“No Disrespect Zone. Extinguish disrespect. Remember to ask yourself before you act: ‘Are my actions helpful or harmful?’ Be complimentary. Listen. Be considerate. Be polite. Be courteous. Be polite. Share. Be understanding. Be thankful. Approve. Admire.”
Image courtesy of http://senecacountyblog.wordpress.com/.
Oddly, Senator Barack Obama’s stumbling on the name on the bracelet of a deceased soldier, did not seem to make much of a difference to American mainstream media. Not a lot was said after the debate. Granted, the anxiety that may accompany being on the nation’s stage being peppered with questions and being expected to perform flawlessly, may be overwhelming. But hey, this would be small fry anxiety compared to being in the middle of a major national or international crisis. Mainstream media focuses on other details. ABC News Political Punch did however notice.
Point in question, if a family gives a prominent national political figure a bracelet, to remember and honor that deceased solder’s name, and hence the ultimate sacrifice he gave as a member of the armed forces in the time of war, is it too much to expect that the name would be easily recalled on the spur of the moment, especially considering it has been worn for months?
Nah. And especially since Obama’s remark,
“Jim, let me just make a point. I’ve got a bracelet too. From, Sergeant, uh, uh, from the mother of, uh, Sergeant, Ryan David Jopek.”
revealed more of an interest in making the point that he wore a bracelet too. And thus, Senator John McCain could not solely claim the spotlight that he was the only one of the two that did. Therefore, the inherent perception of profound respect for those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, could not be solely ascribed to McCain. McCain on the other hand, did remember the soldier’s name on his bracelet, and his story.
Thank goodness for a cheat sheet. Stumbling to get the soldier’s name correct quickly aside, Obama saved his moment by just lifting his wrist up and checking the soldier’s name on the bracelet itself.
Good for Obama that he qualified his fumbling fiasco with a close addendum. Lest the possible ensuing chaos.
No U.S. soldier ever dies in vain because they’re carrying out the missions of their commander in chief. And we honor all the service that they’ve provided.
Ryan David Jopek was a the son of two proud parents. He succumbed to a roadside bomb in Iraq in August 2006. His parents are Brian and Tracey Jopek, who are now divorced. The bracelet was given to Obama in February 2008.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, February 19, 2008 noted,
Tracy Jopek just wanted Barack Obama to know the name of her son Ryan, who died fighting in Iraq.
“I didn’t get to say what I wanted to say. I just cried,” she said. “It wasn’t for anything but for him to know this is real, something he needed to know. . . I do believe (the war) needs to end, but I believe it needs to be done very carefully and very thoughtfully.”
One month later, there appears to have been a change of heart. Wisconsin Public Radio Route 51 talk show clip on March 20, 2008. The transcript summarized per Newsbusters and Dehavelle,
[Brian Jopek] …a man who believes in the efforts in Iraq and is not in favor of Obama’s positions on the war…
Jopek began by saying that his ex-wife was taken aback, even upset, that Obamahas made the death of her son a campaign issue. Jopek says his wife gave Obama the bracelet because “she just wanted Mr. Obama to know Ryan’s name.” Jopek went on to say that “she wasn’t looking to turn it into a big media event” and “just wanted it to be something between Barack Obama and herself.” Apparently, they were all shocked it became such a big deal.
But, he also said that his ex-wife has refused further interviews on the matter and that she wanted Obama to stop wearing the reminder of her son’s sacrifice that he keeps turning into a campaign soundbyte.
Brian Jopek concluded at that time,
So, that’s his own choice. I mean that’s something Barack Obama, that’s a choice that he continues to wear it despite Tracy asking him not to… Because she is a Barack Obama supporter and she didn’t want to do anything to sabotage his campaign, so, if he’s still wearing the bracelet then, uh, that of course is entirely up to him.
It has been 7 months, and Obama continues to wear the bracelet he has long ago been asked to stop wearing by a grieved mother who supports him. He then evens the playing field with his opponent during a presidential debate by noting a similar possession, but struggles to remember the brave soldier’s name, and hence the significance of his death. This renders the appearance of an individual who is willing to exploit someone else’s profound loss for personal split-second gain, even if he attempts to throw word cover over his lapse afterwards. Disrespectful and opportunistic come to mind.
“I can fix anything. Where’s the duct tape?”
Image courtesy of http://appraisalnewsonline.typepad.com/appraisal_news_for_real_e/2007/06/index.html.
UPDATE
Tracy Jopek, the mother of the soldier whose name is on the bracelet that Obama could not remember during the debate, has now said that she is proud of Obama’s comment during the debate. She was reached on Sunday September 28, 2008, and had this to say to the Chicago Tribune.
Initially after giving the bracelet to Obama, “She realized it could be interpreted as a protest against the war, a statement that made her uncomfortable because other military families who suffered losses still supported the conflict.”
Tracy Jopek said she didn’t hear the interview [Route 51 radio] but that her ex-husband, who is currently stationed in Cuba, mischaracterized her viewpoint. An e-mail message sent to Brian Jopek through his daughter on Sunday was not immediately returned.
“I think he knew my intention, he understands it was a gesture between me and Sen. Obama,” she said. “It was just little piece of peace for us. I don’t understand how people can take that and turn it into some garbage on the Internet.”
She wouldn’t directly say whether she wanted Obama to refrain from mentioning the bracelet again, but she hopes the whole issue will just go away.
“I think these bracelets should be looked upon as an honor that both candidates wear them to respect the troops,” she said. “My request to both of them is that they honor the troops by lifting the conversation to the issues, and that they continue to live up to the standards our military deserves.”
See:
- http://newsbusters.org/blogs/warner-todd-huston/2008/09/28/family-told-obama-not-wear-soldier-sons-bracelet-where-media. Family Told Obama NOT To Wear Soldier Son’s Bracelet… Where is Media?
- http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/09/bracelet-wars.html. Bracelet Wars.
- http://newsbusters.org/node/24712. ‘I’ve Got a Bracelet, Too’.
- http://michellemalkin.com/2008/09/26/debate-video-obama-cant-remember-the-soldiers-name-on-his-bracelet/. Debate video: Obama can’t remember the soldier’s name on his bracelet.
- http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=720053. Mom’s bracelet becomes symbol. Obama discusses Wisconsin woman’s memento of slain soldier in victory speech.
- http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/09/the_first_presidential_debate.html. The First Presidential Debate (Transcript).
- http://www.iraqwarheroes.com/jopek.htm
- http://www.dehavelle.com/2008/09/barack-obamas-bracelet/. Barack Obama’s Bracelet
- http://www.wpr.org/regions/wau/route51/archives.cfm and http://clipcast.wpr.org:8080/ramgen/wpr/wau/rt51080329_iraqwar5years.mp3. March 20, 2008 – “The Iraq War: 5th Anniversary”.
- http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-wi-obama-bracelet,0,6413408.story. Soldier’s mom defends Obama’s mention of bracelet.
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