WHY NO SALUTE BY OBAMA @ MoH CEREMONY?

[RonD1120 58]

WHY NO SALUTE BY OBAMA AT MEDAL OF HONOR CEREMONY?

By Attorney Rees Lloyd
November 26, 2010 NewsWithViews.com

A moment of national pride took place recently in the White House when an American soldier, Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta, received the Medal of Honor for bravery above and beyond the call of duty in combat in Afghanistan.

Sgt. Giunta became the first living American soldier to receive the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War. He is now one of only eighty-eight (88) living holders of the Medal of Honor.

As modest and self-effacing as he is brave, Sgt. Giunta brought further honor to himself by his humility in receiving the nation’s highest medal of valor. While he made no comment in the ceremony, Giunta said before the ceremony that he was “not at peace” with being “singled out” for the honor as so many other soldiers did so much. And after the ceremony, he said he would trade the honor in a moment if he could bring back those whose lives he attempted to save under enemy fire but was unable to save. He definitely showed that he was an American in whom America could be proud.

In contrast, there was another “first” at the ceremony involving the Commander-in-Chief, President Barack Hussein Obama, in whose conduct the nation cannot and should not take pride: As far as is known, Obama became the first President, the first Commander-in-Chief , not to salute the living recipient of the Medal of Honor after presenting the medal.

It is a tradition in the military for all military personnel, no matter how high their rank, including the Commander-in-Chief, to salute a holder of the Medal of Honor no matter how lowly his or her rank. If General David Petreas was to encounter Sgt. Giunta, it would be the General who would salute the enlisted man, as a sign of respect for that soldier’s extraordinary bravery, but also to show respect to all those who have received the Medal of Honor.

At all gatherings of veterans of the American Legion, or VFW, or other veterans organizations, if a Medal of Honor recipient enters the room, even a National Convention involving thousands, the proceedings stop to render military honor to that holder of the Medal of Honor. All veterans rise, come to attention, and salute. It is a matter of pride, of respect, of tradition.

And, as far as is known, it is tradition that every President who has had the honor to present the Medal of Honor to a living recipient, has shown humility, respect, and national pride in that recipient by stepping back and rendering a salute.

It was missing in action in the Obama presentation. He is apparently above all that; “like a God,” as an editor of Newsweek once wrote.

Instead of rendering the traditional salute, after fumbling as if all-thumbs in trying to affix the blue-ribboned Medal of Honor, Obama, equally awkwardly, tried to “hug” the Sergeant. Yes, a “hug” for the soldier who remained at attention with eyes front in military bearing.

But a “hug” is not a “salute,” even in the Age of Obama. While there may be some comedic value in Obama’s pathetic display, it was more emetic than comedic. I didn’t write about it at the time, so as not to distract from Sgt. Giunta’s receipt of the Medal of Honor. But days have past, and it needs to be said.

Why? Is it naught but petty carping of poor President Obama? I think not. He is the “Commander-in-Chief” who has in his power the lives of those who serve in defense of the country, which he himself did not deign to do. It is pointing out that this man, this professional politician, repeatedly evidences contempt for America, for America’s traditions, and for Americans who respect those traditions.

It is as if he loathes the nation he was so desperate to lead, and be loved by, Messiah-like. It is of a piece with his constant misquoting of the Declaration of Independence by leaving out the words “endowed by their Creator” when speaking of “unalienable rights.”

Perhaps more aptly: It is of a pathetic piece with Obama’s penchant for declining to abide by the U.S. Flag Code when the Flag passes to place his hand over his heart. Instead, he drapes his arms down and enfolds his hands at his crotch Michael Jackson-style. It is now mocked as Obama’s “crotch salute.” But it isn’t funny. It is contempt by Obama for the Flag, for America.

Perhaps it is unfair to criticize this President of the United States for displaying such contempt for American traditions. Perhaps it is too much to expect an American President to salute a recipient of the military Medal of Honor when that president never served in the uniform of his country; has said that the Rules For Radicals of the America-hating socialist revolutionist Sol Alinsky are “seared into my [his] brain;” who launched his political career in Chicago from the living room of the revolutionist Weather Underground rich-brat-bombers Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn; and who sat for twenty years in a pew of the church of Rev. “God D...n America” Wright, being marinated in hate-filled, grievance-filled, self-defined “anti-white” and “revolutionary” Black Liberation Theology.

Then again, perhaps it is not too much to expect anyone who would be America’s president to at least respect American traditions, including honoring the Flag, and saluting those who receive the Medal of Honor.

© 2010 Rees Lloyd - All Rights Reserved

REES LLOYD is a longtime civil rights attorney and veterans activist whose work has been honored by, among others, the California Senate and Assembly, and numerous civil rights, workers rights, and veterans rights organizations. He has testified as a constitutional expert at hearings before the U.S. House and Senate representing The American Legion. He has been profiled, and his work featured, by such varied print media as the Los Angeles Times and American Legion Magazine, and such broadcast media as ABC's Nightline and 20/20, Fox News In The Morning, and, among others, by Hannity. His writings have appeared in a variety of national, regional, and local newspaper, magazine, and other publications. He is a frequent radio commentator, and a sought after speaker.*

E-Mail: [email protected]
http://www.newswithviews.com/Lloyd/rees110.htm

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[tkhayes 127]

IMPEACH!!

[Meso 38]

Sorry, I was too busy laughing at the display of personal emotions and crying over bullshit that was taking place in the article to take it seriously.

I'm surprised it didn't end with "Obama is a filthy Muslim terrorist who was sent here by Satan and may in fact be the anti-christ".

[skyrider 0]

He could have at least bowed to him...

[skyrider 0]

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Sorry, I was too busy laughing at the display of personal emotions and crying over bullshit that was taking place in the article to take it seriously.

I'm surprised it didn't end with "Obama is a filthy Muslim terrorist who was sent here by Satan and may in fact be the anti-christ".

Glad you find disrespect for traditions and our military funny!

[RonD1120 58]

Foreign opinions are without honor.

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[AggieDave 6]

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Sorry, I was too busy laughing at the display of personal emotions and crying over bullshit that was taking place in the article to take it seriously.

I'm surprised it didn't end with "Obama is a filthy Muslim terrorist who was sent here by Satan and may in fact be the anti-christ".

Wow. The Medal of Honor is an incredible award that is a time honored tradition of the US Military. Literally every military organization in the world has a similar bestowal and is treated with dignity. It is really too bad that you apparently have no dignity or respect for such a thing.

HH, even being from a different culture then the US (from your same culture) has, in the past, shown deep respect for service men and women as well as the traditions surrounding them.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[Meso 38]

I'm also glad I do.

I don't respect the military of any country, as a unit. Nor do I respect traditions. Respect should be earned by each person, it should not be sold as an obligation. And what one man finds worthy of respect, another man should have the right to disagree with. Many of the values I respect majority don't, and I'm okay with that- as it is a personal choice.

I agree some military personal are worthy of respect in very few cases, but as a whole I don't believe in respecting something because you're supposed to.

These are my personal beliefs, I will not tell someone what to respect, and they must not tell me what to respect.


As for the article...

Here's a bit of information from another source.

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Update 11-28-10: A commenter using the name “Skylark” has pointed out that this article is incorrect with respect to the information that every other President (“as far as any one knows”) has saluted Medal of Honor recipients. Richard Nixon did not salute, Gerald Ford did not salute, Dwight D. Eisenhower did not salute until he was saluted first, with one exception when he was saluted and did not return the honor, and Harry Truman did not salute – at least in the videos linked here, these Presidents were not saluting. Skylark also links to a photo of President Reagan hugging Medal of Honor Recipient Roy Benavidez. It is unclear whether the hug was during, before or after the award was made.

Funny that the FOX story that ran this was pulled offline.

[AggieDave 6]

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I don't respect the military of any country, as a unit. Nor do I respect traditions.

I'm sorry you are so jaded. Hopefully you'll find peace with what is haunting you.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[Meso 38]

What haunts me is the idea that someone else can tell me how to feel about something. I bet many of the people here would be up in arms if they were raged on for making jokes about veganism, or something else that someone else holds close to them with meaning. For some people that is far more important than a medal, and that's their choice.

There is a difference between not respecting something and disrespecting something. Disrespecting would require actually making an effect to insult. Remember that offence is taken, not given.

But that's enough of my personal feelings and ideals... Let's not drift too far from the apparently flawed article. If someone would rather address or investigate the validity of those claims.

[AggieDave 6]

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I bet many of the people here would be up in arms if they were raged on for making jokes about veganism, or something else that someone else holds close to them with meaning.

Overall, the difference is giving respect, not reverence.

There are many things that I do not agree with or have positive feelings for, but I respect another person's reverence for it. It is a significant difference, of which I would hope you could agree.

This general lack of respect for each other is one of the reasons the community of DZ.com has declined over the past 5-6 years. Ten years ago there was a strong sense of community and respect, across significant personal differences. HH worked hard to keep that community. That is gone.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[Meso 38]

I do agree, which is why I continue to hold back on the extent of my feelings. If laughing at a badly researched, inaccurate and unprofessional article is a sign of 'dis-respect' to the military then something is definitely wrong. Maybe we shall be forced to cry at certain times too.

Note how I simply stated the facts, I stated my personal opinion without attacking anyone. Unless I was supposed to lie about my personal opinion. Trust me, I had a lot more to say, but held back simply for that reason- while I don't respect certain things I respect, to a degree other peoples right to. And wouldn't launch an attack on the person, only the system in general.

[labrys 0]

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Funny that the FOX story that ran this was pulled offline.

FOX proves once again that either its fact checking process reeks or they intentionally print this shit without even bothering to check it. It took me fewer that 10 minutes with Google video to find:

Johnson not saluting:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-MlPpZo0j8

And Bush not saluting:
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=2516928n

Unfortunately, all they have to do is run the story, participate in spreading the rumor, and then quietly retract after the damage is done.

Owned by Remi #?

[skyrider 0]

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Funny that the FOX story that ran this was pulled offline.

FOX proves once again that either its fact checking process reeks or they intentionally print this shit without even bothering to check it. It took me fewer that 10 minutes with Google video to find:

Johnson not saluting:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-MlPpZo0j8

And Bush not saluting:
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=2516928n

Unfortunately, all they have to do is run the story, participate in spreading the rumor, and then quietly retract after the damage is done.

Notice the clips stops as Bush steps back, traditional thing to do when giving someone else the lime light, and maybe to Salute!

[tkhayes 127]

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Foreign opinions are without honor.

right wing conservative christian opinions are without common sense.....

[AggieDave 6]

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If laughing at a badly researched, inaccurate and unprofessional article is a sign of 'dis-respect' to the military then something is definitely wrong.

If you notice, I wasn't talking about the article, I was replying to your musings regarding respect.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[labrys 0]

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Notice the clips stops as Bush steps back, traditional thing to do when giving someone else the lime light, and maybe to Salute!Wink

Nope. And since you probably can't be bothered to do research any better than FOX does, here's the full C-SPAN version :

http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/196849-1

But then again, maybe Bush saluted while he was off camera and Lt. Colonel Crandall didn't bother to return the salute, or maybe after the ceremony, once they were off camera, Bush saluted.

Owned by Remi #?

[Bolas 5]

Why he won the award:
http://www.stripes.com/war-excerpt-about-staff-sgt-salvatore-giunta-s-actions-1.117774

Even if you don't agree with why they were there and/or what their mission was, the bravery and heroism showed and the humbleness about it after should be commended.

Sorta like discounting a medal for heroism rewarded to a police officer, firefighter, or ems because you don't like some of the laws, fire codes, or healthcare.

Stupidity if left untreated is self-correcting
If ya can't be good, look good, if that fails, make 'em laugh.

[skyrider 0]

Reading the opinion stated earlier explianed a LOT of greens to me finally, now it makes sense!

[winsor 186]

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Foreign opinions are without honor.

Not all, by any means.

[GeorgiaDon 340]

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Update 11-28-10: A commenter using the name “Skylark” has pointed out that this article is incorrect with respect to the information that every other President (“as far as any one knows”) has saluted Medal of Honor recipients. Richard Nixon did not salute, Gerald Ford did not salute, Dwight D. Eisenhower did not salute until he was saluted first, with one exception when he was saluted and did not return the honor, and Harry Truman did not salute – at least in the videos linked here, these Presidents were not saluting. Skylark also links to a photo of President Reagan hugging Medal of Honor Recipient Roy Benavidez. It is unclear whether the hug was during, before or after the award was made.

I wonder how long we will have to wait for the "traditionalists" here to condemn Truman, Eisenhower, Nixon, Ford, and their idol Regan. I for one am not holding my breath.

Of the presidents in the last 60 years, if we exclude the above who apparently also had no respect for tradition, we are left with Kennedy, Johnson, Carter, Clinton, Bush 1, and Bush 2. Apparently no Medals of Honor were awarded during the Carter years when weren't actually at war with anybody, and the two that were awarded in the Clinton administrations were posthumous so I'm not sure if the salute/did not salute question is applicable. So apparently at least 50% of American presidents in the last 60 years don't respect tradition. Or, maybe, this is another one of those "traditions" that aren't really traditions. Just because Bush did something doesn't make it a tradition.

Edited to add: apparently no Medals of Honor were awarded during the Bush 1 years either.

Don

_____________________________________
Tolerance is the cost we must pay for our adventure in liberty. (Dworkin, 1996)
“Education is not filling a bucket, but lighting a fire.” (Yeats)

[SpeedRacer 1]

Story of Moral Outrage at Obama which turns out to be bullshit.

How many of these have we had so far?

Speed Racer
--------------------------------------------------

[jakee 1,257]

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Story of Moral Outrage at Obama which turns out to be bullshit.

How many of these have we had so far?

I've lost count. Boggles the mind that anyone can still get taken in by these "Obama the first president ever to ..... - proves he hates America!" stories.

Hell, the writers of this one even prefixed his statement with "As far as is known..." - basically an admission that he didn't even bother to try find out if it was true before he said it

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[matthewcline 0]

It is a "Tradition" not a requirement.
It is a "Tradition" that is generally believed to be a slight "misunderstanding", here is why.

In the Past (Distant Past) MOH recipients had a unit parade or "Pass In Review" in their honor. They stood next to the Commander of Troops during the "Review", as the various Subordinate Commands passed by they Salute the Commanding Officer. The Commanding Officer and the MOH recipient would return the salute. This became the "Tradition".

I personally would salute any MOH recipient if I recognized them. I believe it is a sign of respect and I think they have earned my respect.

Others need not and need not voice their reasons.

Matt

An Instructors first concern is student safety.
So, start being safe, first!!!

[RonD1120 58]

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Foreign opinions are without honor.

right wing conservative christian opinions are without common sense.....

Intentional. Common sense will not lead you to salvation in Christ Jesus.

However, not on topic.

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.