I can only assume that Mark Patinkin’s Oct. 19 column (“To grieving father, Obamas’ compassion “overwhelming”), which recalled President Obama’s telephone call and subsequent White House invitation to a grieving military father, was meant to somehow contrast the former president’s compassion with President Trump’s.
I read somewhere online that this whole conversation does the families of the fallen a great disservice, and I concur. Nevertheless, Seal Team Six family members specifically asked then-President Obama to prohibit cameras when the bodies of their heroes came home after their helicopter was shot down by the Taliban in 2011, yet dozens were clicking away when the plane landed. Not surprisingly, a picture of the president saluting the caskets was front-page news the very next morning.
It’s also been reported that many of those families were further offended, as they never even received a call from the president after the fact, yet they’ve been invited to the White House repeatedly by President Trump. Moreover, he visited the wounded in Las Vegas, who spoke affectionately of a somber and comforting president who is nothing like the media’s portrayal of him.
Out of reverence for those who go into harm’s way in our stead every day, as well as those who make the ultimate sacrifice, I’m done with this. But for goodness sake, can we agree that this debate is a foolish exercise and does nothing to honor the memories of our friends and family who gave all of their tomorrows for our todays?
Fred Comella
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