May I Have Your Attention Please

Over the past few months a picture and some commentary has been making the rounds on Facebook.  The picture shows President Obama standing casually with his hands clasped together in the standard "man protecting crotch" position during the playing of the National Anthem.  The commentary attached to the photo claims that President Obama refused to say the Pledge of Allegiance.  The picture in question is not photo-shopped.  It was taken during a campaign gathering in Iowa, September 2007.  Accounts from the time indicate the Star Spangled Banner was being played when the picture was taken.  Now we've got the basic facts along with the attached rumors, time to get to the meat.

First off, the "refuses to say the Pledge of Allegiance" claim is completely false.  Anyone who believes this is, to be totally blunt, an idiot that should not have the right to vote, drive, reproduce or use oxygen that can be put to better use keeping lab rats alive.  The entire uproar over the Pledge of Allegiance is silly, since it began as an advertising gimmick to sell flags, did not originally contain the words "under God" and is not a well written piece of prose.  Being able or willing to recite it does not make you a good American, it just means you have a vocabulary that is slightly smaller than the average dog's.

The standard for the National Anthem I learned at a young age was to stand at attention with my right hand over the left side of my chest (it's not really over the heart, but it looks better than hand on sternum).  Personally, I doubt if I have held my hand over my heart for the National Anthem since leaving high school.  For roughly 8 years I either stood at attention, sometimes saluting, or stood at parade rest whenever the National Anthem was played.  Since leaving the Navy I either stand at parade rest, or with my hands clasped in front, similar to the infamous President Obama picture (that was taken before he was President).  When possible, I observe what all the other good Americans are doing.  Some have hand over heart, some are looking around trying to figure out what is going on, and some are texting.  The other 50% are walking around, talking or doing anything other than paying attention to the National Anthem.  Very few are actually facing the flag.

This is the world we live in today.  Forty years ago, anyone caught not paying attention during the playing of the National Anthem would have been ostracized by the community.  That was a breach of etiquette we would not tolerate.  Perhaps those were better days, but you can't go back in time.  We have to live in the world we have now, not the world of our parents or grandparents.  On the upside, we now have Angry Birds.

For a person to be criticized, in today's world, for something that, also in today's world, is at best a minor breach of etiquette, is outlandish.  If we're going to do that, then I know quite a few people that had Andy Gibb posters hanging in their bedroom once upon a time.  And you don't want me to start in on the polyester leisure suit wearing crowd.

Now lets look at the situation that exists today.  Today President Obama is the President of the United States of America (POTUS).  Whether you approve of his actions, policies or politics is completely irrelevant to that fact.  As POTUS, his person is deserving of respect and should always be treated, addressed and referred to, respectfully, by ALL Americans.  Any insulting or abusive language used against him should get a response, from any American, similar to the response if someone were bad-mouthing your mother.  If you disagree with this, you really should consider whether it is appropriate to call yourself an American.  The office of POTUS is one of great responsibility and, as such deserves, at all times, to be treated with respect.  This does not preclude discussion on the merits or short-comings of the administration, nor does it limit any political discussion.

One more rendition of the National Anthem and I'll close this out.  As POTUS, President Obama is also Commander-in-Chief of all our armed forces.  He is also the representative of all Americans at all times.  At any military function, honors are given by the military to the President, not vice versa.  Salutes are given to the President, which he is not required to acknowledge or return.  Typically, the ranking, active duty, military officer present will return the salute for the President.  At any foreign function, honors are presented to the country, and accepted by the President.  During any playing of the National Anthem, the only thing that the President is required to do, is pay attention.  Whether he does this with his hand over his heart or his hands over his crotch is his choice.  Since I've never been kicked in the heart, I know what my choice would be.