Sunday, September 28, 2014
LATTE SALUTE!
Without a doubt, every President of the US makes controversial mistakes. Some have sex scandals and affairs, and some forget that a half-ass, latte in hand salute is disrespectful. But what has truly made the last few presidencies interesting, is how the media approaches situations like these.
The media had a feeding frenzy when President Obama saluted Marines with a latte in his salute hand as he was leaving the presidential helicopter. I mean seriously..for 30 seconds, you couldn't put down the pumpkin spice latte? Has Starbucks corrupted the general public so much that a latte is more important than showing respect to the men and women who risk their lives to protect us?
Some argue that the situation is being blown out of proportion; that it wasn't a big deal. Others argue that this is one of the most disrespectful actions a President could show. Either way, I think most would agree that the situation should have been handled differently. The media has seemed to make a big joke out of the entire situation. Yeah, so hilarious that the President just disrespected 1.5 million American's in uniform. So hysterical that the one person who represents the United States of America can't even salute his own soldiers. Go ahead media, laugh it off. Make a meme. But that soldier who served 3 tours in Iraq and Afghanistan fighting for your right to report the issue, is pissed. The soldier who spent many months away from his or her own family proudly representing the US, is deeply disrespected. The soldier who sacrificed his life, and lost everything to protect you, is rewarded with a latte salute? Is that the new medal of honor these days? So keep joking media, keep thinking these small mistakes are nothing more than a simple error; but I promise you, it's not funny to those in uniform. All president's make mistakes, which are subsequently reported by the media on an enormous scale. However, President's KNOW people are watching their every move, snapping pictures with every step, and reporting every last one of your mistakes. President Obama KNEW when he stepped off of the plane there would be tons of pictures and reporting media. Even still, he made the choice to sip his latte, salute with the drink in hand, and not even put the cup of caffeine in the other hand. Pretty pathetic if I do say so myself. No amount of coffee is more important than showing respect; and no amount of petty apologies can fix this mistake. Perhaps a tattoo of the American flag on his forehead would make it up, but I don't see that happening anytime soon, plus the media would call him psychotic if he were over patriotic. That being said, it's time to enjoy my latte that has been sitting beside my computer untouched, because it wasn't even important enough to pick up while writing this.
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OK, I understand the public's irritation at the situation and the fact that the media has had a field day covering the story. I mean everyone from the far right wing to the liberal late night talk shows have brought this up, and it is slightly ridiculous the amount of coverage this is getting, especially considering the variety of much more important topics that could and should be talked about. However, I do not agree that the president, who is a civilian I might add, should catch so much flak over this incident. First let me start by setting the record straight on the idea that the president has disrespected every service member either currently serving or has served. Personally as a military member myself, with one tour under my belt and another about to begin in January, I could care less if the president waved some limp half-ass salute with coffee in his hand. Primarily because this sort of thing happens all the time, and the only reason people care he did it, is because they don't care for him to begin with. He could have thrown up the sharpest looking salute ever and walked in semi marching form, and then all we would hear about is how he is too tyrannical with a high demand of respect from military personnel. Before Reagan, the president never saluted military personnel. He started this sacred trend and it has stuck ever since, because it looks good. No more, no less. I don't think of a president as being any less patriotic or committed to the country, if their salute is a little flimsy. There are plenty of high ranking officers who won't even return a salute, and their the ones who have to tell that marine, soldier, airman, or sailor to go into "the line of duty" risk his life and server his country, but can't even have the decency to acknowledge the courtesy being extended by said enlisted person. So what if the president forgets to switch hands for a salute, he shouldn't even be saluting anyway. A civilian saluting is just as asinine as a civilian wearing a military uniform. But hey, I get it, he's the president and with that comes extra attention to every little thing he does. I just can't wait for the next guy, or girl at this rate, to take office and see what new criticism comes up. Possibly the wrong color tie worn at an international conference, or they maybe they will be a vegan?
ReplyDeleteWes, I must say, I agree with you 100%. Yes, the media it making too big of deal out of this "salute". President George W. Bush did the exact same thing, with his dog "Barney" in his hand, so where was the out cry for that. No matter what this President does, people will always criticize him. President Obama DID NOT disrepect all of the men and women who wear or who have worn the uniform. He is human and things do happen. No one can avoid unforseen circumstance 100% of the time; that goal is out of reach for all of mankind! If you can't respect the man, then respect the position of the man and give him the benefit of the doubt.
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