Posted on 09/15/2018 9:05:28 AM PDT by Drew68
The U.S. Coast Guard says it “removed” a member from its Hurricane Florence response team Friday after he made an “OK” hand gesture on live TV that the service branch deemed “offensive.”
The unidentified team member was caught looking into the camera and then swiftly making the hand gesture, prompting a backlash on social media.
The hand signal was seen in the background of MSNBC’s live interview with Sector Charleston Commanding Officer Capt. John Reed, who was providing an update on actions taken by the Coast Guard in response to Hurricane Florence.
Many social media users called for the firing of the individual, accusing him of making a so-called “white power” hate symbol.
The agency immediately responded to the outcry and distanced from the controversy.
“We are aware of the offensive video on twitter - the Coast Guard has identified the member and removed him from the response. His actions do not reflect those of the United States Coast Guard,” the agency tweeted.
The Guard is now investigating the matter. In a statement, the agency said the incident was a “frustrating distraction” amid the dangerous hurricane that is poised to affect more than 10 million people this week in the Southeast.
There have been at least four deaths since the storm reached the coastline on Friday morning, according to officials.
There’s no clear consensus whether the “OK” hand gesture constitutes a hate symbol. While it has been adopted by some fringe far-right figures, it has also been commonly used by many Trump supporters.
The Anti-Defamation League previously noted that the “OK” gesture isn’t a hate symbol.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Video of the "outage" at the site. It's a quick motion. Might be intentional, might not be but still, we've got to start fighting back against this stuff.
I'll be curious as to what punitive measures are taken against this Coastie. The way snowflakeism has infected today's military, it could be career-ending.
Are they sure that he wasn’t just adjusting his earpiece?
OFFS! Really. Stoopider and stoopider.
WTF
That gesture has meant “perfect” for as long as I can remember.
I’m not sure it’s even an “ok” sign. The CG is going overboard.
Really? I almost thought he was giving the camera the [middle] finger.
Speech codes no longer sufficient. Must now consult Big Brother before making hand symbols.
Lefties can stick their PC crapola right back where it came from.
Huh?
Okay sign white power..?
Huh?
Well, the lefist god has spoken - why punish him?
It's just getting too hard to follow the latest SJW grievances...:^)
We go now into the Era of the Mob. People with responsibility and authority simply check the howling of the mob and rule accordingly.
When you accept the judgment of the easily offended about what is offensive soon everything is offensive.
Isn’t that also an emote on our text apps?
This is being stuck on steroid stupid.
FYI, in Japan, the “OK” gesture means “money,” a reference to ancient copper coins having a hole in the middle so they could be carried on a string—vestiges of this are the 5 and 50 yen coins which are also hollowed out.
When I was in Japan back in the 60s, it was also a gesture in the now-called-gay community referring to a sex act, a gesture which some of my fellow adolescents had a, well, adolescent fascination with.
None of which has to do with this incident. Sticks and stones may break leftists’ bones, but heaven help anyone who says or gestures anything nanoaggressive.
But Obola shoots the finger REGULARLY at Congressional republicans, in public, in front of the faces at committee meetings and in the White House....
And his national press corpse promotes him!
As the great Mark Steyn says....no civilization can survive such institutionalized stupidity
I thought it was an astronaut thing from way back. How in the world did OKAY become offensive? It is used in every language.
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