tahlequah Daily Press - 2/21/2018

Feb. 20--When President Donald Trump's proposal for a military parade in Washington, D.C., first hit the public sector, some thought the concept too silly to be taken seriously.

Many Americans hear "military parade" and think of Leonid Brezhnev, bundled in bearskin under a gun-metal Russian sky, atop the podium at Lenin's Tomb with his Politburo dawgs, scowling at Soviet armor and mobile rocket launchers as they rumble past. Perhaps North Korean pageantry pops into the minds of younger Yanks.

But despite so much scorn hurled by opponents of Trump, it currently looks like some type of military parade is going to happen -- and not everybody is against it. Trump is commander-in-chief of the armed forces, so it is probably within his executive power to call a parade. The Pentagon is sketching on napkins.

Criticism has come from many corners, including veterans themselves.

Ten-year Army veteran Stephanie Zamarron, whose husband is still in uniform, was opposed for numerous reasons.

"The Washington, D.C., mayor [Muriel Bowser] said the streets are not built for heavy equipment," Zamarron said. "When your military budget is more than the next 10 countries combined, you don't need a show of force."

Zamarron wondered if the estimated $30 million price tag was even budgeted. The Pentagon recently announced there is no parade budget.

News reports suggest Trump was impressed with the Bastille Day pomp in France, and wanted something similar for U.S. forces, perhaps held on Independence Day. Zamarron said there is sufficient acknowledgment without a national spectacle.

"Bastille Day wasn't just for the prime minister's [Édouard Philippe's] ego," she said. "There are monuments in the National Mall that honor the lives lost. Every town has a Veterans Day parade. If Trump wants a parade, he can come here to Parade USA. Tahlequah has more parades than any town I've ever lived in. He could get some free candy."

Cost, logistics and sending the wrong message have all been cited by opponents of a parade.

Robert J. O'Neill, the Navy SEAL credited with killing Osama Bin Laden, took to Twitter and wrote: "A military parade is third world bulls---. We prepare. We deter. We fight. Stop this conversation."

The Pentagon, with no parade budget, has suggested it will request donations to fund the show, and present five options for the president to consider. CNN reported them as "small, medium, heavy, hybrid and a multimedia display," with price tags of $3 million to $50 million.

The CNN story, sourcing a defense official, said the Pentagon doesn't have troops lying idle for a large parade, but might staff a small or medium procession with ceremonial units in the D.C. area.

But condemnation is hardly unanimous; there is some support for a military parade. A few commentators have suggested such a demonstration would goose public morale. They say Americans have been soured by decades of anti-Communist propaganda without seeing how many allies celebrate their respective military personnel.

France has Bastille Day, Luxembourg's National Day includes a military parade, there is an air show for Italy's Republic Day, Belgium's army troops and police parade on National Day, and Poland commemorates its 1920 defeat of the Soviet Union with a procession of military hardware. There are marches for Finland'sIndependence Day, Spain'sArmed Forces Day and Sweden's observance of the birthday of King Carl XVI Gustaf.

Even the United Kingdom has its military parades and RAF flyovers for Armed Forces Day and the birthday of Queen Elizabeth II.

Supporters say the expense is hardly prohibitive, claiming that Barack Obama's 2009 inauguration pageant cost more than $63 million, and that taxpayers think nothing of spending millions on parades for soldiers returning from war.

In an online poll, the Tahlequah Daily Press asked readers: "President Trump is considering the idea of a grand military parade. All things considered -- possible expense, message it sends to the world, other veterans' needs, the parade's possible use as a military tool -- do you agree with his proposal?"

Among respondents, 23 strongly disagreed and three somewhat disagreed with a military parade. Four strongly agreed, and two were undecided.

During the Feb. 17TDP Saturday Forum on Facebook, a few supported a military parade to support veterans.

"As a 20-year [Army] vet, I approve," wrote Henry Porter.

Penny Rose thought the public should get a chance to see its mlitary up close.

"Why can't we honor [service members]? Do you think they don't deserve it? We honor our veterans with a parade, so why not active duty soldiers? We should fill the streets in a show of support."

But most respondents were not enthusiastic about the idea.

"Neither veterans nor active-duty soldiers should be used as props," wrote Chuck Tyler.

William Bowman called the parade idea the "narcissistic dream of a weak president."

Check it out

Other Saturday Forum responses can be seen by visiting www.facebook.com/tdpress and scrolling down to the Feb. 17Saturday Forum.

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(c)2018 the Tahlequah Daily Press (Tahlequah, Okla.)

Visit the Tahlequah Daily Press (Tahlequah, Okla.) at www.tahlequahdailypress.com

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