Drum Major Punished

During the inaugural parade in Washington, a Cleveland Ohio pipe band major nodded and waved to President Obama after the president smiled and waved to the pipe band.

Apparently this Pipe Major is in hot water and has been suspended for 6 months from the band. Read the full article here:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28888959/

What does everyone think? Should he be suspended or is this a bit much for a Pipe and Drum band?

I remember seeing the incident with the Fire Dept. Pipe Band and at the time I remember saying you shouldn't have done that mate. It broke protocol and decorum in the ranks. The punishment seems a bit excessive though I think a small fine for charity would be more appropriate. After all a Fire Dept. Pipe and Drum Band isn't a Military Band where the Pipe Major would have been stripped for it.

Camac.

I think that when the POTUS one of, if not the most powerful man on the planet, waves at you and smiles, it would be gut reaction to acknowledge that direct recognition regardless of station. It is like the people who are very self-possessed and dignified suddenly acting stupid and juvenile when they meet a celebrity. I agree with the small fine for charity but nothing more. I did not see the incident but am I to understand that it was a fire dept. band? was this man a fireman, one who bravely goes into burning buildings to save lives? I am sure he can be forgiven a moment of celebrity stupidity.

The Cleveland area must be blessed with an unusually high number of pipers. In my area they are rare and pipers who own pipes are even more rare. Most use pipes owned by the corps. The instructor for several pipe corps in my area was dismissed after being jailed for multiple instances of spousal abuse. (I took lessons from him) I do not know who they use now.

My vote was NO.

Slàinte,   

 Patch    

If the President initiated the exchange then it would have been discourteous for the Pipe Major to have not acknowledged the wave. Even if this had been a military band any salutes or interaction initiated by the "Commander and Chief" should be properly and courteously responded to. The fact that this is apparently a voluntary extracurricular activity for the Cleveland Firemen makes this excessive disciplinary action look even more foolish.

Who decides the sentence? Is there written rules for such events? It does seem harsh. But it was stated that they were warned that that behaviour should not happen.

Seems like there is more going on then just whether it was right or not because of the statement "bridges have been burned."

Flora

What a shame! A direct presidential greeting is an honor and I agree it would be impolite and a little rigid to ignore it. Why not let the President call it?

Courtesy dictates that if your PRESIDENT, not Ronnie Mertz from down the block, has already dropped protocol and waved to you...you wave back.

Slap him on the wrist if they must, but anything else is excessive.

By Protocol the President who is also your Armed Forces Commander in Chief should not have waved to the Pipe Major in the First place merely acknowledge his salute by a nod of the Head or a return salute.


Camac

Exactly. When *he* drops it, all bets are off.

I think this is awful! Poor man. I think President Obama should pardon him. I can see both sides to this one though. They can't be waving and such to just anyone but it was the President hello. And who waved first? And how did he know it was him he was waving at and not the guy over there? *just being silly*

This will be an interesting one to follow.

Slainte

I say he broke protocol and punishment by community service to teach fire safety and hand out free smoke alarms to those unable to buy them.

Jillian

Wow, I hate to be negative, but it goes to show you what happens when someone is kind enough to donate their precious time for a good cause. And I agree with everyone else. The president broke protocol first, and you can't be rude!

I don't think he should get any kind of punishment at all. However none of us really know both sides of the story. ie. How did he react when it was addressed to him?

I would bet, he already has a dozen requests to join other bands in the local area.

Rock on, Mr. Coleman!