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OPINION: Chilliwack Fairsa国际传媒檚 display of tank crushing cars deemed sa国际传媒榠nsensitivesa国际传媒 in light of Ukraine war

Chilliwack has a proud military history but military tanks shouldnsa国际传媒檛 be crushing civilian vehicles
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A Chilliwack Military Education Centre tank crushing cars is scheduled to be on display at the Chilliwack Fair on all three days, Aug. 5, 6 and 7, 2022. (Chilliwack Fair Facebook)

The 150th Chilliwack Fair is this weekend with a huge lineup of events and entertainment from traditional agriculture displays and the rodeo to the Chilliwack Model Railway Club to Vancouver Circus School and much more.

One demonstration, however, is causing some distress and could be potentially upsetting for some people.

As part of the ongoing outdoor activities, the Chilliwack Military Education Centre (CMEC) is scheduled to have a number of military vehicles on display, including a working tank.

sa国际传媒淐heck out the damage this massive tank can do all weekend long!sa国际传媒 according to a post on the Fairsa国际传媒檚 website. sa国际传媒淵ou might even get a chance to take a ride in it.sa国际传媒

When Tamiko Charlton saw an image on the Chilliwack Fairsa国际传媒檚 Facebook page of a military tank on top of two cars, she said it actually made her cry.

sa国际传媒淕lorification of what a tank can do to a civilian vehicle has got me in tears. I cansa国际传媒檛 believe in this day and age how they could think this is OK,sa国际传媒 Charlton told The Progress.

Charlton is hosting three young Ukrainians who fled the Russian invasion to come and work in B.C.

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A widely viewed video on YouTube from the war in Ukraine shows a tank-like vehicle, a surface-to-air missile system actually, driving right over top a car with someone inside. (The video goes on to show people rescue the person, who miraculously survived.)

sa国际传媒淭anks are not supposed to crush civilian vehicles,sa国际传媒 Charlton said. sa国际传媒淢aybe Russian tanks, but why glorify it?sa国际传媒

Chilliwack citizen Bradley Gionet also expressed dismay at the tank demonstration on social media.

sa国际传媒淎s a community that is housing dozens of people displaced by the war on Ukraine, as well as refugees from Afghanistan and Syria, this is completely distasteful and insensitive,sa国际传媒 he posted on the Chilliwack Fairsa国际传媒檚 Facebook page.

Someone from the fair responded: sa国际传媒淵es, the fair is primarily agriculture but it is also entertainment and family activities. We are always (looking) for fun and exciting ideas, feel free to send us an email or DM with comments or suggestions.sa国际传媒

Others commenting on social media said they didnsa国际传媒檛 have a problem with the planned tank display.

One person said that people should remember that Chilliwack is not just built on its agricultural roots but has a long military history with CFB Chilliwack.

Others agree.

sa国际传媒淲hen I was a kid, CFB Chilliwack was heavily involved with both Canada Day and the Fair,sa国际传媒 Rick Nicholas posted. sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 not sure I see an issue here.sa国际传媒

CFB Chilliwack is long closed but there is still a small military presence in town. There is the CMEC and the CFB Chilliwack Historical Society (CFBCHS) runs the Chilliwak Military Museum on Wellington Avenue.

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There is no question indeed that Chilliwack has both a rich agricultural tradition and military history.

If it wasnsa国际传媒檛 for a photograph of a large piece of military equipment crushing civilian vehicles, I donsa国际传媒檛 think anyone would have had an issue with what is planned for the Fair.

No matter what people think of the tank demo, the Chilliwack Fair has tons of great things planned from 4-H to music to gold panning.

Check out the whole lineup at .


Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email:
editor@theprogress.com


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