Why Have Anti-War VETERAN Groups Been Prohibited From Marching In A Veteran's Day Parade?

Question

Veterans For Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War, and Military Families Speak Out have been barred from marching in Saturday's Veterans Day Parade in Long Beach California. Parade coordinators said the applications were rejected because of the groups' political views.

Do Veterans lose their First Ammendment Rights If they don't agree with U.S. Foreign Policy?

http://www.ivaw.org/node/2035

http://www.mfso.org/

http://www.veteransforpeace.org/

http://www.vvawai.org/

http://www.vaiw.org/vet/index.php

Answer 1

here we go this government, wants you to fight for their causes.and at the same time take your freedom of speech away from you.most likely these parade coordinators, were;nt even in the service.and if they were forgot what they fought for.the freedom of speech.the first Amendment right to all Americans.this makes me wish i never wore the uniform.i enlisted when i was seventeen years old.thought i was doing the right thing at the time.the Viet NAM war was wrong, so is this one in Iraq.i;ll tell any son of a -----the same thing over and over again.where;s the government now to stand up for these veterans.what a joke.wish i was there to march with them.all these veterans coming home without arms and legs.just wait when they go to the VA for help.so much for the freedom of speech.the constitution does;nt mean a damn thing.so many lives lost for what.former U.S. MARINE.

Answer 2

Let's get real here for a moment - there are an infinite number of ways for a fringe group of veterans who are sincerely anti-war to express their opinions, voice their dissent or promote their agenda, but a Veterans' Day parade is certainly not one of them.
As a veteran, I am, like everyone else, proud to have the right to make up my own mind and share my opinions - and this right in no small way is a direct result of those who have served to protect this right. I seriously have to wonder why some would chose to exercise this right in a dissenting way when others merely want to show their appreciation for the veterans' sacrifices during a simple, one day parade.
Rights must be tempered a little with some common sense and a little respect for those who do not share the same opinion. For those who oppose the war - let it rest for one day - you'll still have the other 364 days to voice your dissent.

Answer 3

And that's fine.

Even up here in the People's Republic of Massachusetts the courts finally had to recognize that parade organizers can decide who can and cannot march. In the Mass state it was a gay rights group that was prohibited from marching - and Mass is the home of all things gay.

Besides on Veterans day when we're celebrating the flag and those who have served, who really wants to see an anti-war demonstration.

Answer 4

Great question. The politics are that if you like war, you can march. But if you served this country, and don't like war, you are something less than an honorable vet and good citizen. I support free speech in all it's forms. For the anti-war voices to not be heard is something we would expect in Pakistan, Bejing, Tehran, countries that do not allow any kind of speech not supporting the government. The veterans against the war are the ones who are most entitled to having their views heard, because they risked it all to save freedom of expression - even that which supports war and killing.

Answer 5

Because anti war protestors always bring a negative atmosphere to any veterans parade.
They are saying that war is wrong and does nothing; yet it is with war we got our freedom from England, stopped other countries from taking over our territory, stopped slavery from being the norm, stopped the Nazis from taking over Europe and the Japanese from expanding its empire in the Pacific and right now stops the middle eastern countries from blowing up anymore of our buidlings!! Remember 9/11

Answer 6

Veterans day is meant to support and honor veterans. Even if the protestors are veterans, you have to be very careful with your words because the young people fighting right now take it the wrong way and deserve every bit of respect and gratitude.

Answer 7

You mean like the false dishonorably discharged wackos like the drive by media and the Commie left holds up that said they are in Iraq and got kicked out of boot camp.

Nice try.

Answer 8

Because each parade is sponsored by a private group who can invite or not invite whom ever they want.

Answer 9

Because they don't want to support any legitimacy of anti-war veterans. that would pretty much kill the talking point that all of our veterans are for the war.

Answer 10

Sorry, but a Veterans' Day parade should be about honoring our brave members of the armed forces. It shouldn't be about making a political statement. I think it's disgusting that everyone can't leave the politics at home for one day.