drtbkr's Blog

I realize that there has already been a QOTD about the Veterans for Peace group being excluded from this years parade, but I think that the Fox 31 News coverage of this story deserves a post of its own.

The facts of this story are that the Veterans for Peace group were not banned because of their political views, but rather for breaking the agreement with the parade organizers last year by chanting political slogans while marching. The purpose of the parade is to honor veterans. It is not to be used as a stage for groups to air their political views, regardless of the topic.

 Apparently the Veterans for Peace are not the only group anxious to politicize the Veterans Day Parade. Add Fox 31 News to this list.

 Ron Zappolo began Wednesday nights coverage of this story by saying that the parade "will not include groups that are anti-war."  This implies that there was more than one group excluded when, in fact, only the Veterans for Peace group was banned. To some this may also imply that the groups allowed to participate are somehow pro-war. Not satisfied to merely imply that, Zappolo went on to say that, "only veterans for war will be marching."  The reporter, John Bowman, also used the term "veterans for war." 

 Now I'm not a veteran myself, but I can certainly say that none of the veterans I know could be considered to be "for war." While some veterans may or may not support the current war in Iraq, to say that they are generically "for war" is ridiculous and insulting.

 Shame on you Fox 31 News for so blatantly masquerading your political agenda as  a factual news story. But more importantly, shame on you for disrespecting our veterans who will be marching in this years parade by implying that they have a pro-war political agenda, just because they don't belong to the group you apparently support. You owe them an on air apology.