Parade Float Depicting Bin Laden Sparks Debate

[sabra]

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http://www.nbc5.com/news/4698314/detail.html

Parade Float Depicting Bin Laden Sparks Debate
Some Say Prize-Winning Entry Offensive To Muslims

POSTED: 8:08 am CDT July 8, 2005

CHESTERTON, Ind. -- A Fourth of July parade float depicting a shackled, bloodied Osama bin Laden has divided some residents between those praising the display as patriotic and others who see it as un-American.

The float, which won the prize for most patriotic unit in the northwestern Indiana town's parade, featured a man dressed as Uncle Sam holding a leash that bound the hands of a bearded man in a robe and turban. The robe was splattered with fake blood because it was a leftover Halloween costume, said Penny Kozinski of Supporters of the Military, which sponsored the display.

....

"We were just showing we were capturing the bad guys," Kozinski said. "We're going to catch the bad guys and then our guys can come home."

....

"If the Founding Fathers saw that, they'd freak out," she said. "It was just hate, pure and simple."

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[johnfunk]

1. My float would've been different...

... a shackled, bloodied Osama on his knees. Next to a shackled, bloodied Eric Robert Rudolph. Next to a shackled, bloodied Karl Rove. Next to a shackled, bloodied Charles Taylor.

Now THAT's a prizewinner...

[u2spirit]

2. Wingnuts and islamofascists

2 sides of the same coins. But they hate us for our freedoms. Whooops, we don't have any anymore!

[Mari333]

3. Chesterton Indiana, been there, seen it.

Lots of yellow decal ribbons and sinking economy..Like much of Indiana..good old boys and unilateralism , guns god guts types..lots of Get OUT of the UN! signs on the highway..funny thing is, these same people will not let their kids enlist...on edit, why not a float with a shackled prisoner being defecated on with a hood over his head from Abu Ghraib? Knowing some of the people I used to know in Indiana, they would probably like it..

[fudge stripe cookays]

4. Um...note to Penny....

If we'd had more "good guys" in Afghanistan, we would have been able to capture the bad guys.

As it is, you and all your dumbfuck red buddies had to support a war in a completely different place, so we don't have that many soldiers to capture the bad guys anymore.

:eyes:
I don't see this happening real soon, unfortunately.
FSC

[Rose Siding]

5. In all sincerity, 'think of the children'

Drag a bloody brown prisoner down the street enough times and it's bound to make an impression :grr:

[sabra]

6. and we criticize the "enemy" for brainwashing their children

kind of ironic?

[zara]

7. GOP Fantasy

Osama's not captured and we're in a quagmire. Why not wish for what could have been? Or just rewrite history anyway? After all, they "won" the 2004 elections.
If it weren't for those who hate America, would the fantasy already be reality?--the permanent lie of the GOP. They've held on to this one about Vietname for 30 years now.

[marions ghost]

8. bad guys, good guys....

simple lessons in how to "otherize"...Abu Graibe style

Perverted Patriotism Award

[msrbly]

9. Offensive to Muslims? Offensive to others too.

But that's northwest Indiana for you. I lived there for three years while I was in law school. I'm from west Michigan and every time I drive over that border I say a little prayer for God to keep me safe in Indiana and bring me back to Michigan soon.

[Frances]

10. Osama bin Laden is FREE

Do these people think that Saddam and bin Laden are the same person?

It's ironic to be reading this post the day after so many people were killed in London, perhaps directed by a FREE bin Laden.

[geek tragedy]

11. Here's an idea: Capture the REAL Osama. But Bush isn't concerned about

him. eom

[Gabi Hayes]

13. amazing that the MSM isn't constantly replaying these clips/quotes, yes?

Where in the World is Osama bin Laden?
1396 days

—"The most important thing is for us to find Osama bin Laden. It is our number one priority and we will not rest until we find him." President Bush, 9/13/01

—"I want justice...There's an old poster out West, as I recall, that said, 'Wanted: Dead or Alive,'" President Bush, 9/17/01, UPI

—"I don't know where bin Laden is. I have no idea and really don't care. It's not that important. It's not our priority." President Bush, 3/13/02

—"I am truly not that concerned about him." President Bush, responding to a question about bin Laden's whereabouts, 3/13/02

—"Because he's hiding…" Bush, explaining why Osama bin Laden has yet to be captured. (Washington Post interview, Jan. 16, 2005)

NOT

[BoneDaddy]

12. Offensive?

Wow, this is an interesting one. On one hand I support these "floatmakers" in that their choice of float is protected under free speech and even though I may disagree with the message, I recognize their right to do so.

What it does do is show a lack of class and understanding. It is because of an attitude like this that has earned us the dislike of much of the world.

I find the float interesting though. Kinda resembles the crucifixion or a lynching and the mentality of many folks down that way is just that, a lynch mob.

What makes it most ironic is that these folks most likely consider themselves to be Christian, prolly fundamentalist in bent. They know not the peace of Christ, only the anger of a vengeful God. They focus not on the resurrection but on the "blood of Christ", the suffering and anyone who does not believe as they do is somehow influenced by the devil. A sick and twisted form of spirituality.

[sabra]

14. Welcome to DU, BoneDaddy

:hi:

[comsymp]

20. Well said, right down the line

Can't really argue with, or add to, anything you said. But I want to repeat part of it just for emphasis:

It is because of an attitude like this that has earned us the dislike of much of the world.

And the sad part is, it ain't gonna get any better because these types of people actually seem to take pride in their ignorance.

[Igel]

15. I don't think the founding fathers would freak.

They lived in a time in which many people would be familiar with the slaughtering of animals, with the brutalization and depiction of enemies in humiliating and cruel situations; one in which a person was not assumed to be affirming something because he was focussed on condemning something entirely different.

"Hate" has a place in secular society.

[lebkuchen]

16. How would a float asking where OBL is and why Bush hasn't captured him

have been received by the patriotic Indianains?

[Roland99]

17. They're called "Hoosiers"

;)

[lebkuchen]

19. I get that confused w/Hooters.

Lots of big guts and huge tits on men in that state, ya gotta admit.

[Zenlitened]

18. George Bush let Osama bin Laden WALK AWAY...

... because he didn't trust our own troops to get the job done.

Just a friendly reminder to the fantasy-besotted folks of the "Supporters of the Military."

Bush kept American forces on the sidelines... and let the man who murdered 3,000 on 9/11 just slip away into the hills.

If you support the military then you cannot -- by definition -- support this incompetent, bumbling excuse for a commander-in-chief.