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MSNBC reports the suspension of an Ohio firefighter who gave the nod to President Barack Obama during the historic inaugural parade in Washington, DC last week. Watch Video
By J E Solomon
Drum Major John Coleman was caught on video giving the nod along with a fleeting wave as the Cleveland Firefighters Memorial Pipes & Drums marched past the President. Because of this, he has been suspended for six months.
Coleman’s suspension has generated a lot of interest.
worldwide. At the time of reading the report on the internet, out of 18,305 votes
recorded under “VOTE AND DISCUSS”, 81.6% (14,934) voted NO, 16.6% (3,037) voted
YES, and 1.8% (334) were not sure.
According to the band leader, Coleman “violated the proper decorum required in a
military parade.” The military has rules. They must be obeyed. Fair enough. But six
months suspension, to my mind, and to the minds of most readers, is simply ridiculous.
It smacks of vindictiveness, and one would be quick to suggest that the authorities
at Cleveland Heights in Ohio might already be having some issues with the 17-year
veteran of the band. In Coleman’s own words, he said, “there are too many bridges
burned with the band, too many hurt feelings on both sides.”
A six-month suspension? Just for being unable to resist the smiling and waving of the
first Black President of the United States? This was an occasion, regarded as the
most memorable in the history of the US. It was an event that was very emotionally
charged, such that several dignitaries were caught with tears of joy they could not
hold back.
Former Secretary of State, Colin Powell, openly acknowledged on TV that he felt very
emotional at times. And here was a firefighter band’s man in a parade march past, who
happened to make direct eye contact with a smiling Obama waving at the band. His
vulnerability to nodding and waving back at Barack Obama, the very person at the heart
of that historic moment, to me, was just as human as Colin Powel’s vulnerability to
overwhelmed emotions.
Would Coleman have been suspended if only tears had filled his eyes, streamed down his
cheeks in as helplessly a manner as happened in the case of tens of thousands who
watched the ceremony live or on TV?
Military rules are in place for a reason. That’s clearly understood. But then, the
military is a human institution. It is not for robots.