Salutations

There was a flap recently about Obama saluting while holding a coffee cup. Of course, he usually salutes properly, and pictures quickly surfaced of Bush Jr. trying to salute while holding his dog, and in other not-up-to-snuff methods.  I'd give them both a pass. Presidents are pretty busy, see the military a lot, and aren't required to salute anyway. Reagan started it, but he was an actor and probably did it mostly for appearances. (He was in the military... as an actor.)

I have extreme respect for what those serving do and have done. My brother was in the Army. My dad was too, and later worked for DOD. His dad was a Marine in WW1. My uncle and grandfather on the other side were in the Navy. I work with a guy who was a KC-135 crew chief.  I've always been around people who were vets.

I only wish conservative politicians had the same respect. I watched troops go into Iraq with inappropriate camouflage, insufficient armor, and nonexistent training and planning for the occupation. Those omissions showed Bush's complete lack of regard for the troops.

The issue here isn't really respect for the military. Conservative outrage was based on a lack of common sense and historical perspective. As with many other issues, they pull something out of context and pretend it means more than it does. Mental gymnastics trying to prove the doggie salute is proper while the coffee salute is not (while plenty of pictures show both Obama and Bush saluting properly too) only reinforce the point that conservatives are hypocrites.

I don't mind conversations with people who have different political views.  In fact, I enjoy them when the other person is well-informed and thoughtful; it can be educational, and maybe even make me change my mind.  What bothers me is ignorance (particularly my pet peeve, willful ignorance.)

Know your history.  Know the facts, and background, of what you're talking about.  Don't twist things.  Don't come to conclusions based on inadequate evidence, then get all pissy when people call you out (and when they don't come to the same conclusions, since your conclusions are not based on facts.)  Don't tell me some regurgitated crap from Fox which is the basis of your position. Start from reality.   Let's talk about actual issues.  Let's have an adult conversation about real things.

With just a bit of humor