Robert, is this your car? 
Posted on 07/07/2005 11:59:33 AM PDT by phoenix_004
In the wake of criticism about a Fourth of July parade float that depicted a bloody, dog-leashed Osama bin Laden being pulled along by Uncle Sam, many local residents expressed their concern.
Ed Miller of Valparaiso said he was watching the Chesterton parade Monday from inside Flannery’s Tavern, located downtown along the parade route on Calumet Road, when the float, sponsored by the Supporters of the Military, went by.
“I thought it was terrible,” Miller said. “It was inappropriate, especially with the blood on it. The parade is really a children’s event in a small town like this. It opens itself up for bad criticism, especially to lead off as one of the major things in the parade. There were not many floats, and it drew people’s attention.”
Miller said the float, which won “Most Patriotic Unit,” drew criticism from some of the patrons nearby. However, Teri Wickberg, a Flannery’s employee, said she noticed patrons chuckling at the spectacle.
“They thought it was pretty funny,” Wickberg said. “But there were no other comments. There was nothing derogatory said about it.”
The military support organization received a number of calls about the float in the days following the parade.
Parade officials said they saw the float as the United State’s desire to capture bin Laden.
Several involved with the parade said many parade-goers applauded the float as it passed.
But at the Thomas Branch of the Westchester Library, circulation manager Claire Williams said she was a “little bothered” by it.
“I saw it,” said Williams, who attended the parade. “I thought, what the heck, it could be anybody Middle Eastern. There was no explanation of who it was supposed to be.
“Everyone’s entitled to their opinions, and I don’t have a problem with that,” she said. “But irrespective of what you believe politically, it was inappropriate with so many children present.”
Library patron and Porter resident Rory McMahan, said while he was not at Monday’s parade, he saw pictures of the float and his friends told him about it.
“I think the worst part was Uncle Sam pulling him on a leash,” McMahan said. “What’s next? Book burning? ... In the 1940s it would be like a Japanese person on a leash.”
McMahan said the float sets a bad example.
“We need to elevate ourselves, not lower ourselves,” he said.
“I wasn’t there, but I’m offended by it,” said Robert Northington, owner of A Token of Friendship tea room, also located downtown.
“This is the United States of America,” he said. “Patriotism is one thing, but bigotry and violence is another.”
“I feel that while I don’t agree with terrorism, we should set an example as Americans,” Northington said. “We’re supposed to be educated people. This isn’t the cave days.”
SOM supports soldiers in the U.S. military and has sent 288 care packages to soldiers overseas.
I personally find the flying of planes into office buildings or the detonation of bombs on buses and trains to be more inappropriate for children to view.
Yes, it really is a shame to see Osama bin Laden degraded in front of children that way. I am deeply saddened.
Brit would like this, so would Rush.
He went on to say that bombings and beheadings are "rather a not-nice thing."
Fop.
It might have been in poor taste, I dont know, guess I would have had to have been there and seen it for myself. There are some images I would rather not have my small children exposed to.
Understatement of the day. At least we know where Mr. Northington stands!
I have my 1.5 year old 3 year dragging a shredded Koran around by a kiddy fishing pole, how would that go over ?
We will elevate ourselves when we stop feeling sorry for the likes of Osama bin Laden.
For some reason, I don't think too many children were damaged by seeing Hitler portrayed negatively during WWII.
I've seen high school homecoming parade floats where the opposing team was subjected to some brutal treatment. Didn't cause any lasting damage. Well, maybe a little.
After 9/11, while in Sunday school one Sunday, my son's teacher asked them to write a sentence about how they could help around the house. My son asked "How do you spell 'Osama Bin Laden?'" and the teacher was taken aback...she asked "Why do you want to know?" My son replied "I'm going to help out by GETTING HIM!"
My son, at age 7, knew who the enemy was.
.
When Yamamoto began his tour of Solomon Island defences on 13 April 1943 his flying schedule was radioed, the communications office claiming ‘The code only went into effect on 1 April and cannot be broken.’ In fact the Americans had done so by dawn the next morning. The shooting down of Yamamoto’s plane was personally approved by President Roosevelt. After it was accomplished, a signal was sent to the theatre commander, Admiral Halsey: ‘Pop goes the weasel’. He was chagrined: ‘What’s so good about it? I’d hoped to lead that scoundrel up Pennsylvania Avenue in chains.’-- Paul Johnson, Modern Times.
they would have probably said it was okay to have a mock beheading float instead...you know tolerance and diversity and all that rabble /rolling eyes here...
I went to school from chesterton and work about ten miles away from it. Chesterton is fastly becoming a place for chicagoans to get away to visit and live. The guy offended I would bet is a transplant from chicago.
Robert, is this your car?
Right after 9/11, I spied 2 or 3 Usama images hanging from trees with a tight noose around his neck. I enjoyed the images immensely. After a few days, a article appeared in our small town newspaper declaring these Usamas to be in poor taste.
What do you expect from a liberal? God, he runs a TEA room.
Someone should tell him that he doesn't have a right to not be offended.
Yes but that was saint FDR who could do and say no wrong! What are you thinking
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