Super Bowl Parties with a purpose

Are you planning to watch the Super Bowl with family and friends this year? Why not raise awareness and funds for your local chapter at the same time by hosting an IVAW Super Bowl party on February 7th? Militarism is a recurrent theme in American culture. It pervades our media in subtle and sometimes obvious ways. For the average citizen this intrusion of martial values goes unquestioned. By hosting alternative Super Bowl parties, we hope you can help shine a light on one area of our society where patriotic symbolism is used to mask the realities of war. The National Football League takes pride in it's relationship with the military, but we want to challenge this tradition of linking the violence of war with competitive sports. We thought it would be fitting to represent the voices of military resistance to counter all the pro-war hoopla that will be featured at this year's Super Bowl. You can register online to host a party by clicking here. Then send out invites to your friends using the host tools provided. The U.S. military has strong ties to the National Football League, and this year's Super Bowl will feature an Air Force fly over, a military color guard during half-time, and live video footage from an undisclosed Middle East location where service members will be watching the game via satellite.  Last year, General Petraeus, architect of the Iraq 'surge' strategy did the coin toss before kick-off. The NFL says it supports our troops, but we know that the kind of support they need is an end to multiple deployments, real health care, and full benefits when they return home.  It's also important that we think critically about the way televised sports glamorizes the military and its implications for recruiting our young people.  Hosting an IVAW Super Bowl party is a small way to get the dialogue going. Help us get the party started by sharing a favorite food recipe that you plan to feature at your party.   Click here to submit your recipe and receive a surprise gift. We will circulate recipes to everyone who signs up to be a party host. On February 1st, we will send all party hosts a tool-kit with materials to help make your party a success.   Click here to register as a party host. Also, be sure to write a blog post or Facebook message about your event! In solidarity, IVAW National Staff