Visits.

This is coolbert:

I see where President Bush is being criticized for not visiting the graves at Arlington Cemetery of soldiers killed in the current Iraq War. And also criticized for not visiting at the hospital soldiers wounded in the same war.

This is unfair criticism.

Contrary to what most folks think, it IS NOT a good idea for the President to make visits to either the cemetery or the hospitals. Most would consider this to be a merely a simple gesture of showing respect. And it would be. But, there is just too much chance of a scene being made. Recriminations, anger, emotional outbursts, etc. Scenes that benefit no one. And is only hurtful to all parties. Does NO GOOD.

I am thinking of the President visiting the amputee ward of a hospital. Angry, depressed people [an amputee for instance] will respond in an unwarranted manner. Make a scene. Yell angry words they will later regret. This can happen. The response is emotional. And with good reason. But still benefits NO ONE.

[It may be very well the media WANTS this to happen. A scene. To make a good story. That sort of stuff IS LIKED by the media.]

The archetype of this sort of thing is the famous "slapping" incident of World War Two [WW2] involving General Patton and an enlisted soldier. This episode was covered very well in the movie "Patton". Patton, while visiting a field hospital and viewing severely wounded soldiers, comes upon a man crying and weeping. A man suffering from combat fatigue, but not wounded in the conventional manner. Patton ended up slapping the man for lack of guts, shirking, and malingering. [Patton slapped another man too. This is usually not covered.]

Patton, recognized as the best fighting General the American Army had, was relieved of duty for slapping the troop. This had a marked effect upon the General's career.

This man, the troop that was slapped, later said, "I didn't want to be in the Army, I didn't want to be overseas!!".

Well, who did!! This says a lot about that troop!!

Anyhow, this incident is just indicative of the type of things that can happen when high ranking officials or General officers visiting hospitals full of wounded. Generally speaking, such visits are NOT a good idea.

Scenes and recriminations do not help the situation.

[It should be noted that just after 9/11, President Bush visited the hospital where severely wounded from the attack upon the Pentagon were being treated. It was noted that contrary to protocol, when visiting the wounded, Bush saluted the wounded first. This is a marked and unprecendented mark of respect.]

coolbert.