Thanks, but NO TANKS Letter to the Editor

While immigrant families are being hunted down in ICE sweeps and federal troops occupy U.S. cities against the will of local leaders, parading military vehicles through our streets sends a chilling message, that power, not people, defines our democracy.

We do not need reminders of state force masquerading as pageantry.  Rather than the machinery of war, we need reminders of what actually makes this country worth celebrating: freedom of speech, community solidarity, and the courage of those who have defended our rights.

Honor our veterans with dignity, not with gun turrets. Celebrate democracy by lifting up voices, not rolling out weapons. This is not a war zone. It’s our home. And our parades should reflect our highest values, not our darkest impulses.