President Trump's Parade

President Trump has ordered the Pentagon to put on a parade to honor the military. Apparently he got the idea from a parade he saw in France.

I think this is a ridiculous idea. It will divert millions of dollars and many thousands of people away from their duty of protecting the country. It also promotes the wrong idea. Our military dresses in ordinary uniforms and is trained to fight. Putting emphasis on snappy uniforms and precision drills presents the wrong image. Finally, it sends a horrible message. It brings up images of the old Soviet Union and petty dictators.
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Nearly one-hundred years ago a huge parade featured returning World War 1 veterans. Humorist Will Rogers suggested we honor them by letting them sit in the stands watching civilians march by. Maybe that’s not a bad idea. At any rate, let’s hope this is the only way we emulate the French military.
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