I saw this photograph on a moderately conservative bloggers site a few days ago and I found it both endearing and disturbing.
Endearing because of the look in the police officer's eyes. Endearing because PSBO was humble enough to shake the officer's hand. Disturbing because he didn't look at the officer and it seemed almost like a covert action-- the "code" thing. Disturbing because I understand the look in the officer's eyes and it is more than just graciousness it's the "code" thing. Why is the "code" thing necessary....shake the man's hand and look at him....daay-aam!
19 comments:
????? What are you Talking about???
LOL...I'm not sure. I'm a wierdo I know. What do you think about the covert handshake?
Please asplain the "code." Me no understand.
Here is what a few other bloggers that felt a reaction to the photograph had to say about it:
Aaron:" I don't even have to explain it. You look at this picture and you simply understand this moment of wordless communication between two brothers.
Shay:"Yeah, I noticed that too when I saw this photo yesterday of President Obama and the British police officer outside 10 Downing Street. B-Rock is doing that code thing again."
James:Black people never know if their invisibility has to do with an unwillingness of whites to see them or white people’s inability to see anyone, down their perceived totem pole. The only way for me to know this would be to secretly watch to see if they ignore their fellow whites similar to the way they ignore blacks. For the record, I believe when you are the top dog you are going to naturally have problems ‘seeing’ others, as they simply are not important to you and there is no penalty for your ignorance……So this is where some people, President Obama as lead exception, score high. They see people that their station says should be invisible. Obama sees people very well, but especially black people, both before and after he won office. He reaches out in a myriad of ways, a nod, a handshake, a pat, a point, a wave, or a rare bump, and these people will forever remember that tingle of specialness because he gifted them with an instant of his mind share. “The leader of the free world thought about me for a split second. Yep, I’m special.”
I never feel invisible not I can't relate to what James is saying. Nor would I feel anymore "special" if "The One" were to shake my hand.....but, I'm wierd like that.
@CBW:
"I never feel invisible not I can't relate to what James is saying. Nor would I feel anymore "special" if "The One" were to shake my hand.....but, I'm wierd like that."
Good Lordy people. Let me "Break it down to the bone gristle"...again!
O.K., its LIKE THIS. When I was a Marine I enjoyed saluting BLACK OFFICERS. IN fact when I meet Secretary (then General) Colin Powell I COULDN'T WAIT to salute him, I was still in the Corps I would hope to be present to Salute Barack Obama as the first BLACK PRESIDENT, hell yeah, long time coming, simple as that.
Regardless of how you righties want to minimize it, he is that, a symbol of CHANGE in AMERICA.
Just one added note: Duty officers are instructed to NOT engage dignitaries (even eye contact), so as not to obstruct the flow of their movement in any way. They jeopardize their post if they disobey. The exception is if the dignitary 'insist', in the case of an outstretched hand. Obama cleverly engages the officer but without changing his stride/cadence/eyes). He gets what he wants and poses no threat to the officer from his superiors as there was no 'cost'. Very clever and smoothly executed.
Thank you James for explaining that. The lack of eye contact was very troubling to me, but now I guess it's a moot point....just clever smooth execution.
@DJBA
Thanks for the explanation. Makes sense.
Could have lived without the dig though. I honestly didn't know what CBW was talking about.
Peace.
DJ Black Adam,
So - let me get this straight:
You were a Marine - who "couldn't wait to salute" an Air Force General?
....see, I was always 'Army' first - can't even imagine being all a-twitter at the idea of saluting and AF officer... you know, unless he was a CMH winner - but then, that would still be over something he'd done.
Then again - I guess that also lends some insight into your having been a "Marine", but still speaking derisively about 'Righties'.
I just can't imagine someone entering military service - with the intent & understanding that we were expected to lay down our lives in defense of our American Rights and Freedoms - and then cheering for someone whose stated intentions are to 'Socialize' those freedoms out from under us.
Oh, but that's right - he's black...well mostly, anyway... except for the White & Muslim parts.... but his skin is dark at least, and as you've already stated, that's what's most important.
Hoo-Ah, Brother.
- MuscleDaddy
@Muscle:
"DJ Black Adam,
So - let me get this straight: You were a Marine - who "couldn't wait to salute" an Air Force General?"
First off, Secretary Powell was an ARMY general...
Secondly, you wrote: "....see, I was always 'Army' first - can't even imagine being all a-twitter at the idea of saluting and AF officer... you know, unless he was a CMH winner - but then, that would still be over something he'd done."
I don't know what they teach in Basic training for the "A.int R.eady to be M.arines Y.et" branch of the service ;-)
But at MCRD San Diego CA, 3rd battalion, Kilo Co. WE were taught to salute ALL Officers who out ranked us in the US Armed Forces and our NATO Allies, and even to a lesser extext non Allies when in a peaceful situation.
You go on with: "I just can't imagine someone entering military service - with the intent & understanding that we were expected to lay down our lives in defense of our American Rights and Freedoms - and then cheering for someone whose stated intentions are to 'Socialize' those freedoms out from under us."
I served my country with distinction, and have no regrets, I just don't see President Obama as a socializer, but we all see things the way we do.
@Judy:
"Could have lived without the dig though."
What digg?
@Muscle:
Yo but wait back it up, Up, easy back it up:
You wrote: "Oh, but that's right - he's black...well mostly, anyway... except for the White & Muslim parts.... but his skin is dark at least, and as you've already stated, that's what's most important."
Excuse me, I don't recall stating that my voting for Barack had anything to do with his "color" I voted for him because in my opinion he was the best CHOICE.
Secondly, when did "Muslim" become and ethnicity? Thirdly, I got White Blood too, how many African Americans don't? Like I said, He's as BLACK as President as he would be if he mugged a White lady, in the later case, the News story would read "Black MAN" so let's not get technical now...
DJ Black Adam,
"First off, Secretary Powell was an ARMY general..."
Okay - you were paying attention for that one (never wanted to claim him) - aside from that, though - looks like you go the standard-issue Marine-Corps allotment of reading comprehension...Let's Review:
"But at MCRD San Diego CA, 3rd battalion, Kilo Co. WE were taught to salute ALL Officers..."
Not fer nuthin' here, Sparky - but I believe I was talking about getting all tingly-legged about it - not saying I wouldn't have done it.
"I just don't see President Obama as a socializer,..."
Taking over car companies...
http://www.e3gazette.com/2009/04/obama-lacks-authority.html
Dictating salaries...
http://www.e3gazette.com/2009/04/hr-1664-or-all-your-salaries-are-belong.html
Re-engineering the Second Amendment...
http://www.e3gazette.com/2009/03/second-amendment-social-engineering.html
Preparing the Government Collective...
http://www.e3gazette.com/2009/03/hr-1388-is-arbeit-macht-frei-too-strong.html
Baking Socialized Medicine into the "Stimulus" Bill...
http://www.e3gazette.com/2009/02/stimulus-includes-medical-procedure.html
So tell me then Adam - what will it take for you to admit what's right in front of you?
Oh - and... backing it up...
"Excuse me, I don't recall stating that my voting for Barack had anything to do with his "color" I voted for him because in my opinion he was the best CHOICE."
Yah - how's that working out for you now?
Were you especially enamored of that bit where he was going to make you pay for your own service-related treatment?
http://www.e3gazette.com/2009/03/obama-still-plans-to-make-vets-pay.html
Besides (and more evidence of that USMC reading comprehension) - who said anything about "voting" - the topic was your enthusiasm for saluting officers 'for being black'.
"Secondly, when did "Muslim" become and ethnicity? "
Figure it must be, or all of the usual "Separation Clause" suspects would be ALL OVER this...
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.printable&pageId=93251
So much for 'separation of church & state', huh?
- MuscleDaddy
hi CBW this whole thing is fascinating to me...I stumbled across your site for the "he would not come down from the cross" music posts and now this....so, being British I will just add that the picture makes perfect sense in the British cultural context in that, regardless of race, we're still ridiculously all about rank and file, so the security officer is not supposed to look the President (or whoever it is up the chain) in the eye while in public duty...or unless he is instrcted to engage in eye contact - it's a respect thing for your 'elders and betters' (remnants of the cloth cap thing). Its EEZACKLY the same situation as how you are NOT SUPPOSED TO TOUCH THE QUEEN (on the assumption that she is better and therefore sort of hyper-mortal), and Michelle O hugged the woman, who hugged her back, and it was FRONT PAGE NEWS HERE and we are VERY excited that our Queen got hugged for the first time in her lil life!Does that put the eyecontact into more perspective?
Anon~Yes, I understand what you are saying. But many Black Americans read into this picture our President is so smooth, so "down" for the people, so filled with quintessential "swaggertude" this shake is code for "I've got your back" brother.
You need to watch the video of the moment to see that the President does look the brother in the eye and it is the President who extends his hand first, so there is no code here; just a simple expression of recognition from one brother to another: http://eurthisnthat.com/president-and-officer-at-10-downing-street-grip-for-the-moment/
That's the way it should be.Thanks for your insight anonymous
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