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D-Day ... 70 years

P

PiratePride

All American
Jun 4, 2001
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Just came across a piece about our classy president chewing gum at a D-Day ceremony in France. Just imagine if Bush did something like that and the ridicule he would face from the media.

Contrast the gum chewing with the famous Reagan speech made at the 40th Anniversary.

How far we have fallen.

The boys of Pointe Du Hoc
 
Really? I guess people will complain about anything these days.

Instead of focusing on what he said and why he was there, you focus on him chewing gum. Pretty pathetic to be honest with you.
 
Originally posted by shu09:
Really? I guess people will complain about anything these days.

Instead of focusing on what he said and why he was there, you focus on him chewing gum. Pretty pathetic to be honest with you.
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I have to agree with shu09. The focus of this day should be on the hero's of our greatest generation not something unimportant like who was chewing gum.
 
What I commented on was our president's lack of awareness (to put it kindly) and his lack of respect for the moment and for the host country. I am not alone in pointing out his lack of class. Seems a few Frenchmen and others around the world are upset at the lack of respect he paid during ceremony and the playing of the French National Anthem. So much for his promise to improve the image of the United States around the world. Sadly, it is our president who is "pathetic" and not me for posting about it.

What I was really focusing on ..... was the juxtaposition of this incident to what is perhaps the greatest D Day speech ever given...... about The Boys of Point Du Hoc.....click on the link in my original post to see the video.. THAT's what I was focusing on.

If you don't get my meaning... sorry.... certainly our president doesn't "get it" either.....
 
Both presidents gave speeches. Reagan's was great, Obama's was alright. What's your point? He was chewing gum, who cares. Find something better to complain about.
 
I can actually understand both sides of this argument. On it's own chewing gum is a non-issue. This is something though that has been a pattern of arrogance in BO's Presidency. To be honest, I've tuned him out completely as his speeches and divisiveness is just a bunch of white noise. He's been a mediocre President at best, yet the press is trying to annoint him as some great statesman. Lots of words, little meaningful action.
 
Originally posted by shu09:
Really? I guess people will complain about anything these days.

Instead of focusing on what he said and why he was there, you focus on him chewing gum. Pretty pathetic to be honest with you.
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Obama can't sneeze without being criticized until people are out of breath. Are you surprised by this post?

He was chewing gum, big deal. I'm not a fan of Obama, but the constant criticism over trivial items like him chewing gum is nauseating.
 
For anyone who has traveled internationally these things do matter. We are constantly being criticized as the ugly Americans because we don't pay attention to others customs or common decorum. While this is not a huge deal its another example of how this Administration has botched things with international dignitaries or events. The Obama's or their staff are just not paying attention.

I gave training in Asia once and there was another American company there doing the same. I walked by their room and the class was looking up at the instructor with his feet up on a chair exposing the soles of his feet to them. The class was upset and the American instructor had no idea why. In certain countries (Thailand, Malaysia) that is a huge insult because it is the lowest part of your body that walks on the dirty floor. When I explained to him what he was doing he did not think it was a big deal and laughed. He was never asked back and rightfully so.

Our leaders should be more aware of decorum at a solemn remembrance as important to our country and Europe as D-Day. It's not the end of the world by any means but it upset the French enough that many of the French press and more tweeted about it. You have to be more aware and smart to not let things like that get in the way or paint you with the wrong brush.

The important message is what these brave men did and he took away from that in some people's eyes by of all things chewing gum. Too bad he did not take a selfie too like he did at Mandela's funeral.
This post was edited on 6/9 2:18 PM by Section112
 
I'll be the dumb/ignorant one to ask this: Why is chewing gum rude? I ask this as a non-gum chewer (I find the taste of almost all gum to be disgusting and it hurts my jaw after a couple minutes). I've seen many people chewing gum quietly in many different settings and haven't thought twice about it.
 
Here is what I found easily in looking at a few etiquette sites about France.

If on a business trip, be sure to carry a supply of business cards, as they are exchanged frequently.


Some common gestures to be refrained from in public in France include: chewing gum or having loud conversations. Also, do not rest your feet on a chair or table.

Don't forget it was the French complaining about this first and causing a big stink on Twitter. Again its not the end of the world but a sitting US President should be smarter than this as to not take away anything from ceremony. Folks talking about D-Day is great. That is what you want.
 
Obama should have known better... but not a big deal.

Funny though that some conservative commentators now care about French culture?

Lets be honest though, if it were Bush and the French people made the same comments, conservatives would be promoting Freedom gum and liberals would be using mints instead.
 
Obama should have known better, this was very disrespectful but this is not some international scandal and shouldn't be added to the articles of impeachment.

Just Obama being his usual arrogant self.
 
Originally posted by Section112:



Some common gestures to be refrained from in public in France include: chewing gum or having loud conversations. Also, do not rest your feet on a chair or table.
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In other words, things that dont really matter. World will keep turning.
 
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