Well, that settles that question...

[rolanni]

The question of whether we're going to the fireworks on Monday, that is.

Sigh...

WINSLOW -- The Winslow 4th of July Parade Committee has barred a peace group from having a float in the parade, saying it does not fit into the theme of keeping the American spirit alive.

Waterville Area Bridges for Peace & Social Justice asked to participate in the parade but received a letter from Parade Chairman David Morissette denying the request.

"We are all about supporting our troops and our veterans and feel that any anti-war message or protesting is just not good for our parade and our spectators, even if it's done quietly and peacefully," Morissette's letter said. "We are not against what you stand for, we just don't feel it is what's best for the Winslow Family 4th of July Parade."

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Comments

Ewwww

[trolleypup.livejournal.com]

Well, at least they don't style themselves "The Winslow Independence Day Parade."

[filkerdave.livejournal.com]

I wish I could say I was surprised by this.

[oberon.livejournal.com]

That's about my reaction too.

Did they get in?

[(Anonymous)]

I know this is a bit early to post on the day of. but i'm at work, Canada day was the 1st so I got last friday off.

cherub.blog.ca

Re: Did they get in?

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

I don't know; it stopped being news in the wake of the turnover of a school bus full of campers. No fatalities, one serious injury, driver inattention the cause.

I suspect that the peace float did not get into the parade (which was to start at 10 a.m.). The reason I suspect this is that the organizers (who want this to be "fun" for everybody) have organized not one, but two flyovers (a pair of F16s followed by a pair of Wart Hogs, amusingly rendered "War Hogs" on the parade page (http://www.winslow4thofjuly.com/parade.html). The Air Force will also have six kiosks at at the so-called Family Fun Festival, providing the following fun entertainments:

*Free play of a brand-new video game call "Air Force Air Dominance"
*"Sky Surveillance" -- another video game
*A specially designed movie theater trailer billed as "three-and-a-half minute, high-powered audio visual experience about today's Air Force, shown on a 6 foot x 14 foot screen, with digital surround sound."
*Air-to-Air Refueling simulation game
*Special Ops Jumper virtual reality game, simulating a parachute jump
*An actual F16 that people can climb around on and talk to the pilot
*GPS satellite displays

...you can sorta see how the peace float might not've fit in with all this other fun...