On the site, Edwards posted a Memorial Day message, via YouTube.
Rather than observe the day with remembrances of the sacrifices that so many Americans have made for our freedom, Edwards is encouraging the country to send a message to George Bush -- END THE WAR.
Watch his message.
Edwards calls for the American people to "engage in an act of patriotism" on Memorial Day.
I don't think it's appropriate to so blatantly politicize the holiday by making it a time to speak out against the President.
Edwards says that the President is "completely ignoring what you have said to him and what the will of the American people is."
He charges, "George Bush has tried to use patriotism as an excuse for everything he's done, including what's happening in Iraq."
"Make it clear that we support the troops. We want to honor their sacrifice, uh, that we are incredibly thankful as a nation for what they've done for us in their service in Iraq. And the best way to honor their service, and the best way to support them, is for the President of the United States to do what America has demanded be done -- and that's to end this war."
I don't get it.
Are libs thankful for what our troops have done in Iraq?
Aren't they brutes who torture and kill civilians and show no regard for human life?
Edwards states that we should be thankful. Does that mean something did go right in Iraq, progress was made, and good things were accomplished?
Edwards encourages Americans to forget the holiday picnics and gather to "show how much you love this country and speak out in support of the troops and bring an end to this war."
Why hijack Memorial Day?
The day is meant to honor Americans who died serving their country.
Edwards wants to contribute to the bastardization of Memorial Day by turning it into an anti-Bush rally this year.
From Edwards' new website:
As citizens, we honor and support our troops for their service and sacrifice.
As Americans, we are blessed by that sacrifice and support, which keeps us safe and keeps us strong.
As patriots, we call on our government to support our troops in the most important way it can - by ending this war and bringing them home.
This Memorial Day weekend, we will all take responsibility for the country we love and the men and women who protect it. We will volunteer, we will pray, and we will speak out. Each of us has a responsibility to act, a duty to our troops and to each other. Support the troops. End the war.
Edwards lists "10 Things You Can Do Over Memorial Weekend to Support the Troops and End the War."
--Get local, get active, and get outdoors. Walk the streets of your neighborhood. Get everyone you know to sign a petition to your local government body—for instance, your town or city council or neighborhood association—to pass a resolution requesting that Congress use its funding authority to support our troops and end the war. Bring the petition to the next meeting.
--Send our troops a taste of home. Go shopping with your kids, your friends, your neighbors, and buy a whole bunch of stuff that would make a soldier happy to receive.
--Gather in public. On Memorial Day, get your friends, kids, co-workers, neighbors, aunts, uncles, grandfathers, grandmothers, and anyone and everyone you know together to publicly support the troops and end the war. Be sure to check with your local authority for any permits you need for public gatherings. Contact local media to publicize your event. Make sure you conduct yourself respectfully—both for those serving in Iraq and the memory of the brave servicemen and women that Memorial Day honors. Share your plans here.
--Pray. Organize a prayer vigil for our troops at your house of worship.
--Make your voice heard in Washington. Call President Bush at (202) 456-1111 or email him at comments@whitehouse.gov. Call your Representative and U.S. Senator and ask them to use their funding power to support our troops and end the war.
--Get vocal. Buy a bunch of poster-board and markers. At a picnic or with family and friends, make signs that say “SUPPORT THE TROOPS - END THE WAR.” Bring them to your local Memorial Day parade. Then take a digital photo of yourself and your family or friends holding up the poster and tell us about it. We’ll include it in a “Democracy Photo Album” on our site.
This one really bothers me.
I don't think a Memorial Day parade should be turned into an anti-war protest. It's disrespectful.
--Greet a vet. Before Memorial Day Weekend gets started, get in touch with the Yellow Ribbon Fund and volunteer to provide welcome-back services and mentorships to injured soldiers returning home.
--Say thank you. Send a thank-you note to our troops through organizations like Let's Say Thanks, A Million Thanks, or Operation Care Packages. Better yet - gather folks together to write thank-you notes at a picnic.
--Help an injured vet. Before Memorial Day Weekend gets underway, contact your local VA Hospital and learn how you can volunteer.
--Light up the night. Get your friends and family together and organize a Memorial Day candlelight vigil to support our troops and end the war.
Volunteering to help veterans, sending care packages to military personnel currently serving, and sending "Thank you" notes to the troops are worthy activities.
The problem with Edwards' suggestions is that he wants these things to be done in the name of disgracing President Bush and the policies of his administration.
Why does Edwards feel a need to reclaim patriotism anyway?
Does he believe that the Democrats have indeed lost their patriotism and they need to prove that they do in fact support the troops and love their country?
Of course, this is a political stunt. Still, if the troops and vets benefit from these political activities, that's a good thing. Doing something positive to help our troops and vets is far more constructive and better than burning Bush in effigy.
I don't like that Edwards is exploiting Memorial Day for a campaign boost. It's sleazy.
The day is one of solemn remembrance for our war dead, it's not "Reclaim Patriotism Day" brought to you by John Edwards.
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