# I pit Bush for accepting the Purple Heart **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 24, 2007, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443 "2007-04-24T13:00:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443/121 "2007-04-25T00:40:48Z")
[QUOTE=mhendo] He is taking time out of his schedule to accept this award in person, at the White House, from a veteran who feels sorry for him. I wonder what response he’d give if a different veteran wanted to present Bush with his Purple Heart out of respect for all the soldiers who have been killed in a disastrously-managed war and occupation. Somehow, i suspect his calendar would be full that day. [/QUOTE] It wasn’t when he met with Cindy Sheehan. ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443/122 "2007-04-25T00:40:53Z")
I think i’ll take the other position and say the guy giving the medal is a moron. He honestly equates being physically wounded in conflict, for which he was decorated three times, with political badmouthing? What a tool. ---
**Author:** ![Caridwen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@Caridwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caridwen)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443/123 "2007-04-25T00:40:59Z")
[QUOTE=Scylla] [QUOTE=elucidator] **Scylla** , let me hip you on this: you know more about quantum physics than you know about lefties. A _lot_ more. > [@](#): > > I’m sure that’s true. I have to admit that this confuses me: > > " (4/19, Springfield, Tenn.): I have spent the better part of this tour trying to come up with easy ways for us all to become a part of the solution to global warming. Although my ideas are in the earliest stages of development, they are, in my mind, worth investigating. One of my favorites is in the area of forest conservation which we heavily rely on for oxygen. I propose a limitation be put on how many squares of toilet paper can be used in any one sitting. Now, I don’t want to rob any law-abiding American of his or her God-given rights, but I think we are an industrious enough people that we can make it work with only one square per restroom visit, except, of course, on those pesky occasions where 2 to 3 could be required." > > ``` > -[Sheryl Crow](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/21/AR2007042101385_pf.html) > > ``` > > I have one question for you Friend, **Elucidator** , and I want you on your honor to answer this one honestly. > > Having read that, who would you rather corn dog in the caboose, Sheryl Crow or Ann Coulter? There was already a Sheryl Crow thread that was actually funny. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443/124 "2007-04-25T00:41:33Z")
[QUOTE=Scylla] So, if Bush through the medal away that would be ok and respectful because you think Iraq war is also evil, but by accepting graciously he’s been disrepectful? [/quote] It’s beyond your comprehension, as I said. ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443/125 "2007-04-25T00:42:21Z")
[QUOTE=ElvisL1ves] It’s beyond your comprehension, as I said. [/QUOTE] We agree. ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443/126 "2007-04-25T00:44:21Z")
[QUOTE=Scylla] Personally, I can’t imagine anybody deserving such a compliment, which is why I can’t imagine why anyone would dare refuse it. [/QUOTE] I really don’t get this. If someone offered me a compliment of this kind, or anything else that portrayed me in such an incredibly flattering light - of _course_ i’d refuse it. To accept it would be the height of narcissism. Especially when in this case the compliment being paid (“I think the President’s handling of his political opponents is equivalent to being injured in combat”) is so obviously wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443/127 "2007-04-25T00:53:10Z")
[QUOTE=Scylla] But I will tell you my mother was given her father’s NYPD Chiefs badge by her father after he retired, and that really didn’t contain any message for all the other police chiefs. [/QUOTE] Did he make up a citation for your mother and sign it, the way this veteran did? That this medal was accompanied by a citation negates your inference that it was a simple gift. The giver intended it to be given as an honor for enduring emotional wounds and scars. To accept it under those circumstances is an affront to all those who were actually wounded in battle. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443/128 "2007-04-25T00:53:24Z")
[QUOTE=Scylla] Bush has not returned it in kind. He has not responded to it. He has been above it. In this manner I think he’s shown a quality of dignity and civility that’s sadly lacking from the left. [/QUOTE] The mind reels. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443/129 "2007-04-25T00:53:52Z")
It isn’t accepting the gift that’s the goddamn problem, **Scylla** , it’s accepting in the context of the fake citation as if he was actually being _awarded_ the monkey fucking thing. It’s not only offensive because it compares political criticism to war wounds but because it characterizes practicioners of free speech as enemies of the US. I have no problem insulting this mentally defective veteran by the way. He’s an anti-American piece of shit. Fuck him. ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443/130 "2007-04-25T00:56:22Z")
[QUOTE=Revenant Threshold] I really don’t get this. [/quote] Maybe we just have a philosophical impasse. I can’t explain it any better. > [@](#): > > Especially when in this case the compliment being paid (“I think the President’s handling of his political opponents is equivalent to being injured in combat”) is so obviously wrong. But **it’s not wrong**. The only person that has the right to say whether or not Bush deserves that particular Purple Heart is the guy that earned it. I swear to you, I would say the same thing if he wanted to give it to Michael Moore. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443/131 "2007-04-25T00:58:23Z")
[QUOTE=Scylla] …I have one question for you Friend, **Elucidator** , and I want you on your honor to answer this one honestly. Having read that, who would you rather corn dog in the caboose, Sheryl Crow or Ann Coulter? [/QUOTE] Ms. Crow is not a political figure, nor a political spokesperson of any note. That a person of the leftist persuasion may hold some rather goofy ideas proves conclusively that she is human. Ms Coulter, on the other hand, does most publicly and definitely pretend to political expertise and insight, and purveys ideas far too malignant to be termed “goofy”. Besides, as a gentleman, one simply cannot discuss any such sexual preference betwixt a silky and curvaceous chanteuse and a shrieking vampiric harridan. Quite impossible, I’m sure you understand. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443/132 "2007-04-25T00:58:50Z")
[QUOTE=Scylla] It wasn’t when he met with Cindy Sheehan. [/QUOTE] He didn’t really meet with Cindy Sheehan. He slapped a group of survivors on the back on his way to play golf or shoot cats or whatever the fuck he does on his ranch. He has absolutely no time to actually _listen_ to survivors who won’t suck his ass. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443/133 "2007-04-25T01:00:30Z")
Sheryl Crow is a rich hippie. She eats bran and uses bidets. She’s clean as a whistle up there. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443/134 "2007-04-25T01:01:55Z")
I don’t get this… I thought conservatives are the ones who are supposed to be tough-skinned. Since when do they pass out medals for hurt feelings? I think the Duke lacrosse players and the Rutgers basketball teams should get Purple Hearts too, then. That way, they can serve as an inspiration to those lazy boys and girls playing in that glorified sand box over yonder. Purple Hearts for EVERYONE! I don’t know why everyone (except Dio) is refraining from judging the vet. He’s a nutcase if he thinks Bush deserves military honors. I hope his friends and family are talking shit about him behind his back. ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443/135 "2007-04-25T01:04:30Z")
[QUOTE=elucidator] Besides, as a gentleman, one simply cannot discuss any such sexual preference betwixt a silky and curvaceous chanteuse and a shrieking vampiric harridan. Quite impossible, I’m sure you understand. [/QUOTE] Fair enough. Personally, I know I learned something. If you want to pick the liberal chick out of the crowd, look for the girl with the Dirty Sanchez. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443/136 "2007-04-25T01:05:42Z")
[QUOTE=Scylla] But **it’s not wrong**. The only person that has the right to say whether or not Bush deserves that particular Purple Heart is the guy that earned it. [/quote] The man can offer whatever the hell he wants. The decision to \*accept \* it, and thereby endorse the sentiment, is _Bush_’s. That endorsement does have implications that, if they are not beyond your comprehension, you’re pointedly ignoring. Capisce now? :rolleyes: Or would you rather play your troll game a little longer? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443/137 "2007-04-25T01:07:34Z")
[QUOTE=monstro] I don’t know why everyone (except Dio) is refraining from judging the vet. [/quote] Because, other than being a decorated vet, he really doesn’t matter any more than the rest of us here do. He doesn’t work for us. He’s just a private citizen, not the Commander in Chief. ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443/138 "2007-04-25T01:09:03Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] It isn’t accepting the gift that’s the goddamn problem, **Scylla** , it’s accepting in the context of the fake citation as if he was actually being _awarded_ the monkey fucking thing. [/QUOTE] I don’t see how that makes any difference. If Thomas wants to write up a citation and give it to Count Chocula for making breakfast fun, that’s his business. I don’t know what the “citation” says, and without knowing I have no idea if it’s something I’d take issue with, or not. The citation is symbolic, and I’m sure we recognize it doesn’t carry weight beyond the symbolism that Thomas gives it. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443/139 "2007-04-25T01:10:02Z")
[QUOTE=Scylla] Bush thinks he’s a man of destiny on a mission from God. I don’t know about that, but I think he comports himself with class and dignity in the face of his detractors and in this respect looks pretty good by comparison. [/QUOTE] I think you’d actually be on firmer ground with the “mission from God” belief. The Lord may work in mysterious ways, but class and dignity are pretty obviously falsifiable traits. Decades from now, no doubt many will look back on the W presidency as some sort of divine judgement, but I’d lay odds that no one will be citing any of his antics as examples in class or dignity in the face of his detractors. (Has he ever faced his detractors?) On the other hand, if there’s people today who sincerely think Bush deserves a Purple Heart for being criticized, I suppose there’ll inevitably be those who will recall the man as a paragon of class and dignity. “Ol’ W, now he was dignity embodied. And Cheney? Dead sex-ey!” ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443/140 "2007-04-25T01:10:37Z")
[QUOTE=Scylla] The citation is symbolic, and I’m sure we recognize it doesn’t carry weight beyond the symbolism that Thomas gives it. [/QUOTE] So it’s true - you really _don’t_ comprehend that Bush’s acceptance gives it symbolism too, and much more so. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443.md?page=8)