Yippiee. Vets for Freedom canceled at Forest Lake Highschoo

Just found out, due to pressure from the public. the Vets for Freedom visit to Forest Lake High School has been canceled.

** Thank you for making calls to Forest Lake ****

Vets for Freedom is a neo-con group.. like the Swift Boat group.

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: March 24, 2008
Forest Hills High School Cancels Pro-War National Heroes Tour:
Response to Outcry from Peace Groups and the Public

As the nation now mourns 4,000 of our sons and daughters in the U.S. military who have died in Iraq, Forest Lake High School, Minnesota, was scheduled to host a pro-war event under the subterfuge of "The National Heroes Tour." Ostensibly, the tour was to provide students with "an educational opportunity to serve their country." 150 social studies students were expected to take part in "classroom level activities," closed to the public. The tour, sponsored by Vets for Freedom--a national organization, is reported to be a "White House front group" (alleged to be aligned with former Swiftboating efforts) that is responsible for pro-war propaganda to help keep the war on Iraq going.

Counter recruitment organizations had planned to host a press conference, followed by leafleting and bannering, on Tuesday, March 25 at 9:00 a.m. outside Forest Lake High School, 601 Scandia Trail North, Forest Lake, Minnesota, Participants were various anti-war veterans from several military conflicts and representatives of peace groups. They intended to announce their opposition to the use of public schools as predatory grounds for pro-war groups that want to keep the war going, at the expense of young lives. However, as Principal Massey has responded this afternoon to pressure from the voices of peace in our community, the conference and protest are cancelled. Principal Massey is commended for refusing to allow the misuse of public high school for pro-war propaganda.

Michele Bachmann also was scheduled to be a part of this closed-door event. Nice to see the curtain pulled back on this fraud once again.

Thanks for pointing out DU.. now more people will get educated about who the Vets for Freedom are.

Nasty!, I didn't know about that Sanchez guy

I know the question is moot now, but I'm just wondering if these pro-family types like Bachmann would have kept parents from hearing the crap they were pushing on the kids - or if a parent's right to know and object to what their child is being taught is limited to evolution and sex ed.

I think they guy has some love towards MN.
He had this up quick

http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latestnews/index.php?id=11173

Forest Lake event canceled; too political
By ALLIE SHAH , Star Tribune

March 24, 2008

A national tour featuring decorated veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan won't be stopping at Forest Lake Area High School today as planned, after school leaders abruptly canceled the visit.

Steve Massey, the school principal, said the decision to cancel was prompted by concerns that the event was becoming political rather than educational and therefore was not suitable for a public school.

He said the school had received several phone calls from parents and others, some of whom indicated that they may stage a protest if the event took place.

"The event was structured to be an academic classroom discussion around military service. We thought we'd provide an opportunity for kids to learn about service in the context of our history classes," Massey said. "As the day progressed, it became clear that this was becoming a political event ... which would be inappropriate in a public setting.

"We decided to cancel," Massey said. Organizers of the National Heroes Tour then scrambled to relocate the event to the American Legion building in Forest Lake. The visit, which U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Stillwater, had been scheduled to attend, is sponsored by Vets for Freedom, a national organization run by Pete Hegseth, a 1999 graduate of Forest Lake Area High School who served with the 101st Airborne in Iraq in 2005-06.

"I think it's extremely unfortunate that a school would bow to the political pressure of outside groups and not bring in a veterans organization," Hegseth said. "Are we saying that patriotism and duty and honor have no place in our public schools?" So far, the tour has visited one school, albeit a private school.

The stop in Forest Lake was supposed to involve about 150 social studies students and was going to be closed to the public but open to the media. But the last-minute venue change left Hegseth wondering how many people would actually show up today.

"I don't know if we'll have a crowd," he said. "We changed venues, but we don't have the ability to publicize it." He said he had talked with school officials ahead of time and assured them that the presenters would not make any political statements.

"We had a number of conversations at the beginning of this to make sure our message was in keeping with the traditions of a public school," Hegseth said.

"We have not endorsed a presidential candidate. We're not in the business of doing that." According to the Veterans for Freedom website, the national tour "is about supporting our troops, honoring their commitment and rallying the country to complete the missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

At this critical juncture in our country, we need Americans, lawmakers and the media to fully recognize -- and appreciate -- the sacrifice of our brave military and the dramatic success they have achieved, especially in Iraq with the new counterinsurgency strategy."

When asked whether the part about "rallying the country to complete the missions in Iraq and Afghanistan" could indeed be construed as political, Hegseth said that the group agreed not to advocate about the "progress made in Iraq and Afghanistan."

"It's Iraq and Afghan veterans talking about what they saw and what they did there, and about what it means to put on the uniform of your country," he said. The veterans started their bus tour in San Diego on March 14 and will end April 9 in New York City.
Allie Shah • 651-298-1550

© 2008 Star Tribune. All rights reserved.

http://www.americablog.com/2008/03/lead-pro-war-vets-group-promoting.html

Of all the former military guys they could find, this is the best the "Vets for Freedom" could come up with? Former gay-porn star Matt Sanchez? Not that there's anything wrong with Vets for Freedom showcasing on their home page the star of the feel-good movie of the year, "Touched by an Anal." But still, kind of pathetic for a "conservative" group that probably isn't so good on Don't Ask Don't Tell. (Sanchez says he's not gay, but I'm guessing anal sex for hire and public distribution counts as "telling" anyway.)

:evilgrin:

the pro-war groups have lots of money to support their cause and a president that spreads his propaganda via the media. We win if we remain organized.

http://kstp.com/article/stories/S389680.shtml?cat=118

from the looks of Yahoo news today.. guess these kids will be ready for the next surge in Iraq. HOpe their families can provide them with needed armor

at the Forest Lake American Legion.

http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=502114

http://www.vetsforfreedom.org/heroestour/


Friday, March 28 St. Louis, MO

Saturday,March 29 Nashville, TN

Sunday, March 30 Fort Campbell, KY

Sunday, March 30 Evansville, IN

Monday, March 31 Louisville, KY

Thursday, April 3 Columbia, SC

Friday, April 4 Charlotte, NC

Saturday, April 5 Fayetteville, NC

Sunday, April 6 Virginia Beach/Norfolk, VA

Tuesday, April 8 Washington, DC / Vets on the Hill

Wednesday, April 9, 2008 New York, NY


:nuke::nuke::puke::puke: