The president salutes the military
By hoseasmate
@hoseasmate (720)
United States
December 16, 2012 5:26pm CST
Why is it that the president of this United States cannot learn how to properly salute the members of the military that he is the commander in chief over? Don't you think that once inauguration is over that a short training class is called for so that even if he were not a former military member, that he could at least look like he was because he could do a proper salute? I guess when this nation was formed that it was inconceivable that a president would be selected who did not come from the ranks of a military branch and would be someone who had never experienced military training. I understand that one doesn't have to be from the ranks in order to lead. I am a nursing home administrator who has never been a nursing home resident, but yet am leading the organization. However, I did have a parent in a nursing home and also worked in the nursing home as line staff before becoming a leader in the field. I want to work in one of the veteran's centers and one of the reasons why is because I am a former service member and believe that I would have a common ground with some of the residents.
1 person likes this
7 responses
@chrystalia (1208)
• Tucson, Arizona
16 Dec 12
Who knows? I would think this would be taught, but then again, the POTUS has a schizophrenic attitude towards the military--he lauds them when it suits them, but completely ignores aspects of the military that don't suit him. He is the Commander in Chief, and should know things. But he isn't the greatest in the protocol department anyway--doesn't bow properly to foreign dignitaries either, and bows to people he shouldn't bow to, for instance. It's kind of odd.
1 person likes this
@hoseasmate (720)
• United States
18 Dec 12
Well I guess how he speaks of and portrays members of the Armed Service are certainly another discussion, BUT, I think it is incredibly disrespectful of a commander in chief to not learn how to appropriately salute (respect) another member of the armed services. He is the Commander-in-Chief, no less. The leader of the best military (well Israel is pretty good!) in the world and the salute is so pathetic. It is disrespectful and a disgrace to military members.
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
18 Dec 12
I think that if he was a leader they respected, they'd make allowences for not saluting properly. The question is and should be, DO THEY RESPECT him?
@lampar (7584)
• United States
18 Dec 12
Military training academy teach their recruits the proper way to salute their suprior officer in the first week of their induction. They never have a course that tell the superior officer how to salute their subordinates. May be it is not an important course for the commander-in-chief to learn saluting in West Point or any military academy, that is why all the past presidents of USA don't know how to salute the way you want him to be in front of military parade. 
@hoseasmate (720)
• United States
19 Dec 12
Every person in the military learns to salute and every member in the military has a superior, with the exception of the Commander in Chief. The superior officer returns the salute of the subordinate. I can assure you there are some rather sloppy salutes passed around a military base, but I'm just sayin' the Commander in Chief has all eyes upon him at all times and it just seems like he would want to do everything to the best of his ability. Maybe that is his best. I'm not meaning to show any disrespect for this President at all. I honor this office and the person who is in it, whether I voted for them or not.
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
17 Dec 12
I understand your point. It is not only your president that does not make a proper salute. Many other president in our country also does not make the proper salute. Considering that they are the commander in chief, then perhaps they should be able to show to the ranks the proper way to do it. Being the president does not give them the exception not to exec cute it properly. In fact they should set an example.
@hoseasmate (720)
• United States
18 Dec 12
Yes, that is the exact point that I wanted to make. They will be good leaders that lead by example rather than by fear and intimidation. The president should set the standard for how to respect those members of the military who serve with him in protecting this country from those who wish to harm by rendering a proper military salute!
@knoodleknight18 (917)
• United States
17 Dec 12
I think it takes a little more than a 10 minute session on proper saluting. I think a lot of it is learned from years of practicing and seeing. Part of military training includes that you could tell an actual member from an imposter by the minor details that no one else really notices, because you've spent so much time learning little things like how to salute. I don't know that the idea of whether or not a president would ever not have been in the military was an issue, but the military was also a much different entity 200 years ago. In the days of General Washington they didn't have shoes, much less uniforms and entry requirements.
1 person likes this
@hoseasmate (720)
• United States
18 Dec 12
Yep, it did take me a little longer than 10 minutes to salute properly. Since this is a sign of respect for those who outrank you and who are the leaders in your branch of the military, then I think that the time spent learning to show due respect is well spent. If a president is not a prior service member, then I think he should learn how to salute and show respect for those he is commanded to lead.
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
17 Dec 12
He has alot to learn.. seems in 4 years he didnt learn much of anything. Thanks god, he cant run for a 3rd term there.
@hoseasmate (720)
• United States
18 Dec 12
Yes, based on the performance of several of our elected officials, I for one, am very, very glad that they cannot run again. I know a lot of people felt that way about the Bush presidency, as well. I don't think the term career politician was in the vocabulary of the founding fathers. I think they purposed that someone would 'do their civic duty' and servce their country for a short period of time and then return home, their service having been rendered. However, somewhere along the line it was decided that this is a career choice and some became so entrenched in the political scene that they became 'lifers'.
@Bluebell18 (636)
• United States
18 Dec 12
Just as long as he salutes them, it shouldn't matter whether or not he can salute the military or not. Everyone has their way of doing things, and it seems as though no matter what he does, the president is always doing something wrong and pundits like you are finding mundane flaws to judge him on. What's next, he doesn't have table manners? He should go to etiquette school? Get a life, dude!
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
18 Dec 12
While I do disagree that saluting is important, it isn't; I do agree that our president does seem to feel that proper form in etiquette and public ritual is unimportant. He's offended visiting dignitaries and allies with his lack of knowledge on proper form and ceremony. Some say he is arrogant and that is why he does his own thing in this regard. I also feel that some of his supporters are way to easily offended by any critisism of him, and felt at very at ease with critisism of his predecessor. That tells me it is not that the office of the president is sacred in their mind, but that the current occupant is above reproach and held sacred in their minds. He is human, and he does make mistakes, and Americans ARE free to say so.
I feel the troops would respect a good leader even if he was sloppy at saluting, the question we should seek the answer to, is do the troops respect him as a great leader?
1 person likes this
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
20 Dec 12
So...two wrongs DO make a right?
We were discussing OBAMA, or did you forget that? 
@hoseasmate (720)
• United States
19 Dec 12
Etiquette school probably is a good idea, judging on the goofs while hanging with foreign dignitaries. Of course, I'd be the first to admit that I surely wouldn't know how to act either. I'd be for calling up some of the former occupants and taking a crash course, though! I don't know why he is that way. He may just not really care. I would imagine that any President would have to have pretty thick skin to be in that office.
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
18 Dec 12
Many of our presidents have been non military, and not known how to salute. Frankly, I'd rather they know how to LEAD than be a perfect saluter. lol The troops whould respect a great leader no matter if he saluted the brass properly or not. Good leadership ability is what we should be looking for, not so much proper form in saluting.
@Bluebell18 (636)
• United States
20 Dec 12
So, in your words, Bush was a better leader because he knew how to salute the military. Wow. Well, I got news for you, Deb. I think...no, I'm POSITIVE that 99% of the country agreed that Bush was voted unanimously being 'The Worse President in American History.' Courtesy of 'Rolling Stone' Magazine.
How's that for fact?! 
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