By Gil Field / San Diego Veterans for Peace
Editor Note: Thursday, September 6th, 2018, from 4 PM to 6 PM will be the fifth in a series of veteran “bannerings” on the Carroll Canyon I-15 overpass encouraging the public NOT to attend the September Miramar Air Show.
Local veterans, friends and supporters from the San Diego Veterans For Peace are in their third year of a five year educational outreach encouraging the public to stay home and not attend the annual Miramar Air Show this month.
Veterans believe that the Miramar Air Show glorifies war with an exciting show of speed, power and noise. It celebrates the skills and machinery that exist to kill, maim and destroy. The show is very dangerous …. 10% of all Blue Angel pilots have been killed in shows or accidents. Miramar jets have already crashed in San Diego neighborhoods. Lastly, the show is a misleading recruiting tool for our youth and exists to allow defense contractors to showcase and sell their latest tools of death.
San Diego Veterans for Peace bannering on the Carroll Canyon I-15 overpass to oppose the Miramar Air Show
Veterans of San Diego Chapter #91 have provided speakers to numerous San Diego civic and educational organizations, and each summer “banner” weekly on the Carroll Canyon overpass over the I-15. They have also been featured on local TV and radio programs.
In 2016, a camera crew attended the Miramar Air Show and produced an excellent 19 minute documentary of what really goes on there. The documentary, entitled “Disneyland of War” is on Youtube and is included here. (Warning: includes brief scenes with graphic images of actual combat)
At Large
Latest posts by At Large (see all)
- Future of Journalism is in Our Hands - December 13, 2018
- 30 Arrested at Border for Nonviolent Action in Support of Migrant Caravans - December 11, 2018
- The Dorn Effect | Remembering Bob Dorn - December 5, 2018
Besides the main point of this article that we do not need to glorify war, and that this event puts residents and military members at unnecessary risk, the event also contributes to air and noise pollution at a time when these pose significant health risks for our population. End it!
Thanks, editors, for letting people know patriotism often celebrates death-dealing. We don’t HAVE TO GO to go to this “air show” to prove we’re patriotic, nor do we have to send teenagers to Afghanistan and the Mideast to risk their lives for… what? Let’s remember that we don’t need to kill people for no known reasons. Why, after all, did we go to Afghanistan decades ago?
“To risk their lives for what?”
You hear about that 9/11 thingy? Rather unpleasant affair.
So is war of course, but history shows that while diplomacy works in most cases, in others your enemy plots ways to kill you and that is the only language they understand.
I have to admit that jingoistc patriotism can be nauseating so dont assume that everyone to the right of you falls for it. There are usually more practical reasons behind policies than “freeing the Iraqis” etc.
Why did we go to Afghanistan? That was my question.
I told you. 9/11. Did you sleep through 2001?
History shows that outsiders should not wage war in Afghanistan.
No, history shows other attempts at military action there failed.
It would not preclude a bombing campaign and invasion after 9/11 to deny bin laden and al qaeda safe haven to wage further attacks on us.
History has been proven right.
The mission as stated at the outset was fulfilled. Afghanistan was no longer safe haven for al qaeda.Bin Laden fled to pakistan where he was killed. The taliban, a truly evil regime committing human rights abuses especially on females, saw their grip on power diminished.
Seems you are suggesting it was a failure on our part. Is it perfectly blissful? No.
We didnt intend to own it and its unrealistic to think they would end up friendly allies. However we now have about 10k troops and about 7k more NATO and other allies involved with support to afghani security forces. About 15% of provinces are under insurgent control but the country is stable. Its not a quagmire and we havent been chased away in shame like Vietnam.
Moreover we didnt go there to exploit their resources like the Soviets did so in light of 9/11 I think no historical precedent exists.
Although I support that war for practical reasons (preservation of petrodollar hegemony and fulfilling obligations to allies in kuwait and KSA) the invasion of Iraq would be difficult to defend a moral aspect of. Afghanistan was a no brainer after 9/11 and the taliban foolishly vowed to protect al qaeda, and the near unanimous congressionap role call on the bill that launched it reflects that.
Finally this is a great article and we need to remember that war is nothing to glorify and should be approached by leaders with caution and humility. Progressives should be commended for reminding youth its nothing to get caught up whooping oe hollering for. In some regions its treated like just another deer hunting trip.
Deer dont shoot back or blow your legs off.
best way to show true patriotism is to VOTE!!!!
number 2: peaceably assemble and demonstrate.
(yes, democracy can look chaotic while it’s happening.)
If we don’t protect our country we won’t have one, it’s as simple as that. Unfortunately we have an massive tools-of-war industry that over markets and over sells its products.
If you look at how difficult it was to change the tobacco industry’s hold on the American people you can start to get an idea of how difficult it will be to rid America of its gun cancer which kills so many innocent lives every day in this country.
It’s too hot and crowded there and who would pay $245 to sit in the “Devil’s Dog Chalet”?
Massive over hype, get real folks.