Firefighter Suspended For Obama Nod will quit

[liberal N proud]

In a post on Monday by OhioChick a Cleveland firefighter was suspended for nodding to Obama in the Inaugural parade. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4915742


Today Firefighter says he can't take anymore and is quiting the Pipes And Drum Band

Firefighter Says He Is Leaving Pipes And Drum Band
Coleman Says There's Too Much Hurt

POSTED: 2:13 pm EST January 27, 2009
UPDATED: 2:53 pm EST January 27, 2009

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- A local firefighter said he will not return to the Cleveland Firefighters Memorial Pipes and Drum Corps after his suspension.

Drum Major and Cleveland Heights fire inspector John Coleman was suspended for six months for giving President Barack Obama a nod and wave during last week's inaugural parade in Washington, D.C.

"It would probably be best that I just leave," Coleman said in an exclusive interview with NewsChannel5's Duane Pohlman.

Coleman has been with the pipes and drums for 17 years.

He said there is too much hurt on both sides for him to go back to the band. He said he didn't have any other choice.

"With this, it's come to a point where I don't want embarrassment anymore between the pipe band and myself," Coleman said.

"Any chance of changing your mind?" Pohlman asked.

"I don't think it would happen, especially with the way things have gone," Coleman said.

He said he has been overwhelmed with phone calls and e-mails from all across the county.

"They are in support of me and would have done the same thing," Coleman said. "I just want to thank the people who have supported me and just take it from there.

Coleman said Monday that he doesn't want to bring negativity or shame to the band.

"I really don't have any other choice. It's what happened. It just got way out of line," he said.

He said there was a lot of hard work by the band in Washington and it was a great moment, but he just couldn't ignore the president.

"Contact was made with our eyes both together and he smiled and waved at the band and just as a gesture, I nodded my head. I gave him a slight wave and went on."

Coleman teared up when talking about the incident, saying he was hurt by the suspension.

Bandleader Pipe Major Mike Engle said Coleman violated the proper decorum required of a military parade.

http://www.newsnet5.com/politics/18576177/detail.html

[Mz Pip]

1. This seems to be an example of

when the letter of the law gets in the way of the spirit of the law. Or rules in this case. Of course bands that emphasize precise movements don't want people breaking formation all over the place but give me a break. Nodding at the President when he acknowledges you should not warrant such retribution.

[jimshoes]

2. The suspension seems a bit on the harsh

side of strict. I feel sorry for the guy.

[4 t 4]

5. I feel sorry for him too

they have gone way to far after 17 years just because he had a moment of extreme excitement. They are taking themselves way to seriously. Ridiculous.

[spanone]

3. fuck Bandleader Pipe Major Mike Engle

i saw the exchange live on teevee when it happened...i thought it was one of the great moments of the parade.

[Zywiec]

4. It looked like he was saluting the Commander in Chief

He wasn't be obnoxious or anything.

:patriot:

[DS1]

6. Mike Engle is a Major Pipe alright

what a fucking douche, probably wanted his old job back

[LiberalFighter]

7. Why are they following decorum for a military parade when they are not a military branch? Huh!!!

[stopbush]

8. I agree with the suspension.

Coleman was on parade. Being in an ensemble like this is a matter of discipline and following protocols. That's why you're there, to provide the disciplined element of the ceremonies while the crowd goes wild.

A similar situation to what Coleman did would be an actor stepping out of character in the middle of the play and waving at his grandmother in the audience. It's not done. Allowing one actor to do it allows every actor to do it. Breaking the fourth wall is something that every professional knows about and works to avoid breaking when they are playing a role in a production.

Would Coleman's gesture have been so easily forgiven had it been taken as a signal to the rest of the band to break the decorum they had all practiced and discussed at length and to start waving and yelling at the President? What if one of the drummers had abandoned the group's cadence and launched into a Spinal Tap-esque drum solo? Would that be a human touch? I don't think so. Yet as the symbolic head of the band, Coleman broke discipline for all of them (suppose that members of the US Marine Band had stopped playing and waved at Obama when he looked their way. Would we find them to be adding a human touch?).

Sure, there's a "human" element to being overcome by the occasion, but the point of these ensembles is that they are drilled and disciplined to ride above the emotion of the occasion, and in so doing, to actually add to the emotion of the occasion. In truth, the discipline these ensembles typically display is ALSO a very human touch, a disciplined touch that we among all species can call upon when warranted by the occasion.

In this instance, Mr Coleman wasn't up to the occasion.

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

9. Agreed. + He should just hang in there till suspension is up.

[stopbush]

10. Agreed. He should just hang in there until the suspension is up.

[RC]

11. HIs punishment is over the top.

A reprimand, maybe. 17 years and throw it all away because because good finally triumphed over evil and he acknowledged it? No, a verbal notice, nothing more. This is like 2 years in jail for jay walking in a residential area. The original punishment was to much for the offense.

[MineralMan]

12. If I were a member of that group,

I would walk out in solidarity with the Drum Major. Acknowledging the President of the United States is not disobedience. It is simply recognizing that he is the President of the United States. If it had been a real military band, rather than a private band of pipers, the leader would do an eyes right or eyes left and salute the Commander in Chief.

This sounds to me like the head of the organization is a winger who was pissed that his Drum Major offered the acknowledgement. Too bad. I'd walk.

[BlooInBloo]

13. Exceptional circumstances can justify, or at least mitigate, exceptional behavior....

I would say this is such a case, and the band can fucking go to hell.

[kbl]

14. The great 'O'

> Band leader Pipe Major Mike Engle said Coleman violated the proper decorum required of a military parade.

Nice, and if a violation occurs, both one who committed violation and leader are both at fault. Consider this: Band leader had to give all members warning briefing about not nodding/waving to Obama's. Well, I guess that warning briefing was not conducted with as much understanding and air of urgency as situation required and therefore band leader is also responsible. Both should have been suspended pending further investigation.

That would be proper military proceedings, BTW...

Or the new 'C&C' could come down from his cloud and grant them both pardons. However, BHO has zero military background, therefore he would not think of it immediately until one of his advisor's (be careful, advisor's in long run start thinking they run things) gives him the idea.

Getting red? Don't, remember Obama is blue. ;-)

-Kbl

[Coexist]

15. that is a damn shame