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Is Trump’s Parade a Good Idea?

Susan Quinn
@SusanQuinn
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Anytime we have the chance to celebrate our military, I’m right at the front of the line. So I understand President Trump’s desire to have a mega celebration on Saturday to honor the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. (Celebrating his birthday, too, is icing on the cake.) But, this display reminds me of his decorating his penthouse with gold everywhere in sight—except these are taxpayer dollars.

So, here's what's planned for the parade:

The Army is estimating some 200,000 people will be along the parade route. The parade includes 6,700 soldiers, 28 Abrams tanks, 28 Bradley Fighter Vehicles, 28 Stryker vehicles, four Paladin self-propelled howitzers, eight marching bands, 24 horses, two mules and one dog named Doc Holiday, according to the Army. The Army has also added rocket launchers and precision-guided missiles to its birthday show. There will also be 50 aircraft flying overhead -- including World War II-era platforms like the M4 Sherman tank, the Douglas C-47 transport aircraft and the P-51 Mustang fighter. There will be Cobra and Huey helicopters too, according to the Army. Members from every Army division are participating in the parade -- with a vision of telling the history of the Army. The parade will have troops dressed in Revolutionary War garb and then move through the various wars in history, the Army said. As the troops and equipment march through D.C., any aircraft corresponding to that era will fly overhead.

Don’t misunderstand: I want to honor the Army; I want to have a parade; I love the idea of starting the day with Army leaders laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, having a fitness contest, and a festival. All of those things, however, cost money.

But they don’t need to cost $25 million to $45 million.

I would prefer to see a more modest celebration, one that reminds our citizens that we know many of them are still struggling; that we don’t want to spend their funds irresponsibly or casually.

I realize that this demonstration is also intended to send a powerful message to our adversaries.

Am I just being a party-pooper? Do you think the celebration should go forward?

If you think there is a better way to celebrate, that is just a little more fiscally responsible, please tell us in the comments.

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Discussion (123)

  • Sisyphus@Sisyphus

    The money and the hoopla to celebrate the Army, and by extension, the whole of the US military, in a lifetime when my family members in uniform were spit on for the crime of making flight connections in California, is just fine. $45 million for a one-time national celebration is an exorcism of all of the trash that has been heaped on our services for decades. Rock on, Mr. President. It is long overdue.

  • Tex929rr@Tex929rr
    ReplyingtoSisyphus

    Sisyphus (View Comment):

    The money and the hoopla to celebrate the Army, and by extension, the whole of the US military, in a lifetime when my family members in uniform were spit on for the crime of making flight connections in California, is just fine. $45 million for a one-time national celebration is an exorcism of all of the trash that has been heaped on our services for decades. Rock on, Mr. President. It is long overdue.

    Well said. Concur.

  • Susan Quinn@SusanQuinn
    ReplyingtoSisyphus

    Sisyphus (View Comment):

    The money and the hoopla to celebrate the Army, and by extension, the whole of the US military, in a lifetime when my family members in uniform were spit on for the crime of making flight connections in California, is just fine. $45 million for a one-time national celebration is an exorcism of all of the trash that has been heaped on our services for decades. Rock on, Mr. President. It is long overdue.

    I doubt that those who were denigrated and spit on will feel a whole lot better. Most people alive today weren't around then. And the memory of that treatment can't be erased. But since it will likely go forward, I hope it is a comfort to them.

  • DonG (¡Afuera!)@DonG
    ReplyingtoSusan Quinn

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    I doubt that those who were denigrated and spit on will feel a whole lot better.

    This is where you are wrong. We are in a culture war and denying that just means more losing. We have 2 generations of Americans that have been taught to hate America. We either fight that and turn it around or we turn out the lights. If Big Pharma can spend a $100 Billion/year to advertise, then we aught to spend at least $50million per generation. We need a whole of government and whole of society effort to restore our institutions. I'd spend a trillion dollars to fix this problem.

  • Susan Quinn@SusanQuinn

    So here's a question for some of you who think the celebrations should go on: is there any limit to the amount that should be paid? Chances are good that the total amount will exceed $45 million. Is $65 million too much? $75 million?

    Remember, I didn't say cancel the plans. I just asked to consider the people who are still living paycheck to paycheck and the message that's being sent.

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