Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Just a Rant

(re: the title. I'm posting this coz there just ain't a whole helluva lot that interests me on teevee tonight. At least one of you Gentle Readers may take what follows personally. Please don't. OTOH... you MIGHT wanna examine your attitude if you think the shoe fits.)

So… I encountered a WHOLE lot of comment on Tuesday’s Main Event whilst cruising around these here inter-tubes over the past 24 hours or so.
Doubtless you had the same experience, Gentle Reader. But grant me some forbearance here, please, while I cut ‘n’ paste excerpts from three such missives. First… Mr. Lileks:

Picked up daughter from the bus stop. What did you do in school? They watched the inauguration all day, in every class, including music. I wish I knew whether they watched it in 2000 or 2004; I’m reasonably certain no one set up projectors in the coffee shop last time. Of course, this was different, to state the screamingly obvious, and setting aside a few differences of opinion on policy matters, the inauguration and the address was a great moment. A great and good thing.

I never thought America wouldn’t elect a Black president. The fact that it finally did happen, however, brought a remarkably satisfying array of emotions. This wasn’t the placement of the cornerstone; the building is never finished. This was a stone in the wall that will be built as high as we want it to go. This stone fit. This stone belonged with the others. A hundred years from now, the stone will take strength from the one laid today, just as this stone relies on the ones laid before. And upward we build, until the metaphor collapses from overwriting -

Sorry. Anyway. I’m glad my daughter saw it in school. Some days history is made, and she got to see it. I wish I could find a way to say more without a parade of banalities and ecumenical cliches, but it’s been a long day, and any attempt to embellish the simple dignity of the event seems misguided, and hanging caveats off the bones of the day seems churlish. Just this, then: What a remarkable nation. We were remarkable the day before, too. But we’ve one more reason now.

Now Lex:

Anyway, the man didn’t get my vote, but he’s my president nonetheless. I’ll pray for his success, and I hope you all do as well. Our fates are conjoined.

Uncle Jimbo, at Blackfive:

I made this video about a month ago and repost it now as President Obama takes the reins of government. Unlike the left, I will not claim he is not my President, or his actions are taken not in my name. He was fairly elected, just like W, and as such he is the American President...period. I hope he does well because we all have a stake in this game. That does not mean I have to support policies that I disagree with. I consider myself part of the loyal opposition and if he puts forth bad ideas I will do just that and fight against them. But again without the bitter hate that has made the left such an embarrassment to themselves for most of the past 8 years.

Lex and Uncle Jimbo both served, Lileks did not. I only mention this fact because there was a recurrent theme in the posts the milbloggers I read put up yesterday, and that thought is… “Mr. Obama is MY president, regardless of whether I voted for him or not.” The attitude is both recognizable and understandable to anyone who’s ever served, mainly because the president is also the Big Boss when you wear the uniform. As such, respect for the Commander-in-Chief isn’t just desirable… it’s mandatory… and that respect is something that is instilled in every person who wears the uniform from Day One.

I’m beginning to think Universal Service isn’t such a bad idea, after all. But then again, some people just can’t be taught manners… which includes respect… no matter how hard you try. And don’t feed me any ifs, ands, or buts about someone, anyone, who serves in a position of authority not deserving your respect. I’ve worked for a whole helluva lot of people in my life I didn’t like, including a couple of CinCs, but I damned sure respected their position and authority. It’s all part of being an adult, yanno?

Further on the subject, sorta… One thing you may have missed during yesterday’s festivities, if you watched 'em. The President’s military aide escorted him and Mrs. Obama to the limousine as the inaugural parade began yesterday. Mr. Obama stuck out his hand towards the colonel (or general, the shot was too long for me to see the officer’s epaulets) and the officer refused it, raising his hand in salute instead. The president, to his ever-lasting credit, quickly withdrew his hand and returned a credible salute. The man is learning…

Update: Old Chuck Norris.

16 comments:

  1. I have to say I've gotten a rather disconcerted feeling every time I've read facebook statuses of my friends that are in ROTC (or otherwise in the military) that are positive or negative about the new President. I got a kick out of one friend (who is a very strong conservative...and a Marine) whose status before and after the election contained stuff disparaging of Obama (nothing extreme, just policy disagreements). Day before yesterday his status read "______ has one more day to talk trash about Obama." Yesterday it read "_____ has a new boss," and that was that. I thought that was a rather effective, if somewhat crude, illustration of what you were talking about.

    Back to the statuses I mentioned at the beginning, it always just seemed very inappropriate to me for military personnel to express pleasure or displeasure with the CINC himself. Disagree with policy positions, by all means. But he's the boss, period. If you don't like it, get out (as many did during the Clinton years). I don't subscribe to the extreme position of career officers not voting for President at all, but I can definitely appreciate where that sentiment comes from.

    As for the salute thing, you weren't the only one to notice. I didn't see the exact scene you were talking about, but the President popped off a pretty crisp (for a civilian) salute when the troops were passing in review.

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  2. i posted this in reply to Lou's entry yesterday...i'll leave it here and get your thoughts too...

    my initial..."well...the dude can deliver a speech...lets see if he can deliver a presidency."

    Rev. Lowery, i know you went through ALOT with MLK and all, i get that, i'm sorry for what my forefathers did, but it wasn't me, and bro...the war is over, you've won, be a good winner and shut the hell up.

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  3. Relatively speaking, I live not far from Oakland, not far from the Fruitvale BART station. Google that term if you don't recognize it.

    The war, unfortunately, is very much not over.

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  4. ... “Mr. Obama is MY president, regardless of whether I voted for him or not.” The attitude is both recognizable and understandable to anyone who’s ever served ...

    Buck, thank you for this. It's true, even after the uniform is taken off for what is assumed to be the last time. (Like his policies or not, Bush was my president for the last 8 years.)

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  5. I guess I am becoming one of the last remaining holdouts that is not wishing his success. How can I hope for the success of someone I KNOW is about to bring dramatic changes to this country of which I do not approve? Of which I strongly oppose? How can I wish someone "success" who has promoted socialism in his agenda?

    I love my country, and I wish the country success, but not necessarily this president, unless he RADICALLY changes his policies and plans, which I doubt.

    I am praying for my country to weather the storm.

    Sure, I can try to respect the new president, but not support his policies with which I am in almost total disagreement. It is the OFFICE of the presidency which I respect, and I hope President Obama does not do too much irreparable damage to the office and the country in the next four years. When he does something right, I will say so. When he does something wrong, I intend to say so. I will try hard not to slip into Obama Derangement Syndrome, but I will reserve the right to fight for the future of my country as a free and democratic nation.

    Sorry, but that is my opinion and it is not likely to change.

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  6. Mike: We're of the same opinion. Good on your Marine buddy... I find the couple of quotes you used interesting! re: Obama's salutes... not all that bad, but they weren't "Dubya quality." At least they weren't like Clinton's early efforts...

    Jay sez: my initial..."well...the dude can deliver a speech...lets see if he can deliver a presidency."

    Rev. Lowery, i know you went through ALOT with MLK and all...


    Agreed, Jay. Especially about Rev. Lowery's closing paragraph. That wasn't necessary.

    Lori: I assume you're referring to the BART cop who shot that guy recently?

    And... you're welcome. ;-)

    Lou: You and me both. As you well know... I was dismissive, cynical and sarcastic about Obama right up until the bitter end. I STILL wonder about the wisdom of the electorate, but that's another story...

    Sharon sez: I guess I am becoming one of the last remaining holdouts that is not wishing his success. How can I hope for the success of someone I KNOW is about to bring dramatic changes to this country of which I do not approve? ...

    Your points are well-taken, Sharon, especially about respecting the office. May I remind you that NONE of us actually knows what Obama will do? His campaign rhetoric doesn't quite match up to some of the appointments he's made to his cabinet, just to cite one example. I ain't the first guy to notice he's been moving to the center for some time, and I remain cautiously hopeful he'll govern from the center.

    As for not wishing him well... the Obama administration IS the government of the United States now, and wishing for him to fail is tantamount to wishing the United States fails... in my book. I don't see how it could be otherwise, but that's just my opinion. We're both old enough to remember Carter and Clinton. We... the nation... managed to survive four years of Carter (barely) and eight years of Clinton; we'll survive four years of Obama. Let's just pray it's not EIGHT years...

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  7. Lori,
    irt Fruitvale comment.

    I used to live at 92nd ave and Bancroft, and I went to E Morris Cox. Was there in '68 when MLK was killed and saw the riots.

    I really miss Oakland, but not the revolutionary Radicals that infest it now.

    To paraphrase a lyric, "I'm back to livin' Floridays, Blue Skies and ultra violet rays, lookin for better days.

    And I won't look back.

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  8. I like Towanda's comment, her honesty is good.

    I will wish the man well on a personal level, but I don't expect to like anything he does and I have every expectation that he will pursue a path that is diametrically opposed to everything I believe

    I refuse to wallow in the slop fest of adoration (impossible) or hate that's currently infested all the mediums I read. I will wait and nail him on policy, I expect that'll being sliding down the shoot sometime in the next few weeks. It'll be like shooting fish in a barrel.

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  9. I want Obama to be successful - so long as what he does is the best for this country and its residents.

    What I'm afraid of is his plans won't deliver that - and in that regard I want him to fail.

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  10. "... in that regard I want him to fail."

    I'm sorry, but this really borders on something akin to being ... unAmerican.

    We had 8 years of the "right" hating Clinton, followed by 8 years of the "left" hating Bush.

    Can we just grow up and STOP this crap already?

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  11. You know, there is a push out there to pressure Obama to issue an order to the EPA to officially recognize that the earth is getting warmer and it's the fault of humans.

    To me, this highlights the complexity of the issue you raise here. Yes, we should all pray for Obama's success...NOBODY should be hoping everything goes to hell so that people learn once & for all that socialism is a bad way to go. Ain't gonna happen. But OTOH, we do *not*, repeat *not*, have a system of government in which the electorate gets together and votes on what is & isn't so.

    And socialism does suck. Which puts good Americans in the position of nursing divided loyalties -- Obama should preside over the end of the current crisis, the sooner it comes, the better. But this raises the specter of yet another generation of young Americans being fooled into the idea that you can solve problems by putting a well-spoken figurehead in charge of 'em, veering hard left, taxing the rich, and don't worry your sweet little head about anything beyond that. This, I don't think we can afford anymore. The country cannot endure unless the electorate is knowledgeable and informed. Thomas Jefferson said as much, many times, and he was right.

    I guess this reads like I think your idea (which I note you aren't altogether endorsing) of mandatory service, would lead to an ignorant population.

    Well...I do think that. People get smarter when they solve problems as individuals. If they don't, they don't. And no, I don't think it's any more complicated than that.

    Oh, and the idea that Joe The Plumber asked His Holiness a question for which He was not properly prepared, and ended up being investigated for having the "audacity" to ask it, in his capacity as a private citizen not running for anything...pardon my French but that scares the ever-luvin' piss outta me.

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  12. "Oh, and the idea that Joe The Plumber asked His Holiness a question for which He was not properly prepared ..."

    Joe the Plumber asked the Pope something? ; )

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  13. Daphne: I hate to sound like a broken record, but we're on the same page, as well. Those of us on the Right will have MORE than enough opportunity to criticize Obama's policies. Unfortunately.

    Kris: "Best for the country" is relative, methinks. I'm sure you agree.

    Lori: Kris is being brief in her comments, I'm sure. There are certain policy areas where I want Obama to fail, as well. "Fail" being defined as unable to obtain enough votes to pass mandatory gub'mint health care, for one example.

    Morgan sez: I guess this reads like I think your idea (which I note you aren't altogether endorsing) of mandatory service, would lead to an ignorant population.

    I was thinking of the draft, specifically, and in the context of teaching people respect. A drill sergeant can and would step up in those areas where Mom failed. That said, I'm NOT in favor of a draft, so you read me correctly, in part.

    Lori, again: Hey... anything's possible. I mean, Hell, JtP was over in the Middle East recently. He just might have swung thru Rome on the way home.

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  14. "Lori, again: Hey... anything's possible. I mean, Hell, JtP was over in the Middle East recently. He just might have swung thru Rome on the way home."

    Well, I hope he wasn't wearing shorts or a tank top. They wouldn't let me into the Sistene Chapel in August 1985 because I was dressed for the 95 degree weather. (Don't show your knees or shoulders ... sounds a bit Taliban-ish to me ...)

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  15. Dang, Buck. I've always had a problem with a civilian giving a hand salute. But only those who have never served.
    An honorary title is not service in my opinion. I don't salute Kentucky Colonels, either.
    So, if you are CINC, that's great. My heartiest congratulations. But without your knowing the meaning of the salute, please, please do not throw one my way.
    Oh, yeah, one other thing issuing from this shellback: I believe we could stand some UMT.

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Just be polite... that's all I ask.