One of these things just doesn't belong here

[BurtWorm]

Now it's time to play our game.

[Bunny]

1. Ooooh! Me! Me! I know! Pick me!

It's that strange-looking guy in the middle, with the green coat, toboggan cap, and white furry neck, isn't it?

Oh, I forgot - he's wearing hiking boots, too!

[terrya]

2. "Hey, dumbass. It's a MEMORIAL service"

Jesus. The pretty little white fur is SO darned fun, though!

[peekaloo]

3. He thought he was getting front row seats for the Nazi side.

[ElectroPrincess]

4. Oh oh oh! Mr. Kotter, pick me! LOL

Yah, methinks the boated white dude in the front row sporting a German Army Parka, hiking boots and a knit ski cap.

That man needs to be dismissed until his Mommy chooses to dress him better. :spank:

BTW even Bush's presence in cowboy boots would have been a more respectful gesture than DICK.

[bobbobbins]

5. I don't see any problem with what the guys wearing

[Misunderestimator]

6. You're joking right?

On the other hand... it's in keeping that the VP of the USA dresses like crap to an official occasion. Why on earth should he respect and honor anyone but himself? :shrug:

[terrya]

11. This was a rememberance of the 60th anniversary of the end of Auschwitz.

And that stupid fuck shows up looking like a complete putz. It's an insult.

[BurtWorm]

8. We're talking about the guy in the khaki parka and shit-shoveling boots?

[bobbobbins]

10. its just clothing baby, we were all born naked anyway

[BurtWorm]

12. That attitude may be fine in the barn you were brought up in...

;)

...but it wasn't casual Friday at Auschwitz yesterday.

[bobbobbins]

13. dress codes are for suckers and should be abolished in all situations

even Auschwitz memorials

[BurtWorm]

14. Americans!

:eyes:

Barbarians.

PS: Official decorum will never disappear. It's almost an evolutionary guarantee that it will continue. Look who's the spokesperson for your view that clothes don't matter! Dick "Get fucked" Cheney!

[terrya]

15. It's hypocritical.

There's a strict dress code at the White House. Dick can't just stroll into his office wearing a t-shirt and jeans. All employees must wear suits for men and dresses for women. Proper attire is mandatory when working in the White House.

Dick Cheney was the official representative of the United States of America at that memorial service. He can respect a dress code where he works. Why can't he respect one where he's the official respresenative of a soverign country?

[Misunderestimator]

16. Interesting perspective.... so, diplomatic situations and memorials

should be casual events... I understand where you're coming from, but I've got a problem with OUR government deciding that NOW is the time to be "business-casual" trailblazers in the world. I think we might just benefit from trying to respect others for a while, in just this smallest of ways. Instead, the rest of the world just see this, nods its collective head and feels put-down my America... again. Like it or not, he was our representative at this memorial... he may be representing you, but I doubt that he's representing most of us.

[bobbobbins]

18. Well we also don't know the situation, maybe his luggage got lost

and perhaps its hypocritical of him, but im not defending the reasoning behind his wearing that, just saying, what people wear should be unimportant.

[kick-ass-bob]

19. His luggage got lost?

He didn't take US Air...

[BurtWorm]

20. But it isn't unimportant in certain contexts.

Just as freedom of religion or freedom of expression isn't a given in certain contexts. Just as democracy isn't a given in some contexts. These are all worthy goals, as freedom to wear what you want may be, but getting them actually accomplished requires some finesse. In the Bushist world, you just force your "goals" on people, whether they're ready or not.

In my opinion, wearing what you want at a memorial for the dead of Auschwitz is inappropriate, especially for a representative of the the nation whose soldiers (with the Russians) liberated the survivors from the camps. Clothing is a sign, like it or not.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[bobbobbins]

27. hes not forcing it on the rest of the world...he didn't make them wear it

[Misunderestimator]

29. LOL..... nah nah nah nah nahhhh nahhhh

I'm gonna wear whatever I want you assholes, so there.... lovely.

[BurtWorm]

36. Suddenly Cheney is such a hippie!?

Cheney is liberated, baby! Get with the program! He's letting it all hang out! :hippie:

[Name removed]

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[bobbobbins]

39. im not trolling at all

and i understand that symbols mean alot to certain people, but you know what, get over it. He was showing respect, he didn't have to show up. He did, and he sat there respectfully. Give the guy a break, some people just want to find fault in every little thing anyone they don't like does...he was wearing clothes that could be deemed inappropriate, so what?? I can't be respectful cuz my pants are the wrong color...do you realize how stupid that sounds?

[Misunderestimator]

41. Yes, he DID have to show up... we PAY him to represent us on such

occasions. Do you realize how stupid it sounds to say that our highest officials shouldn't have to respect the wishes of others, shouldn't have to be diplomatic to other countries, should be able to dress for any occasion however HE as a single person sees fit, as if he is not representing an entire country? :eyes:

[bobbobbins]

44. again, you don't know circumstance

not that circumstance should even matter. Respecting the wishes of others is all well and good, but not when those wishes are inherently stupid, such as an inforced dress code. We live in a society that wants everyone to look the same and supresses individuality, just let the guy wear what he wants. I think the freedom of him choosing to wear anything would better represent our country than a black suit.

[Name removed]

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[bobbobbins]

47. im not calling them stupid, just conformists

if thats what they choose to wear fine...but don't impose that view on everyone else there

[Misunderestimator]

49. One person.... ONE person did not dress appropriately.

and you did indeed call them stupid.

[bobbobbins]

52. ah yes, if one person does something different than they crowd...

they must be wrong

[Misunderestimator]

53. ROFL.... yeah.... that's what I'm saying

:eyes:

[Richardo]

55. His outfit symbolizes "I don't give a shit." Nice way to repair relations

He's a multimillionaire - he can afford the warmest overcoat in Poland, if he really lost his luggage flying Air Force 2. :eyes:

And you've got it absolutely right - you can't be respectful if your pants are the wrong color. By definition you are NOT respectful if you can't or won't take the time and effort observe the traditions and sensitivities of others.

[bobbobbins]

58. well its an american tradition to be free to wear whatever we want

maybe the other people there can be respectful of our traditions and accept that cheneys just wearing something a little different.

[Name removed]

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[bobbobbins]

64. its in our first amendment rights

and just because you can get kicked out of a place for dress code doesn't make it right(unless its a privately owned place)

[crispini]

79. ROFL, the first amendment?

Right to wear jeans?

If you're speaking of the right to free speech, then you are ADMITTING that dress = a form of expression.

And Cheney's dress expressed a lack of respect for the solemnity of the occasion he was attending.

[BurtWorm]

31. The "oppression" of the dress code?

:eyes:

Are you serious? Cheney is making a strike against the oppression of the dress code in your book? Is a memorial for the dead of Auschwitz an appropriate place to make that strike? If you were invited to Auschwitz what would you wear?

In the US, the dress code is already well on its way to being nonexistent. Maybe that's a good thing. I'm agnostic about it. I'd rather not have to wear ties to the office, as I have to do most days, for some reason. But it doesn't kill me or hurt me to wear ties. Would it have killed Cheney to dress in black at Auschwitz, to not turn himself into a spectacle there? (And if it did kill him, so what?!)

[Name removed]

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[BurtWorm]

42. Why don't you ask Cheney to shovel it?!

It won't kill him eith--or...maybe it would, come to think of it. Hmmm. :think:

[Misunderestimator]

21. Should be.... that's one thing, but it IS important...

and WE in our perilous position in the world today should not be the ones trying to break that particular mold. I do think that if he had lost his luggage, he might have been able to send a SS person out to buy him a suit, no?

[bobbobbins]

23. maybe he didn't realize it till he was on his way

and so what if dress code is important...fight the power!

[Misunderestimator]

24. You're just being ornery... surely you see the logic in the US NOT ....

fighting this particular battle right now. Why are you defending his lack of respect?

[bobbobbins]

26. because i don't see it as a lack of respect

a lack of respect would be if he decided to take a leak right there...he was sitting there respectfully, what he has on shouldn't matter...unless he was wearing something that specifically denounced the victims or something of that sort.

[Misunderestimator]

28. But don't you get that everyone else sees it as a lack of respect...

and that we shouldn't be treading on such thin diplomatic ice right now.... Come on?!? I swear you're just being argumentative... Why on earth are you defending him?

[bobbobbins]

30. im not being argumentative

i understand that perhaps we as a country aren't in the best position to be pissing people off, and that the timing might be bad, but still, let the guy wear whatever. Other people see what alot of liberals do as a lack of respect, but who cares...its not about making nice with people, its about breaking down the walls of oppression! For a bunch of liberals, i don't see why you'd all be uptight about dress codes.

[Misunderestimator]

32. Yay! You understand.

at least in your first sentence. Keep repeating that part over the second part of your paragraph and I think we've gotten somewhere.

[bobbobbins]

37. well we as liberals are totally pissing off republicans

who are in the majority as far as government positions go...so i suppose we shouldn't do anything that might remotely upset them...lets put the gay marriage issue on hold, and stop fighting for any causes, because a majority might be upset.

[Misunderestimator]

38. LMAO.... just....

LMAO

On edit... I just have to say.... um.... DIPLOMATIC DRESSCODE OPPRESSION = LACK OF GAY RIGHTS. Ha. You're too funny.

[crispini]

43. He's representing US. All of US.

That's why we're getting uptight about the dress code.

Dressing appropriately at a formal ceremony, especially in Europe, is a mark of being culturally sensitive and showing respect. When you are a guest in someone else's home, or at someone else's ceremony, you respect their wishes.

He is representing MY COUNTRY, and he did so BADLY.

[bobbobbins]

46. he's also representing MY country...and he did fine

[Misunderestimator]

48. Wow... you love this dresscode issue so much, that you actually respect

our Vice President... :wow:

[bobbobbins]

50. i don't believe i ever said i respected him

I'm saying that as far as what he wore to that ceremony, its acceptable in my book

[crispini]

51. Just curious...

if you were invited to a friend's formal wedding, would you show up in your work boots?

[bobbobbins]

54. I'd show up in whatever i had on that day

[crispini]

57. So, the fact that it was a special occasion for your friend

would not warrant a corresponding special effort on your part to look nice and mark the occasion with your own care?

[bobbobbins]

59. its a special event for my friend...

and im taking time out of my schedule to spend that time with them. If they were true friends, that would be more than enough.

[Misunderestimator]

62. If you had no other clothes or you had no time to change your

clothes I might understand as a friend, but if you had no obstacles to your going the extra mile to dressing appropriately (such as formal, black attire for a funeral or formal attire for a wedding) then you would be the one that is not a true friend.

[bobbobbins]

63. wow....this is quite a bit of hypocracy

text book hypocracy...here we are, fighting for peoples rights and freedoms. And yet we look down upon people and throw little hissy fits just because they don't conform to socially imposed norms such as dress codes. Its not hurting anyone, and if someones offended by it, they should just get over it.

[Misunderestimator]

65. They'll get over by not inviting someone rude enough to dress

inappropriately to a funeral again. Cute of you to call me a hypocrite because I think that our Vice President should dress appropriately to a memorial honoring Holocaust survivors... cute.

Enjoy your privacy.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[Misunderestimator]

72. No sillier than pretending not to understand why Cheney should have

dressed appropriately.

[bobbobbins]

75. oh i understand why hes not dressed appropriately by your standard

but its a silly standard that should be disgarded

[Name removed]

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[Misunderestimator]

74. Oh shooot... I always forget about

the DU features... thanks for the tip. :hi:

[Richardo]

77. ;-)

:hi:

[crispini]

67. It's not about a "socially imposed norm"

it's about the RESPECT that that symbol shows to the people who DIED in a CONCENTRATION CAMP.

[bobbobbins]

73. yes, and the respect is shown by following a socially imposed norm

taking the time to be there should be enough.

[crispini]

78. What is this thing you have about dress?

I find it very strange. Did you grow up in a nudist colony or something? You have this completely unrealistic attitude about clothing.

Look, in a perfect world, where human beings all were psychic or something and saw directly into each others hearts and were able to see their motivation and purity of thought and soul, then maybe we would and could all slop around all day in sweats and shorts and everyone would be cool with it.

But we don't live in that world. We live in this world, where, like it or not, you are judged by what you wear. Your clothing reflects who you are and what you do. When your job at a construction site, you are practical and wear jeans and work boots. When your job is selling cosmetics to women, you dress fashionably, smell nice and wear cosmetics. When your job is representing the United States, as a diplomat, you should look like a diplomat and act like a diplomat. What do you wear to your job?

[bobbobbins]

80. yes, and until people like the ones on this thread stop caring

we'll always live in the world where people care about how others dress, and we'll never reach the perfect world you speak of. And its not that I have a thing about dress...its that I don't have a thing about dress. And at my work, I wear whatever i feel like

[crispini]

81. No, you do have a thing about dress.

You have this whole rebel-without-a-suit thing going on. Whatever, I guess you don't have to deal with customers or work in the corporate world. Good for you, must be nice. Most of the workaday world doesn't see it that way.

You know, I used to think like that, when I was 18, that people should only judge each other by their hearts and so on. But -- sad but true-- people DON'T. They judge each other by their outward appearances. So, being a proud member of the reality-based-community, I acknowledge the reality of it! :shrug:

[BurtWorm]

69. You know how Cheney dressed at the Inauguration?

Hint: It wasn't in a Nehru jacket with love beads. Or a khaki parka for that matter.

PS: How we dress communicates something. In a context where respect for the dead is required, communicating, "I'm cold and my name is Dick Cheney," is gross.

[bobbobbins]

76. well it was cold out...in my world, staying warm trumps any dress code

[Name removed]

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[go west young man]

60. LMAO on the lost luggage bit! Come on he's at...

the memorial service for Auschwitz and he is wearing a storm trooper jacket and boots. Something is definitely wrong with his brain. Then again lets see. Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz. Yep those are German names. Hitler would be proud!

[Zuni]

35. This was a Holocaust memorial service

and the Vice President is wearing hiking boots? A hunting parka?

Look at every other person there...black and formal attire

[Acryliccalico]

7. Gotta make sure this picture goes down in the

history books, that is if we can keep the study of history in our schools, that is if we can keep schools in our country.

[madison2000]

9. I thought we were going to have a snowball fight after the party

:bounce:

[jswordy]

17. Oh, I thought you were posting about...

the "are your cats safely indoors" thread!

HEHEHEHEH..my bad!

[Zuni]

33. Cheney looks like he is going skiing

everyone else is wearing BLACK, and FORMAL mourning attire.

This is disrespectful as hell to the 1.4 million who were killed at Auschwitz, their families, the survivors
It is also undignified as hell

[BigMcLargehuge]

82. locked

Please move in an orderly fashion towards the clearly marked fire exits. Thank you.

Big McLargehuge
DU Moderator