Ohio Pipe and Drum Corp Boots Firefighter for nodding at the president!
CLEVELAND, OHIO
A local firefighter says he has accepted his six-month suspension from his role in the Cleveland Firefighters Memorial Pipes and Drum Corp for giving President Barack Obama a nod and wave during last week's inaugural parade in Washington, D.C.
Drum Major and Cleveland Heights fire inspector John Coleman spoke exclusively to NewsChannel5's Duane Pohlman about his violation.
Coleman has been with the pipes and drums for 17 years and said he doesn't want to bring negativity or shame to the band.
"We returned from Washington and in the parking lot in the bus, I was told I was receiving a six month suspension for conduct unbecoming the band," Coleman said.
He said there was a lot of hard work by the band in Washington and it was a great moment.
"I just was told this was a military parade and I was not to salute the president, which I did not and I happened to glance over at the booth and see if the president was even in the booth reviewing," he said. "Contact was made with our eyes both together and he smiled and waived at the band and just as a gesture, I nodded my head. I gave him a slight wave and went on."
Coleman said he doesn't feel he did anything wrong.
"With the president, I could not just ignore him," he said.
Coleman teared up when talking about the incident, saying he was hurt by the suspension.
Bandleader Pipe Major Mike Engle said Coleman violated the proper decorum required of a military parade.
Engle says other pipe bands complained about the behavior.
Please Watch the video the guy does nothing to deserve this. My guess is the band had allot of Republicans in it! I think the clip is sweet he looks like he is honoring our president! John Coleman has since quit the pipe band he loved for 17 years because of the bad press. I think Bandleader Pipe Major Mike Engle should quit for being unAmerican! It's a once in a life time thing to make eye contact with the president and John did the right thing to respond warmly to the Commander and Chief!
http://cms.firehouse.com/web/online/News/Ohio-Pipe-and-Drum-Corp-Boots-Firefighter/46$62451
http://www.cleveland.com/tipoff/index.ssf/2009/01/drum_major_john_coleman_quits.html
http://www.ecocitycleveland.org/smartgrowth/intro/raceregional.html
Racism in Northeast Ohio
http://uniteddems.com/?tag=racism
5 comments:
I hope Obama is as insulted by this story as the rest of America. It's fascist to suspend a civilian for 6 months for waving and nodding at our president. Being punished for being courteous, especially during a happy once in a life time event is insane. There is a time to relax and be happy, even with the military around!
Surely yall remember “Drumline” just as you remember MLK?
“A fish-out-of-water comedy about a talented street drummer from Harlem who enrolls in a Southern university, expecting to lead its marching band’s drumline to victory. He initially flounders in his new world, before realizing that it takes more than talent to reach the top.
The day of the big National competition arrives. Devon has committed an infraction that prevents him from starting.”
Playing in a college band is supposed to be a time to relax and be happy, to have rules a this once-in-a-lifetime event is insanely fascist.
Honestly you sound like a sour grapes, GOPer when you say "Obama's adoring masses" and then proceed to rant. This band was an all volunteer civilian group and your logic holds not a drop of water. What ever does waving at the President have to do with something like a job interview? That was a very silly thing to say. John Coleman responded in a natural way to a moment of joy so he did what was right. He broke no laws and he did not violate any safety rules set up by the Inaugural committee. Any one offended by his actions really needs to get a life.
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