Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Looking Back at Flag Day

At the end of Tuesday night's Common Council meeting, Alderman Nick Haddad (First Ward) congratulated the Hudson Police Department, the Department of Public Works, and the Elks Club for a job well done in bringing off this year's Flag Day Parade. Having done that, he brought up one float in the parade that he considered to be inappropriate. It was this one, featuring men dressed in combat uniforms, pointing guns at the crowd.

The float was the creation of the Rock Solid Church, a church that with its apparent obsession with militarism seems to have taken the concept of the Church Militant to a level not seen since the Crusades.

Supervisor Sarah Sterling (First Ward) took up the discussion, presenting photos of the float (the ones shown here) to members of the Common Council. She pointed out that, although the guns used on the float were said to be not real, such "look-alike guns" are illegal. The website lawyers.com states: ". . . federal law requires fake guns to be transparent, brightly colored, or have a bright orange tip at the end of the barrel. New York state law goes further to ban toy guns that are black, blue, silver, or aluminum, and toy firearms must have bright orange stripes that run up both sides of the barrel."

   
These guns don't appear to comply with any of the requirements.

Presented with this evidence, Alderman Ohrine Stewart (Fourth Ward) lamented, referring to the aldermen riding in the parade on the the replica ship Hudson, "And we couldn't give out candy!"

A young man in the audience summed up best the reason why the float's militarism was inappropriate: "On a day like this, we're supposed to be proud of our country not scared of our country."
COPYRIGHT 2014 CAROLE OSTERINK

32 comments:

  1. As is said here: in France the government is afraid of the people; in America the people are afraid of the government.

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  2. It's a good thing no one set off any firecrackers.

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  3. I am a daily gossips reader and this is the first time I feel compelled to respond.

    I enjoyed the Flag Day parade. I was impressed with the Rock Solid Church float (I have no affiliation to this church). It reminded me that we CAN enjoy the parade and be proud of our country because of the men and women who defend our freedoms. I was surrounded by strangers at the parade who all cheered and appauded when this float went by. They did not seem fearful ~ they seemed proud.

    Kathy Clark
    Hudson, NY

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  4. Seems like a church might be a little more into promoting peace among Gods children. Instead they seem intent on glorifying war to attract young people who feel they have few career options into a life of doing our dirty work. Turns my stomach.

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  5. I agree with Kathy. If you looked at the poster in back of our present day soldiers you would have seen soldiers representing every battle back to the American Revolution that have fought to help keep us free and able tomenjoy open forums such as this. Would anyone have objected to a civil war soldier pointing a musket their Way? This was a small part of their huge group. I don't know what they're doing but they are doing something that seems to be working...

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  6. Are you people crazy ? When is it acceptable to aim assault rifles into a crowd. How were we to no these were toys?

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  7. The Rock Solid Church's floats in years past have been laudable. This year's entry is not among those. There is no way to harmonize the aggressive nature of this year's float with the gospels of Jesus Christ (or any other mainstream religion) that I'm aware of. Moreover, it seems that every attempt to reconcile these divergent paths has led to both ignominy and suffering. The Children's Crusade, anyone?

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  8. Bob asked "Would anyone have objected to a civil war soldier pointing a musket their way?" Uh, yah, I would! Are you saying a musket is not really a gun? Any gun owner will tell you not to point a gun at someone, even a fake one that just illegally looks real. One more thing, what is it that seems to be working ? Recruiting ? Hitler was a good recruiter but that wasn't because his cause was just.

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  9. I'm very grateful my freedoms are protected by all this military might however what does it say about us when we have built a society whose economy is dependent on a war threat. It does't matter if it's real or imagined, present or future. It doesn't even need to be any of our business, just needs to justify the most awesome military force on the planet. I don't remember Jesus backing a killing machine but I think he would have been behind a Dept of Peace. What a novel idea, finding a way to live with your neighbor instead of blowing him up.

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  10. Rock Solid Church's float is totally at a variance with the teachings of Jesus Christ, which makes me wonder just what kind of doctrine is taught at RSC.

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  11. Btw how do we know these guns were "fake"

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  12. Immediately following the parade I sent an email to the church's leadership asking for a meeting with those responsible for the float. I have not had a reply. Two days later, I left a phone message for the church's pastor. No reply.

    No one cheered in the 500 block... most were aghast. A flagrant display of weapons pointed at parade watchers, for that matter, pointed at anyone is not acceptable in a civilized society. The church seems unwilling to discuss this issue and perhaps, not in touch with reality.

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  13. Some families seated in 600 block did cheer and wave their flags as this float went by. I was appalled. Jesus's teachings of love, peace and forgiveness in no way can be reconciled with he agressive militarism displayed on that float. The fact that it seemed to have so much support is the scary part.

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  14. Not in touch with Reality? It was a scene! Not an Attack! Saturday was a day set aside to honor a symbol - our flag. It isn't meant to do anything else but that. The people on the floats and marching are also symbols. I THINK YOU ARE OVER THINKING THIS! It shouldn't be this difficult for us to enjoy. That is all...

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  15. Sorry R Rasner, You'll only get deleted unless you use the password "JESUS" (all caps) in the subject line.

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  16. Bob, I'm not over thinking this, It was offensive, frighting and not what Jesus was teaching. Disgraceful

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  17. Even if Rock Solid Church believes that guns 'n' Gospel go together, Americans have had enough of gunplay, especially after Newtown.
    Who planned this float? Who allowed it to enter the parade?

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  18. Ok Ed. I'm sorry.... I still think it wasn't meant to offend anyone.

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  19. That by far was the best and most patriotic things in the entire parade. I actually was looking forward to seeing what they came up with to outdo last year's float. Our country was built on the blood and lives of soldiers who are willing to sacrifice for our country and freedoms. This was a parade about the American flag and being proud. It wasn't for religion and I applaud Rock Solid Church for making that the focal point. I at no point actually believed they were real guns I used something called common sense to realize that. No more than I thought that the color guards from the American Legion or any of the others that marched were carrying real guns other than the law enforcement agencies. I am not affiliated with Rock Solid but I for one am very proud as a veteran and member of this community that a church understood exactly what this day was all about our American Flag. Thank you Rock Solid Church

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    1. On June 14th 1777, the Second Continental Congress adopted the American flag.

      Also on June 14th the U.S. Army was founded, though two years earlier.

      I like to see lots of interests represented, as many as possible really, which is often a problem for the "diversity" crowd (there's an understatement!).

      But people who aren't actually soldiers carrying guns in this parade - whether real or only looking real - I don't think so.

      What would Jesus do? He'd defend the 2nd Amendment, of course! Says so right in the Gospels somewhere. (For Christ's sake, enough speaking on behalf of Jesus!)

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  20. Thom, I was not afraid the guns were real. I was afraid some troubled person might react badly. This is just my personal demon brought on by experience with an ex-solder ( my nephew ) who came back from Kuwait very emotionally troubled. (there are many like him in this area) Thankfully he has settled down some now, but for a long time after he got back his answer to every threat was "just kill it" and he always explained he would shoot first and find out why the gun was pointed at him later. This parade was for the general public which includes the full range of age, backgrounds,and wackiness. Why ask for trouble by pointing scary guns at children who may not understand what's going on, or the mentally challenged who god only knows what they think is going on. The float was a perfect moral booster for any military group, or any other group of known emotionally healthy pro gun individuals. This myopic "scene" could have gotten a RSC member killed.

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  21. June 14th is also the birthday of the US Army.

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  22. Ok people... As a gun owner and an Iraq veteran, the rock solid does an outstanding job.
    It seems as though most of these negative comments need a bit of education. 1, these are obviously harmless weapons along with all RIFLES used by color guards. 2, the term "assault rifle" is clearly a terrible and inaccurate description of a rifle. 3, it's a FLAG day parade. The flag wouldn't be flying if it weren't for the military defending it sense the birth of this great nation. 4. Do Not stereotype veterans as crazy. Sure, some people come back with some issues but, a float in a parade will not make someone flip out unless it fires a Canon or an actual rifle..soldiers are not killers, do not let the media fool you, which it seems it has on few topics. Soldiers do a lot more than fight in wars..

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    1. What does being an Iraq veteran (or any other veteran for that matter) have to do with a church?! A mosque?! A synagogue?! Whatever a coven calls the place where it takes place?! You believe those who don't agree with you need "re-education" about guns and religion --- some frightening thoughts there my friend. We (the world) usually don't here those 2 things discussed together except by totalitarian regimes. The fact that you hide behind a pseudonym while you deliver your insights is doubly troubling. Why not have the courage of your convictions and name yourself?

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    2. Sir, the commenter you address may be intimidated by your bullying effort to get them to self-identify.

      I've been on the receiving end of that tactic, so I am happy to answer for them that their personal religious affiliations - and whether those have any connection to flags, to the US Army's birthday, or to their personal service on behalf of the country - are none of your business.

      Nobody is required to explain themselves to you, and certainly not on topics as intimate as their personal faiths.

      The commenter did not say "re-education," as in Mao's or Ho's Reeducation Camps, but "education."

      From your disparaging insinuation that religious congregations are "covens," the impression you give is that Reeducation Camps - as in the Red kind - might be very much to your liking.

      You know, it wasn't too long ago that we did hear the words "guns and religion" coupled by our very own POTUS. Those remarks were made at a fundraising event in San Francisco (among the like-minded), and Mr. Obama was referring to those he believed "cling" to both their religion and their guns in the "fly-over" parts of the country he's done so much to damage.

      Well, welcome to fly-over country. Or did you come here to reeducate us?

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  23. No veteran would aim even a toy gun into a crowd, with children no less!
    You are trying to defend a mistake in judgment

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  24. Thanks John for stating it so clearly, thanks Windle for stating it simply and stottville... I don't think Chris stereotyped anyone, he was just clarifying where his fear was coming from.

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  25. I have one question. I attended the Memorial Day services along with the common council. At this event people fired REAL guns in a crowded park that had very many children and disturbed people in it. Why aren't you people crying about that???

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  26. Susan Lynn Troy submitted this comment:

    Would you please post this for me? Thank you!

    I had understood from reading it over and over, and hearing it over and over, that we were all 100 per cent supportive of the ( politically personal) choices our youth make voluntarily. Underscore voluntarily. In fact, that we are all proud of our youth's (politically personal) choices, whether we personally agree with them or not, and that we were all supposed to gather around them and cheer loudly and support those choices.

    I am unaware that any of the youth that rode on the Rock Solid Flag Day parade were kidnapped, or in any other way physically, mentally, or psychologically coerced into participating in the float activities. So, I guess that means that those young people participated freely and apparently, happily.

    As an FYI, Rock Solid is not my church. I am Catholic and quite happy with my faith, even apparently as unpopular, and currently off-trend as it is portrayed to be. But obviously God and Country are off-trend as well.

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  27. Thomas the Memorial Day event you attended was punctuated with guns aimed away from anybody firing blanks into the air so I don't understand your point

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