Drum major of inauguration pipe band suspended, quits

[Moski]

Suppose he had been the Drum Major of the Band of the United States Marine Corps. Should he have turned his head, met the eyes of the president, and nodded? Or should he have followed orders, "Eyes front, and keep marching".

Ok first off it was not, as often stated, a millitary band so lets stick to apples. Secondly, any Orders to the Marine DM come upon the authority of the President through his chain of command. I didn't vote for the man but I Will, as a civilian not under orders, acknowledge the elected President of my country if he acknowledges me. Rendering Honors and Respect to The President trumps smaller stuff.

BTW, I have been in too many parades for dignitaries and all I saw was the knobby back of another GI's head.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Ok first off it was not, as often stated, a millitary band so lets stick to apples.

No one on this thread has ever stated, not once and certainly not often, that the Cleveland FD Pipe Band was a military band. How do you like those apples?

Secondly, any Orders to the Marine DM come upon the authority of the President through his chain of command.

The parade is organized by the DoD, who invite other organizations to take part. The DoD takes it's orders from... the president. All organizations participating in the parade were told that ONLY military units would acknowledge or salute the president.

I didn't vote for the man but I Will, as a civilian not under orders, acknowledge the elected President of my country if he acknowledges me.

Even if you were leading a pipe band and had been expressly instructed not to? Hmmm. Okay. I could understand that if you were walking down the street and the president leaned out of his car window and shouted, "HEY! MOSKI!" Under those circumstances it would probably be churlish not to acknowledge his cheery greeting. As an aside, I don't exactly recall seeing the president go out of his way to attract the attention of the DM of the Cleveland FD Pipe Band.

Rendering Honors and Respect to The President trumps smaller stuff.

If you say so, and I happen to agree. The president is entitled to respect, whether one voted for him or not. But you've avoided answering the question. All I asked for was a simple "yes" or "no", not a political or moral justification for ignoring the rules. That's all.

[Larry124]

...But you've avoided answering the question. All I asked for was a simple "yes" or "no", not a political or moral justification for ignoring the rules. That's all.

You framed your question. He framed his answer.
You can ask for what you wish. And label your required answer "simple" if you wish. And interpret rules as you wish.
A respondent is equally entitled to make his own answer. To choose to agree to your "yes or no" request. Or not.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

You framed your question. He framed his answer.
You can ask for what you wish. And label your required answer "simple" if you wish. And interpret rules as you wish.
A respondent is equally entitled to make his own answer. To choose to agree to your "yes or no" request. Or not.

You are, of course, correct. But so far, no one has answered the question that I have posed.

Since you seem to be responding to an exchange between Moski and me, perhaps you could give his posting a quick re-read and then point out to me where I missed his answer to my original question:

"When leading his band in a parade, should any Drum Major wave to a member of the crowd?"

[Moski]

No one on this thread has ever stated, not once and certainly not often, that the Cleveland FD Pipe Band was a military band. How do you like those apples?

I was saying that it was stated over and again that this was not a military band, so the question about the Marine Corps Band is not a fair comparison. Most of the Marines that I know and served with would likely keep rank through a firestorm, esp. with the President in review. Exemplary Military discipline you would expect from our elite. I'm just saying that this whole thing is overblown and the action was used as an excuse to take action citing the sheer heinousness of the offense.