A group of Littleton parents is opposing the design and location of a memorial to a fallen local Navy SEAL, Danny Dietz, who died in combat in Afghanistan two years ago.
They say the statue, depicting Dietz clutching an automatic rifle, glorifies violence. In Berry Park, it would be within blocks of three schools and two playgrounds.
"I don't think young children should be exposed to that in that way - unsupervised by their parents or any adults," said Emily Cassidy, one of the mothers.
On the other hand, anti-war protesters are having kids make fake cluster bombs out of balloons to be used for a “family-friendly Easter cluster bomb hunt”.
Seven-year-old Alvin Mitchell worked intently yesterday on what looked to be a blue balloon wrapped around a tennis ball. It was a fake version of a cluster bomb, and the real thing, he pronounced, can "blow you up and kill you."
The fake bombs Alvin and a dozen other children were making at a peace workshop will be put to use Monday in Lafayette Square. As hundreds attend the White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn, a smaller group will gather at the park on the north side for what is being billed as a "family-friendly Easter cluster-bomb hunt."
Honoring a soldier as a hero and realistically depicting him carrying a military weapon is harmful to children but having children make fake cluster bombs is not?
I actually think both of these groups have very little regard for their children and are using them as pawns. The Colorado group opposes the current war and is using the argument that a soldier statue will harm children to avoid giving any positive press to the military. The peace group is using their children as fodder for publicity by allowing them to build and play with fake cluster bombs. Both groups should be ashamed.
5 comments:
I totally agree, Denise. I can't imagine how their reasoning goes. Just doesn't make sense.
I don't want to split hairs here, but Danny Dietz was a sailor and not a soldier.
My husband is an Air Force fighter pilot. My son is on his way to being an Army officer. I consider them both soldiers though I guess technically my husband is actually an aviator. The statue of Danny Dietz is modeled after of a photograph of him on duty in Afghanistan, holding his weapon. Carrying a gun was part of his duty as a Navy Seal stationed in Afghanistan. It was not a feature added gratuitously to the statue.
So many people -- even Catholics --are being unnecessarily hurtful in expressing their views of the war, adding to the great burdens these military families must bear. I'm so grateful, Denise, that people like you are taking a stand like this. Your readers might also like to know about CatholicMil.org (Judy McClosky, who runs this site, recently became a "Canticle" columnist). God bless! Heidi Saxton http://heidihesssaxton.blogspot.com/
A knife is a wonderful tool for trimming the fat off of a roast, or killing another human being. A rifle is a tool for murder or defending one's family, community, or nation. Please, folks, don't lose perspective.
Else, are we to purge ancient Christian sacred art of the sword in Archangel Michael's hands? Or the spear in St. Benedict's? There are many such examples, be we don't think they glorify violence and provide a heinous example for our children...or do we?
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