Group Protests Army-Sponsored Video Game Tournament
A small but vocal group of military veterans picketed outside a U.S. Army-sponsored video game tournament in Rancho Cordova on Saturday. The group was protesting a video game event that they say was aimed at promoting military enlistment. A handful of members from the Veterans for Peace group protested outside the Army training center on Gold Tailings Court in Rancho Cordova. Inside, young adults were engrossed in the new game.
The Veterans for Peace don’t like this glorified promotion of being in the military. “It’s like giving candy to kids,” Sacramento Veterans for Peace president John C. Reiger said. “It’s sort of like military pedophilia in a way, preying on our young people.”
Army Sgt. Victor Farrier disagrees and said that the tournament was meant to draw attention to the new video game “America’s Army,” which the Army said provides civilians with an accurate portrayal and inside perspective on life in the Army. It’s not your typical video game. “The event is nothing more than an opportunity for people to become familiar with the Army,” Farrier said.
Farrier said the tournament was open to players 17 and over. Anyone under 17 was required to have a parent or guardian present to compete.
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Posted by Michelle Ventress
on Dec 8 2008. Filed under News.
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Is it against the law for the military to attract young people to try and enlist? What's the big deal here?
[ The Veterans for Peace don’t like this glorified promotion of being in the military. “It’s like giving candy to kids,” Sacramento Veterans for Peace president John C. Reiger said. “It’s sort of like military pedophilia in a way, preying on our young people.” ]
Wow, really? Pretty strong statement Mr. Reiger! Pedophilia?
Let's examine where Mr. Reiger is coming from being a member of the Peace and Freedom Party (Califormia's Feminist Socialist Political Party) since 1968. Here is a sample of what he stands for from the website (http://peaceandfreedom.org/home)
[ Preamble to Our By-laws:
The Peace and Freedom Party is an open, multi-tendency, movement-oriented socialist party. We are united in our common commitment to socialism, democracy, feminism and unionism and our common opposition to capitalism, imperialism, racism, sexism and elitism. ]
This is a non-story really, and Mr. Reiger's slanderous remarks equating military officials as pedophiles should have been ignored rather than printed here.
What's with the pedophilia comment Mr. Reiger? Seems quite slanderous to me certainly has no relevance in this context. Your hate for the military is clouding your judgment and you are just grandstanding to promote your socialist, anti-war views.
So…is it the goal of the Veterans for Peace to completely disband our armed forces? They don't like the glorified promotion of being in the military? Are you kidding me, aren't they veterans, are they not proud to have served their country? Anybody can cry boohoo but the existence of the armed forces is necessary for all of us to enjoy the privileged rights and freedoms that so many of us take for granted. Also, as long as they are not disillusioning people I don't see a problem with the Army sponsoring such an event.