# Oscar Rant 1: Military Medals **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 26, 2001, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-rant-1-military-medals/59475 "2001-03-26T02:20:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2001, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-rant-1-military-medals/59475/1 "2001-03-26T02:20:50Z")
What the heck is it with the military medals that half of the men at the Academy Awards seem to be wearing on the lapels on their tuxedos? Did they suddenly start giving out awards for movie bravery – I’m not a war hero, but I play one on the big screen? Perhaps they are issued for service above and beyond the call of duty in avoiding papparazi? The Executive Producers Cross? Is it not enough that the celebs and movie stars get all the glitter and glamor? Do they have to wear a nonsensical symbol showing how “heroic” they are to show their manlyness? What’s next? Ceremonial sashes? Plumed hats? Flamboyantly colored codpieces? ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2001, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-rant-1-military-medals/59475/2 "2001-03-26T02:34:12Z")
> [@](#): > > “…Flamboyantly colored codpieces?” I’d like to put my vote in for that one right now. 😃 OP: Are you sure they we military medals and not something like those cheesy “World’s Greatest …(fill in the blank)” medals that I’ve seen around in the past? ---
**Author:** ![Sapphire\_Bullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/96bed5/32.png) [@Sapphire\_Bullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapphire_Bullet)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2001, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-rant-1-military-medals/59475/3 "2001-03-26T02:50:58Z")
I’ve only noticed one medal on the lapel of Russell Crowe. It’s just **another** reason for me to wish he had been kidnapped. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2001, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-rant-1-military-medals/59475/4 "2001-03-26T03:19:21Z")
I did not watch the Oscars; however, I can tell you (being retired military) that those who have served in the military and been awarded medals also get what’s known as “minatures” for those medals. These are typically worn on the lapels of suits or tuxedos. Feel free to check the regulation/instruction for the military branch you wish. A good start, of course, is [http://www.bupers.navy.mil](http://www.bupers.navy.mil). ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2001, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-rant-1-military-medals/59475/5 "2001-03-26T03:38:45Z")
I forgot to mention that the militaries of the world’s nations aren’t the only ones dispensing award medals and ribbons. There are also awards for civilians and some industries have their own awards for folks to wear, if so moved. Here’s a handy link: _The International Electronic Phaleristic Encyclopedia_ [http://haynese.winthrop.edu/iepe.html](http://haynese.winthrop.edu/iepe.html) ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2001, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-rant-1-military-medals/59475/6 "2001-03-26T03:46:40Z")
Also, here’s a link to a story showing Sir Sean wearing his medal after the Queen knighted him. [http://news6.thdo.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/scotland/newsid\_819000/819490.stm](http://news6.thdo.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/scotland/newsid_819000/819490.stm) ---
**Author:** ![sorrel554](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@sorrel554](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sorrel554)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2001, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-rant-1-military-medals/59475/7 "2001-03-26T12:19:10Z")
Russell Crowe’s medal was the MBE awarded to the grandfather he referred to in his speech. ---
**Author:** ![BunnyGirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@BunnyGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BunnyGirl)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2001, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-rant-1-military-medals/59475/8 "2001-03-26T14:16:00Z")
I also noticed a very small one on Charlton Heston’s lapel. ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2001, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-rant-1-military-medals/59475/9 "2001-03-26T20:29:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BunnyGirl \* > \*\*I also noticed a very small one on Charlton Heston’s lapel. \*\* Not to mention the one worn by Dino di Laurentis and (I think) the guy who won for Sound Editing. That’s who I specifically recall from my (admitedly cursory) survey of the men’s lapels. Though it seemed like there more than that when Steve Martin was doing his intros. (And I was cruelly denied the opportunity to do a more thorough survey of Jennifer Lopez’s, um, lapels when they only shot her in close-up from the shoulders up. I could have sworn I saw circular, textured devices or insignia of some sort at mid-chest level, but I was unable to confirm whether they were military decorations or something more prosaic.) ---
**Author:** ![Abe\_Babe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3ab097/32.png) [@Abe\_Babe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abe_Babe)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2001, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-rant-1-military-medals/59475/10 "2001-03-26T20:54:23Z")
Billdo, I, would give my left arm to see the ever-beautiful Ms. J. Lopez in a “Flamboyantle colored codpiece.” :D:D ---
**Author:** ![Abe\_Babe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3ab097/32.png) [@Abe\_Babe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abe_Babe)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2001, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-rant-1-military-medals/59475/11 "2001-03-26T20:57:27Z")
Now starring Barbara Streisand in a movie about an orthodox jewish girl who dresses as a gay man so she can learn… Flamboyantle. Mongo like preview. ---
**Author:** ![jab1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2001, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-rant-1-military-medals/59475/12 "2001-03-26T22:02:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Billdo \* > \*\*(And I was cruelly denied the opportunity to do a more thorough survey of Jennifer Lopez’s, um, lapels when they only shot her in close-up from the shoulders up. I could have sworn I saw circular, textured devices or insignia of some sort at mid-chest level, but I was unable to confirm whether they were military decorations or something more prosaic.) \*\* Yeah, J-Lo was definitely excited about being at the Oscars. Here in L.A., there were no less than two pre-Oscar shows on simultaneously on competing channels (KTLA 5 and KABC 7, for those of you scoring at home). I saw Lopez on one of them, and her nipples were quite prominent. This morning, on _The Today Show_, Tracey Ullman made a big deal about the show shooting Lopez from the shoulders up. I’m sure the Oscar people noticed also. On their website is [a page](http://www.oscars.com/style/owomen/women_main.html) where you can look at the women’s fashions. Jennifer Lopez is conspicuously absent from the list of names! ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2001, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-rant-1-military-medals/59475/13 "2001-03-27T02:41:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jab1 \* > I’m sure the Oscar people noticed also. On their website is [a page](http://www.oscars.com/style/owomen/women_main.html) where you can look at the women’s fashions. Jennifer Lopez is conspicuously absent from the list of names! Those are clothes from last year. (Sad that I could recognize/remember what people wore last year.) I suppose they will update the page soon. ---
**Author:** ![Redboss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8baadc/32.png) [@Redboss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Redboss)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2001, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-rant-1-military-medals/59475/14 "2001-03-27T02:57:45Z")
I watched the Oscars, and I could have described J Lo’s dress in detail - nice skirt in pale grey satin, swagged and draped, with a slightly darker shade of grey in a chiffon top, with a scarf feature at the neck. I sat there and thought to myself how much nicer she looked than in that tacky green dress that hung off her, and how it just goes to show that as these youngsters mature they learn taste. IT WAS SEE-THROUGH?? I check in here this morning (I live in Australia) to find it was SEE-THROUGH!! I thought, oh no, there’s some mistake, checked out the link and bingo! (or more correctly, BONGO!) there they were. Do you think that the fact that I’m gay has anything to do with this phenomenon? Hehehe [serious announcer voice] Now at last perhaps some of you might begin to understand the sad isolation that so many gay men are forced to live with [/serious announcer voice] ALSO - lay off Russell Crowe!! He’s a good guy, unpretentious straightforward and talented. He’s been around in Oz show biz a long time and is genuinely liked and respected. Maybe not loved quite the same way as our Mr Rush, but he’s a man without bullshit phoney “sincerity”. The medal was a tribute to his grandfather. His hair is just fine, thanks. And **Sapphire Bullet** you ought to be ashamed of yourself > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sapphire Bullet \* > \*\*I’ve only noticed one medal on the lapel of Russell Crowe.It’s just **another** reason for me to wish he had been kidnapped. > \*\* Do you also go around wishing cancer on people? Well do your worst in respect to me. Wish heterosexuality on me so I can get a truer measure of J Lo’s dress sense, and find some value in Pamela Anderson’s presence in a movie. Yours nipple-blinkeredly, Redboss ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2001, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-rant-1-military-medals/59475/15 "2001-03-27T03:26:39Z")
Hey Redboss, that reminds me of the time I was watching some stupid program with my husband and a few of his friends. The show featured showgirls flouncing down stairs and kicking their legs and whatnot. I mentioned that the poor girls necks must really ache carrying around those gargantuan headpieces. The three men in the room turned to look at me blankly. “Headpieces?” my husband finally responded. Still, I’m not a lesbian and I noticed J-Lo’s nips. Now to tie the preceeding with the OP: Instead of wearing the odd military insignia on their lapels, I think the men of the Oscars should show off those tantalizing little whisps of hair that all sexy men have just beneath their bellybuttons. I’d sure as hell notice that. ---
**Author:** ![jab1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2001, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-rant-1-military-medals/59475/16 "2001-03-27T19:22:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Green Bean \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by jab1 \* > > I’m sure the Oscar people noticed also. On their website is [a page](http://www.oscars.com/style/owomen/women_main.html) where you can look at the women’s fashions. Jennifer Lopez is conspicuously absent from the list of names! > > Those are clothes from last year. (Sad that I could recognize/remember what people wore last year.) I suppose they will update the page soon. \*\* If you wanna see this year’s clothes, go to the Oscar homepage and click on Julia Roberts’ photo on the left. That will open a Javascript window that lets you scroll through the photos. Once that appears, click on “NEXT” four times until you see a photo of sisters Phyllicia Rashad and Debbie Allen. To the left is a thumbnail image of Lopez. Click on that and you will see what she wore to the Oscars. Her dress is see-through and she definitely wore no bra. :drool, pant: ---
**Author:** ![Geobabe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/geobabe/32/3908_2.png) [@Geobabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geobabe)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2001, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-rant-1-military-medals/59475/17 "2001-03-27T20:59:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Biggirl \* > \*\*Now to tie the preceeding with the OP: Instead of wearing the odd military insignia on their lapels, I think the men of the Oscars should show off those tantalizing little whisps of hair that all sexy men have just beneath their bellybuttons. I’d sure as hell notice that. \*\* I’m gonna second that suggestion. Ooohhhhh… ---
**Author:** ![Redboss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8baadc/32.png) [@Redboss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Redboss)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2001, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-rant-1-military-medals/59475/18 "2001-03-28T05:10:51Z")
You **go** BigGirl! Headpieces, yes… hehehe! Whisps, yes! hehehe ---
**Author:** ![Redboss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8baadc/32.png) [@Redboss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Redboss)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2001, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscar-rant-1-military-medals/59475/19 "2001-03-28T05:12:37Z")
You **GO BigGirl!** Headpieces, yes… hehehe! Whisps, yes! hehehe