Opus 2018-040: Headlines: A View from the Parade

I would join those who are against the idea of a big military parade.  I speak as one who has earned the right:  I am a veteran. 

I have not done any surveys so this is not a scientific opinion, but then neither are a lot of the scientific opinions we hear.  I speak as one who has worn the uniform and been forced to stand and march in formation.  I hated marching in parade.  I hated standing in formation.  I think that the vast majority of enlisted personnel would agree with me.

If they have the parade I will get on board and cheer my country.  That doesn’t mean that I don’t feel sympathy for the poor saps that have to march in step and keep their lines straight.  I am also not promising to watch.  I am someone who used to spend the entire night on the Rose Parade route and then sleep through the spectacle itself.

My suggestion would be to take all the money that will be used to plan and produce the parade and divide it up.  Give each enlisted man who would have been forced to march a little bonus in their next paycheck.  That would boost morale.  Maybe they could also give them a medal for their participation and make the progressives happy.  For that matter they could mail out ribbons to everyone who claims they would have attended.

homo unius libri