by Grace M. Alvarez
Two postings by Darlene Superville of the Associated Press, on May 25, 2009 clearly show the media’s attempt to influence public opinion. On the occasion of the traditional honor paid to the fallen men and women of the military, Ms. Superville’s article points to conflict with suggestions of racial implications. The article picked up by GOPUSA lead paragraph reads:
President Barack Obama sought to dodge racial controversy on Memorial Day, sending wreaths to a monument for Confederate soldiers and other flowers to a memorial honoring more than 200,000 African-Americans who fought for the Union during the Civil War.
A second article was posted on Yahoo with some modifications, in particular the lead paragraph:
President Barack Obama avoided a racial controversy on his first Memorial Day in
office by sending wreaths to separate memorials for Confederate soldiers and for
blacks who fought against them during the Civil War.
Ms. Superville quotes a letter requesting the president to forego the placing of a wreath at the memorial to the Confederate soldiers stating:
"
The Arlington Confederate Monument is a denial of the wrong committed against
African-Americans by slave owners....The Arlington Confederate Monument is a denial of
the wrong committed against African-Americans by slave owners.
One of the 60 professors who signed the request is William Ayers. No further comment (from me) is needed! Although, officially, the president did not respond to the request, he did have wreaths placed at several other memorial sites.
Who in this ivory tower known as the Obama Administration, is qualified to decide where to place wreaths honoring fallen military? EACH AND EVERY MEMORIAL IS WORTHY OF RECOGNITION!!!
Placing the wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier(s) is a decades-old tradition. In commemorating these men/women the President (in the name of the country) honors and commemorates ALL those who paid the ultimate price. Does everything have to be political?
If so, then there are many "groups" who should be singled out for special honors. What about the boys of my graduating class (1944) who volunteered shortly after Pearl Harbor and never came home? Oh, yes the WWII memorial is a beautiful site and wreaths are laid there too, as well as at the Vietnam and Korea sites - but insofar as "ethnic" commemoratives - that is utterly redundant. Men and women of the military services all attest to the esprit ‘de corps - not whose taller, shorter, whiter, blacker or more courageous. All are tested, whether in battle or in the unforseen circumstances in the daily performance of their duty.
My grandson is buried in Arlington - it is enough for me (and my family) that our country recognized his patriotism and buried him with military honors. Not separate or "special" from the millions buried there, but one of those who chose to serve because it was his duty. There was nothing political in his death - he was another soldier doing his "duty".
STOP politicizing the military - Mr. President, if you truly honor and respect the men and women in uniform (of the U.S.) speak out against misguided miscreants such as William Ayers whose only purpose is the downfall of this democracy we hold dear. By sending wreaths to the various other locations (not traditionally recognized on Memorial Day), you did indeed acquiesce and bend to a small, ill-intentioned, minority. You cannot have it both ways Mr. President.
I’ve no doubt that, even in the short time you’ve been in office, President Obama has come to understand and respect the need for a strong military force. And, Mrs. Obama’s project to work with the families of men and women who serve is a highly commendable project. To make the U.S. military force a political ploy for any reason is to dishonor all those who have willingly served to protect our country.