by Pa Rock
Citizen Journalist
Donald Trump was in France last year and had the opportunity to view that country's famous Bastille Day parade, and he was so impressed with the show of military might that he came home whining that he wanted his own military parade. And if Daddy Warbucks wanted a parade, the Pentagon was damned sure going to give him one.
Plans were developed to have a massive military parade in Washington, DC, on Veteran's Day - November 11, 1918 - a date which also happens to be the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I - the "war to end wars." So, in one fell swoop, members of our military and much of their equipment would be marshaled into a show of strength to honor our armed forces, past and present, commemorate the end of the First World War, and glorify a political leader who never served in the military.
It was all good!
The cost for this big show has progressed through various rising estimations to a price tag that is currently somewhere north of fifty million dollars. The colossal cost of the endeavor has encouraged a few quarrelsome individuals to begin suggesting better ways that money could be spent.
Two particular areas where the government has fallen short in responding to the needs of American citizens have been receiving attention of late, particularly when presented in contrast to the proposed costs of the parade. One critical need is the dangerous drinking water situation in Flint, Michigan, a travesty that has already impacted the health and lives of thousands and will require countless millions to fix. Another is the continuing harmful impact of last year's deadly hurricane in Puerto Rico. Parts of that United States territory have been without power for the entire past year, and many homes, buildings, and segments of critical infrastructure are still in need of rebuilding or repair.
There is a growing demand that the money being budgeted for Trump's military parade be redirected to help Americans in critical need, particularly the citizens of Flint, Michigan, and Puerto Rico. And if the intent of the parade truly was to honor veterans and active-duty service members - rather than just to massage Donald Trump's ego - wouldn't it be wonderful if members o those groups could be sent in to help restore safe drinking water to Flint and to assist in the recovery of Puerto Rico? Wouldn't that say more about American greatness than a couple of miles of rolling hardware and service men and women marching in formation?
America doesn't need a parade - it needs a work day!
Citizen Journalist
Donald Trump was in France last year and had the opportunity to view that country's famous Bastille Day parade, and he was so impressed with the show of military might that he came home whining that he wanted his own military parade. And if Daddy Warbucks wanted a parade, the Pentagon was damned sure going to give him one.
Plans were developed to have a massive military parade in Washington, DC, on Veteran's Day - November 11, 1918 - a date which also happens to be the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I - the "war to end wars." So, in one fell swoop, members of our military and much of their equipment would be marshaled into a show of strength to honor our armed forces, past and present, commemorate the end of the First World War, and glorify a political leader who never served in the military.
It was all good!
The cost for this big show has progressed through various rising estimations to a price tag that is currently somewhere north of fifty million dollars. The colossal cost of the endeavor has encouraged a few quarrelsome individuals to begin suggesting better ways that money could be spent.
Two particular areas where the government has fallen short in responding to the needs of American citizens have been receiving attention of late, particularly when presented in contrast to the proposed costs of the parade. One critical need is the dangerous drinking water situation in Flint, Michigan, a travesty that has already impacted the health and lives of thousands and will require countless millions to fix. Another is the continuing harmful impact of last year's deadly hurricane in Puerto Rico. Parts of that United States territory have been without power for the entire past year, and many homes, buildings, and segments of critical infrastructure are still in need of rebuilding or repair.
There is a growing demand that the money being budgeted for Trump's military parade be redirected to help Americans in critical need, particularly the citizens of Flint, Michigan, and Puerto Rico. And if the intent of the parade truly was to honor veterans and active-duty service members - rather than just to massage Donald Trump's ego - wouldn't it be wonderful if members o those groups could be sent in to help restore safe drinking water to Flint and to assist in the recovery of Puerto Rico? Wouldn't that say more about American greatness than a couple of miles of rolling hardware and service men and women marching in formation?
America doesn't need a parade - it needs a work day!
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