Sunday, May 10, 2009

The Needs of the Many Outweigh the Needs of the One

How is it that President Bush could visit Normandy and the public was allowed uninterrupted access to the landing beaches and Colleville-Sur-Mer on the 60th Anniversary of the D-Day landings, and now we're learning that the State Department is putting in a request to keep the cemetery off limit to the public when President Obama visits next month for the 65th Anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy.
The 65th Anniversary of D-Day is fast approaching. Barack Obama will attend the events on June 6th as George Bush did in 2004 for the sixtieth memorial service. Here is the rub, as of now Obama’s State Department has asked (read demanded) the French government not allow tour guide services to operate that day. It is a big day for Normandy tourism. Yet, the king will not allow those not connected with government to enjoy the day. Obama is very important you know. This is an unprecedented request. I hope the French come to their senses and deny it.

Compare that with 2004. Security was tight as President Bush and other world leaders were in attendance, but the event was still open to all. A friend relayed the story of waiting in line to use a port-a-potty (a French port-a-potty no doubt, yuck, believe me.) She looks to her left and who he is in the next line waiting patiently? President Bush. Sure he had Secret Service nearby, but he waited like everyone else.

Contrast that with Team Obama not even allowing regular people near Colleville-Sur-Mer that day. A shame indeed. Especially as the last of our WW II vets are expiring.
That last part is key. This event is not about Obama, but about those veterans who survived their encounter with history at Normandy and helped secure the liberation of Europe from the hands of the Nazis. Obama is supposed to be honoring those who made it off the beach, and all those who didn't.

He should not stand in the way of all those who want to honor the men who made the supreme sacrifice during Operation Overlord to liberate Europe. I hope that this turns out to be an inaccurate report, but if it isn't, it is yet another bone-headed and tone deaf move on Obama's part, and

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