Veterans Day is an emotional day for many across the US, when people get the chance to honor the Veterans that have served our country in multiple selfless ways. A heated debate has boiled over on the issue of who has the right to be apart of Veterans Day celebrations. There are strong stances on both sides of an issue that is bound to make some angry and make some resentful. A lot of public opinion feels that all Veterans Day parades and celebrations should be absent of any group that is protesting the war, promoting peace or calling for an end to war in Iraq. It would be common sense to keep these political groups out of such celebrations but a defining line has been drawn that is hard to make sense out of. Some of the groups that are being banned from veterans day celebrations are actual veterans themselves. Not only are some of these Veterans from all walks of service, wars and history but many are actually Veterans that have returned from tours of duty in Iraq.

While the Veterans that are being banned from Veterans Day celebrations are promoting different viewpoints, many can not argue the fact that by banning these Veterans from parades they are preventing Veterans from utilizing their free speech rights. Some Veterans such as Reid Jenkins stated, “They are saying that we can’t be Americans pretty much. They’re saying we can’t challenge our government. Veterans for Peace is an organization that challenges the government on this Iraq war. We believe that the US Constitution allows the people to challenge the government.” Even though the message that is being promoted by Veterans for Peace is truly a message of peace it still is a slap in the face to some people of the public and veterans who feel veterans day celebrations are for nothing but honoring those who served and any message not promoting positive messages should not be allowed. An 84 year old World War II Veteran is against the other groups saying, “It’s not a political deal, this is to honor Veterans who have served.” Another Veteran from the Army said they didn’t think any Veteran should be allowed in the parade and that they have the right to, “just invite the Veterans who agree with their point of view.”

The controversy blew up biggest on the California coast in the Long Beach area. In the Long Beach Veterans Day Parade people started to get upset when they learned most veteran groups promoting unpopular messages had been banned from the parades. Most were banned with the simple message that they did not, “represent the spirit of the parade.” There were 3 main groups that were denied participation in the Long Beach veterans Day Parade, they are: Iraq Veterans Against the war, Veterans for Peace and Military Families to Speak Out. After the groups received denied applications they appealed to the Long Beach City Council. We have provided a transcript of the appeal by Jason Lemieux below and included the video that is hosted on YouTube. 

 The final word and response by Long Beach City Councilman Val Learch was, “This is not a political event, this is a time to come and just say thank to all veterans.” With all the heated debate going on in California over the Long Beach banning other parts of America were seeing the same trend. A report by the Army Times on the California banning can be found here.

In Denver, Colorado only days ago all of the mentioned groups were banned from participating in Veterans Day Parades and celebrations. After appeals by the groups to council members a deal was struck to allow them to participate. A member of Veterans for Peace, Frank Bessinger said, “We don’t want to be specially recognized, but we do want to be honored for our service.” One swaying factor the group was allowed to participate was that they clearly stated if they were banned from the parade they would march down the sidewalk during the parade and protest their ban from the parade itself. After some discussions, Jerry Hageman, the president of the Denver United Veterans Council said they had set guidelines and rules and they were agreed upon by the group. This allowed the group to participate as long as they were willing to work with people opposed to their participation. Things did not go perfect however, as some parade attenders shunned the members and got in disputes by trampling signs and turning their backs. A more detailed account of the Denver, Colorado Veterans Day Parade and the opposing groups can be found here.

On another side of the United States, Atlanta, Georgia faced the same problems mounting from all of the groups that opposed positive viewpoints of parade organizers. The groups in Atlanta called The Veterans for Peace Chapter 125 and American Veterans for Equal Rights Georgia had their applications denied for participation in the parade there. After appeals by both groups and reapplying for participation in the parade an agreement was made to let the groups participate on very specific conditions. The conditions were the groups could participate but they could not display any signage or display that promoted peace and the other condition oddly stated they could not show any public displays of affection. The Parade Association was clear in defense of itself by stating they didn’t want any type of political agenda or ideas becoming part of the celebration.

Yet, after first having their applications denied, the Association now says that they can march but cannot display any messages of peace, in the case of VFP, or show any “public displays of affection,” in the case of AVER. You can read more bizarre quotes and accounts of the Atlanta situation at this news report here.BUSINESS SHRINK REACTION:

The Business Shrink weighs in with his comments on peaceful demonstrations on Veterans Day. I feel that all Veterans should have a voice in Veterans Day Celebrations and Parades throughout American and elsewhere celebrating the patriotic acts of our men fighting for our country. Even if some of the causes are viewed differently by some of the Veterans, Veterans should have a right to express their feelings since they are a category of people who have put their lives at risk for our country in wars. I do understand that some wars are less popular while they’re being waged in retrospect, less popular than others and can be divisive. Clearly the Iraq war fits into that category. However, as long as the demonstrations are peaceful by the Veterans even if it’s a dissenting point of view, I think they paid their price of admission to have a voice on Veterans Day. Needless to say, we have elected officials who are very vociferous about wars that are either going to happen, did happen, or have yet to occur. If fact some of them, as high as US Presidents have the power to direct us in to war without ever having been a Veteran. Needless to say, the Constitution gives them the right to do that and they have no only a voice but they have a great power to decide for all of us. In light of that, especially we should not be blocking Veterans from having dissenting opinions. I do agree in the fact that civil discord should be done civilly and there should be nothing from either side to detract from the message that each party may have. There should be general ground-rules where peoples views should be heard but not where one party or group can drown out the other with conduct that would be hostile or blocking in nature. Thank you.

As these issues are fought out through organizations, city councils and committee’s we want to know what the average American feels. Do you feel these Veterans have a right to participate in the parades and promote peace, anti-war messages and other messages if they have served like everyone else?