Debate: How scary - or genius - is Trump's military parade idea?

Opinion: Is Trump's military 'celebration' political gold or the sign of a dictator in waiting?

The Republic | azcentral.com
Military personnel march in a traditional military parade as part of the Bastille Day celebrations in Paris.

President Donald Trump wants a military "celebration."

He says he was inspired by the parade he witnessed in France on Bastille Day, complete with soldiers, tanks and jet flyovers. Trump has asked the Department of Defense "to explore a celebration at which all Americans can show their appreciation," White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement.

But is this a good idea? The Arizona Republic's opinion columnists weigh in:

Can you say dictator?

LINDA VALDEZ:Dictator, anyone? Trump’s declaration that Democrats who didn’t applaud for his State of the Ego speech were treasonous was in line with his recurring delusion that he is the government. Then came the call for a military parade to, as he put it, “try and top” what he saw in France during Bastille Day celebrations. What’s this guy over compensating for, anyway?

More to the point: Who’s going to fix the roads after the tanks pass by? Is this Trump’s idea of an infrastructure program? First wreck it, then repair it. But the big question: Who will he hire to try to teach our soldiers to goosestep? I’m betting America’s soldiers are so steeped in American values that Trump’s authoritarian dance won’t come naturally.

It's genius (if it's about the troops)

JOANNA ALLHANDS: Actually, it's a genius idea (particularly if Trump can find sponsors to offset the cost to taxpayers for said celebration). If the president makes this about the troops – a celebration of their selfless sacrifice – and not just a show of every weapon in our arsenal, how could anyone criticize it? That would be like saying you want to club baby seals. 

I get it. Few people think Trump can pull off a celebration that isn't about him (or about poking North Korea). But if he can – hey, he used a lot of his State of the Union address to tell other people's stories – it's political gold.

Trump better go big or go home

ABE KWOK: I dig it the most. Why not? Americans love parades. I'd suggest floats, kinda like a Macy's Thanksgiving Parade but with Abrams battle tanks, Bradley Fighting Vehicles and armored combat earthmovers.

Or individual performances instead of military bands and marches. After all, America's Military Got Talent. And flag teams and balloons – the satellite type – and sing-alongs to "I'm proud to be an American," "Over There" and other patriotic songs.

And lots and lots of flyovers and streamers and confetti, of course. Yeah, go big or go home.

Hail to a dictator-wannabe? Heck no 

ELVIA DIAZ:  By all means, give Trump his military parade. Let’s round up all the homeless veterans around the country, bus them to Washington and have them march along Pennsylvania Avenue to hail the chief.

And the commander-in-chief better show his appreciation by turning the White House into a soup kitchen to feed them before he turns them loose to find their way back to the hell they came from. 

In all seriousness, I’d call this a silly idea if Trump himself hadn’t shown totalitarianism inclinations, where the military hails to the chief and nobody else. Is this the beginning of the end of America? It sure feels like it every time Trump comes up with stupid ideas. 

This isn't stupid - it's change

PHIL BOAS: I know what you’re thinking. This is stupid. Donald Trump wants a military parade just for the hell of it. He sounds like every dictator who ever wore a tin pot. 

But be careful judging Trump. We all misread him during the election. This may be what creative destruction looks like in politics. An irrepressible force arrives and starts knocking down everything we hold sacred. 

Change comes with brash indifference and a colossal ego. Like a wildfire it burns out the old growth and creates space for the new – new thinking, new ideas, new coalitions, new movements.

When this is finally and mercifully over, I have a feeling our politics will never be the same

READ MORE:

Montini: President Trump orders a military parade for … himself

Your Turn: Appearances, not strength, matter to our president

Trump's military parade is not a new idea. It's actually a retro one