Why do we put our hand over our hearts when saying the Pledge of Allegiance? Why do we stand and remove our hats while facing the American flag to sing the National Anthem? Why do servicemen and women salute when in the presence of the sitting president? Why do we remain standing when a president enters the room until he signals to sit? It’s called RESPECT, if not for the man, than for the office he holds.
It’s called being a proud American. Well, last night I was once again an embarrassed American. Embarrassed by a member of the sitting president’s family. The First Lady!
Who thought it appropriate to be a (live-stream) presenter from the White House at the 85th Academy Awards Show? Using one of their constants, (children or servicemen and women) to cover whatever inappropriate act they see fit to commit. Where has the dignity of the officeholders gone? Why is it no longer a shock to see the sitting president’s or his wife’s name on the description of a day or late night talk show line up?
It made me feel totally uncomfortable the few times we had to witness President Clinton hanging with Barbara Streisand. But hey we all were aware of his hidden agenda, not that it made it OK.
However, the current White House family seems to be hedging their way to be the next Kardashians. One might think in the current disgrace this country is in that one of them would have better things to do with their time. Looking back on my lifetime, I don’t remember ever seeing Queen Elizabeth appearing on Ali G, or the X-Factor, nor any member of the Royal Family. I assure you it wasn’t for their lack of asking, or maybe it was. Maybe they knew that it would be totally disrespectful to even ask such request of the most respected royal family.
Adding insult to injury was the First Lady’s little speech. "These nine movies took us back in time and all around the world," she said. "They made us laugh, they made us weep, and they made us grip our armrests just a little tighter. They taught us that love can endure against all odds and transform our lives in the most surprising ways and they reminded us that we can overcome any obstacle if we can dig deep enough and fight hard enough and find the courage to believe in ourselves."
It appears she was out of the room when one of the winners of the visual effects award, Bill Westenhofer, distinctly said in no uncertain terms, “The ironies not lost on any of us up here, that in a film who’s central premise is to ask an audience what they believe is real and what is not real. What you see is well – It’s Fake! The magic of visual effects.” What seems to be fake here is any attempt at the First Family to convey they have respect for America, Americans or the future of our country.
I, for one, thank God for the two-term rule for presidents. I only hope there is an America left to recover, from this atrocity we call the Obamas.
Linda Connors
Hamden