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Summerfest: Putting a big smile on killing

PostDateIcon Tue, 07/01/2008 - 9:39am | xoff
Michael Mathias at Pundit Nation took the words right out of my mouth this morning:
Apparently not content to be just the worlds biggest music festival, officials at Summerfest are hosting a military recruiting exhibit called Virtual Army Experience, an incredibly violent interactive “game” in which participants shoot at people displayed on a life-size computer screen while standing on a real Humvee equipped with machine guns...

I can’t imagine what the management of Summerfest was thinking in allowing this horror show of death and violence onto the grounds, or how it would help their image as a family-friendly event to let anyone set up something in such obvious poor taste.

Peace Action-Wisconsin began a campaign against the exhibit, and has had at least some success, as reported by Kristina Paris, a longtime peace activist who called Summerfest to complain:

I just got through to a person: they reviewed the situation, have upped the age to 18 years with an ID, stopped handing out free DVD's but are still allowing the virtual killing. When I asked if a peace and social justice group could be there with an alternative to killing, they said they would be very open to most groups who pay for the booth space.

Maybe next year there will be an antiwar exhibit. At Summerfest, apparently all it takes is money. Organizers of the Veterans Day parade in Milwaukee have barred participation by Veterans for Peace because VFP is "political."

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Another Point of View

Submitted by Tyeson (not verified) on Tue, 07/08/2008 - 1:13pm.

Mathias calls the Virtual Army Experience "incredibly violent" and "a horror show of death and violence". I've seen this display - which is inside an enclosure and not viewable by the passing public - and I wonder why Mathias needs to be so dramatic. The fact is, the exhibit is based on the America's Army PC game - which is rated T for teen by the entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). From the ESRB website: Titles rated T (Teen) have content that may be suitable for ages 13 and older. Titles in this category may contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling, and/or infrequent use of strong language.

Stop, Think, Experience, Then Decide

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 07/03/2008 - 10:29am.

Look, if we are going to make a big deal about this, how about addressing that Grand Theft Auto is also at Summerfest? Otherwise it just looks like this is an ant-military thing! I encourage people to at least go look at the game, experience it, and then make up their minds on the matter. One way or another, I just don't want this getting out of hand because people think one thing about the exhibit when they would experience another if they actually went through it. Yes, I think they should put an age limit of 18 on it and kids 13-17 would need parental permission in order to go through, but they have the freedom to put up this exhibit just like we have the freedom to protest it. I just ask that people do this in an educated manner so as not to get the other side so riled up.

If your going to ban the

Submitted by Bill (not verified) on Thu, 07/03/2008 - 9:46am.

If your going to ban the Army than ban Grand Theft Auto that is bing played by kids but I guess it is ok to kill cops.

Kiddie Killing Game Coming to a Town Near You

Submitted by Freedumb (not verified) on Wed, 07/02/2008 - 1:59pm.

Here is the schedule for the Army's ridiculous "Virtual Killing Exhibit for Kids". Let your friends know that the killing machine is coming to their town soon. Jul 04 Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show 9am-6pm Battle Creek, MI Jul 05 Summerfest 9am-6pm Summerfest 200 N Harbor Dr Milwaukee, WI Jul 05 Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show 9am-6pm Battle Creek, MI Jul 06 Summerfest 9am-6pm Summerfest 200 N Harbor Dr Milwaukee, WI Jul 06 Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show 9am-6pm Battle Creek, MI Jul 10 Six Flags Great America 9am-6pm Chicago, IL Jul 11 Six Flags Great America 9am-6pm Chicago, IL Jul 12 Six Flags Great America 9am-6pm Chicago, IL Jul 13 Six Flags Great America 9am-6pm Chicago, IL Jul 14 Six Flags Great America 9am-6pm Chicago, IL Jul 15 Six Flags Great America 9am-6pm Chicago, IL Jul 16 Six Flags Great America 9am-6pm Chicago, IL Jul 17 Six Flags Great America 9am-6pm Chicago, IL Jul 18 Six Flags Great America 9am-6pm Chicago, IL Jul 19 Duluth Air & Aviation Expo 9am-6pm Duluth, MN Jul 19 Six Flags Great America 9am-6pm Chicago, IL Jul 20 Six Flags Great America 9am-6pm Chicago, IL Jul 20 Duluth Air & Aviation Expo 9am-6pm Duluth, MN Jul 26 Rochester Air Show 9am-6pm Rochester, NY Jul 27 Rochester Air Show 9am-6pm Rochester, NY Aug 06 Great Indiana State Fair 9am-6pm Indianapolis, TN Aug 07 Great Indiana State Fair 9am-6pm Indianapolis, TN Aug 08 Great Indiana State Fair 9am-6pm Indianapolis, TN Aug 09 Great Indiana State Fair 9am-6pm Indianapolis, TN Aug 10 Great Indiana State Fair 9am-6pm Indianapolis, TN Aug 11 Great Indiana State Fair 9am-6pm Indianapolis, TN Aug 12 Great Indiana State Fair 9am-6pm Indianapolis, TN Aug 13 Great Indiana State Fair 9am-6pm Indianapolis, TN Aug 14 Great Indiana State Fair 9am-6pm Indianapolis, TN Aug 15 Great Indiana State Fair 9am-6pm Indianapolis, TN Aug 16 Great Indiana State Fair 9am-6pm Indianapolis, TN Aug 17 Great Indiana State Fair 9am-6pm Indianapolis, TN Aug 23 Indianapolis Air Show 9am-6pm Indianapolis, TN Aug 24 Indianapolis Air Show 9am-6pm Indianapolis, TN Aug 30 Cleveland Air Show 9am-6pm Cleveland, OH Aug 31 Cleveland Air Show 9am-6pm Cleveland, OH Sep 01 Cleveland Air Show 9am-6pm Cleveland, OH Sep 05 West Texas Fair 9am-6pm Abilene, TX Sep 06 West Texas Fair 9am-6pm Abilene, TX Sep 06 Great State Of Maine Air Show 9am-6pm NAS Brunswick, ME Sep 07 Great State Of Maine Air Show 9am-6pm NAS Brunswick, ME Sep 07 West Texas Fair 9am-6pm Abilene, TX Sep 08 West Texas Fair 9am-6pm Abilene, TX Sep 09 West Texas Fair 9am-6pm Abilene, TX Sep 10 West Texas Fair 9am-6pm Abilene, TX Sep 11 West Texas Fair 9am-6pm Abilene, TX Sep 12 Tri-State Fair 9am-6pm Amarillo, TX Sep 12 West Texas Fair 9am-6pm Abilene, TX Sep 13 Tri-State Fair 9am-6pm Amarillo, TX Sep 13 West Texas Fair 9am-6pm Abilene, TX Sep 14 Tri-State Fair 9am-6pm Amarillo, TX Sep 15 Tri-State Fair 9am-6pm Amarillo, TX Sep 16 Tri-State Fair 9am-6pm Amarillo, TX Sep 17 Tri-State Fair 9am-6pm Amarillo, TX Sep 18 Tri-State Fair 9am-6pm Amarillo, TX Sep 19 Tri-State Fair 9am-6pm Amarillo, TX Sep 20 Tri-State Fair 9am-6pm Amarillo, TX Sep 20 Scott AFB Air Show 9am-6pm Scott AFB, IL Sep 21 Scott AFB Air Show 9am-6pm Scott AFB, IL Oct 10 Foothills Fall Festival 9am-6pm Maryville, TN Oct 11 Foothills Fall Festival 9am-6pm Maryville, TN Oct 12 Foothills Fall Festival 9am-6pm
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