Posted on 03/25/2015 4:59:48 PM PDT by Ronald_Magnus
A photographer named Matthew Munson took several photos during a recent visit to Washington, D.C., and one in particular is stirring up conversation about American history, parenting, and respect.
Munson shared his photos to Facebook, and there's some standard DC fare—that obelisk called the Washington Monument, some military memorials.
But one of Munson's memorial photos speaks volumes without making a sound.
It's an image of the Vietnam Women's Memorial, which serves to honor the women who served during the U.S. war with Vietnam, from 1955 to 1975. Atop this statue is a young girl using it like playground equipment. On the ground, another young girl appears to be climbing up. All this as a military veteran in a wheelchair, presumably escorted by family members, goes by.
The man pushing the veteran's wheelchair has a look of palpable disgust. The veteran himself has an unplaceable, one-of-a-kind look that hardly suggests pleasant thoughts. And Munson's Internet audience, chiming in with their comments on this particular photo, are similarly disappointed.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
Yes, they do, but any decent parent would explain to those children why that is not the proper place to play.
Some on this site are more race-obsessed than the Left.
I don’t think it’s as much race-obsession as it is a Nationalism spirit.
It could be anyone who, from a foreign country, came here and did not respect OUR memorials.
A communist Democrat Party USA created "ugly piece of history."
Race-obsessed kristinn?....really ....good grief
I’m not “furious” about this snapshot.
I personally know many male, and a one female combat veterans of the Vietnam War.
I can very easily imagine my friend Sue, disabled while working as EOD in Vietnam, telling her grandchildren to climb up on that monument, and touch every inch of every face depicted.
As for myself and my child, no, I would no more allow my child or grandchild to climb on any public statue, any more than I would allow her to touch a strangers car, or walk on a strangers lawn.
Now ask me about the future grave of Jimmy Carter...and an entirely different family code of conduct would be expected to be applied.
The children depicted were not urinating on and/or defacing the statue.
For all anyone here knows, the older child might have just kissed the depiction of the cheek of one of her dead relatives, and the younger child was awaiting her turn.
Odd that so many people are so very willing to react with outrage, absent any more knowledge than a single snapshot, and a headline...
My friend Sue, wounded in Vietnam, but not officially a “combat veteran”, since women were not allowed in combat back then(LOL) is dead now, but I can easily imagine her with a double middle finger salute to those who imagine they are reverently honoring her “service” in Vietnam.
Just stating my opinion.
And I am certain, Sue’s.
Boonie is right.
We live in post-Constitution America. This next generation will never be taught what it means, or what those women did. And the Left will see it done.
I am a Vietnam veteran. I have no problem with children in and on the memorial. I remember climbing up on WWI and WWII memorials as a child to be closer to the soldiers.
Yes. If someone’s reaction to that brown haired girl is she’s a Mexican—yes, race-obsessed.
I would have loved to have heard what the WW 2 veteran was thinking. PRICELESS!
I can think of nothing better than to have children playing at a fallen soldiers memorial.
It’s like the ignorant morons taking selfies at Auschwitz.
I have seen this memorial and it brings tears.....it is to be reverenced, respected.
I think most of us, or all, keep this in mind when replying.
Where indeed were the parents?
Same with Changing of the Guard, Tomb of Unknown Soldier.....same with The Alamo....
......guests are expected to show reverence......even children should be taught respect.
That’s how I feel!
I was treated with extreme disrespect when I returned from two combat tours in Vietnam, so I should not be surprised at the disrespect allowed by these parents at this memorial...But I am....
Just the facts, ma’am:
A nurse is holding a gravely wounded, maybe dying soldier while his buddy scans the sky for a chopper that might save his commander’s life, and these kids treat this solemn memorial like a piece of playground equipment at their schoolyard.
I would have run them off.
Talk about disrespect....we were at the Wall a few years ago, and out of no where SS operatives surrounded us and *told* all of us we had to *get out* immediately. I was pissed and asked *why*? One of the guys took my arm and even pushed me toward the walkway and said the President of Nicaragua was going to lay a wreath.
I mean really. Daniel Ortega?
By allowing the sequester....we were also not permitted to visit the White House [in spite of reservations through our congresscritter], thanks to Hussein and remember the Vets being told they couldn’t visit the WWII memorial?
It doesn’t make me happy, either....but I’m getting used to being treated as a second-class citizen.
Yep. Pretty disgusting.
I think many of us were on the edge of getting in their faces, but the ultimate ruckus would’ve created a worse atmosphere of disrespect. It was shameful. Most of us had tears in our eyes reading the names on the walls and listening to the recording. These people were animals.
I had done the tour once before in the late ‘70s, and it was a completely different experience. Even the Japanese visitors — and there were many of them — were silent and respectful.
Illuminate, please.
The parents probably had their noses glued to their smart phones, updating their Facebook site. Some gene pools should end earlier than they do.
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