I was sadden by this news. It seems President Obama does not know when to salute, or how to salute, when to and not to bow , when to speak and not to speak. For years we will hear the debate on whether President Obama does these things on purpose or is just not intelligent.
White House aides posted the sloppy salute video on Instagram.
The commander in chief offered the coffee-cup salute when he disembarked from his U.S. Marine Corps helicopter in New York, as he made his way to the United Nations General Assembly.
“President Obama just landed in New York for #UNGA2014,” says the caption.
The salute is “the most important of all military courtesies,” says a manual for Marine Corps officer candidates.
“In some situations, the salute is not appropriate,” says the manual. “In general, do not salute when… carrying articles with both hands or being otherwise so occupied as to make saluting impractical,” says the manual, titled “Customs and Courtesies.”
Some of the comments on the Instagram account were very critical of Obama’s unconventional salutation.
Kelly Campagna tweeted this: OPTICS: Obama’s disrespectful salute to Marines to be remembered as ‘Semper Latte’… ow.ly/BQpRQ
Many will cite this as just simply another small issue when the country and the administration is dealing with many big ones.
I will argue that this is a time honored custom and courtesy that some, especially those who have or are serving, that holds great meaning.
I will also argue that if you can’t handle the ‘small issues’, then you probably shouldn’t be working on the big ones yet!!!
Rick Stambaugh, United States Navy Retired