Over the past week I’ve come across a controversy, or as the media calls it a scandal associated with the Commander-in-Chief (CINC), President of the United States (POTUS), Barack Hussein Obama. This particular controversy which I’ll call Umbrella Gate baffles me. Let’s go to the photo.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoga & POTUS Barack H. Obama

Look at it. What do you see? What do you think about what you see? Take a moment to ponder. Now, I’ll tell you what I see when I look at this image.

I see two heads of state, President Obama and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoga, holding some sort of briefing in front of the White House, the POTUS’s home and work space. I see them being bracketed by two members of the armed forces and being shielded from inclement weather. When I first saw the photo I thought, those are some fine Marine specimens (her I’m a gal who likes a man in uniform). I remember being proud that my Marine brothers were representing the Corps so well. There uniform was dazzling and their form ripped from the pages of a drill manual, so precise. I also wondered who was responsible for selecting two Marines so alike in appearance that combined with the uniform and precise bearing they were mirrors of each other. I kept wondering of there is a video of them walking out and unfurling their umbrellas. I bet it would look like something the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon does in their performances (see here for clip).

Those were and are my thoughts about this photo. Alas, my thoughts seem to be in the minority if the vitriol being spewed by Americans is to be believed. The saddest part for me is the hate and disrespect directed towards President Obama even by members of the military, especially Marines. Marines who take offence at a male Marine holding an umbrella for our CINC, as a task beneath them but would not dare tell a commander that, cleaning a toilet, picking up cigarette Butts or stirring shit in a burn barrel, is beneath them. These individuals who are ranting and raving about Mr. Obama tarnishing the office of the president are themselves tarnish the image of brotherhood and adherence to good order and discipline espoused by the Armed Forces of the United States of America.

There is no order in Marine Corps MCO P1020.34G that prohibits a male Marine from carrying an umbrella to shield another. And where women, children and dignitaries are concerned it’s a point of pride to render assistance. Another Marine said it best “The specific rule in the Marine Corps Uniform Regulation authorizes females to utilize umbrellas in service or dress uniform. It does not prohibit male Marines from touching or holding umbrellas in uniform. However, they are not to be carried by males for PERSONAL USE. The intent is that male Marines do not walk around using umbrellas for THEMSELVES when it rains.” So all these folks up in arms about the Marines holding an umbrella for the president are being disingenuous. They have their knickers in a bunch because a black man, the leader of our country and of the free world is being sheltered and treated like the dignitary that he is by a white man. Politics plays a role in those because there was no umbrage when Presidents Reagan, G.W. Bush or G.H.W. Bush had umbrellas held for them by members of the armed forces. It’s an honourable duty to serve a president in this capacity. Certainly a more favourable one than stirring shit in a burn barrel in some far-flung desert land.

What did you make of the photo and resulting controversy? For comparison the internet has provided the following.

4 Presidents 4 Umbrellas

Viewing this second photo, the outrage expressed by some is just false to cover the real hate they feel for Barack H. Obama because of the color of his skin.

Lady Littlefoot