Obama's bracelet

[usregimechange]

Some of you may remember this article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in Feb:

Tracy Jopek just wanted Barack Obama to know the name of her son Ryan, who died fighting in Iraq. Now Obama does, and he shared it with the nation Tuesday night.

In a nationally televised speech after his victory in Wisconsin, Obama told a Texas crowd how Jopek gave him a bracelet honoring her son during a stop in Green Bay on Friday.

"We're here because of the mother I met in Green Bay, Wisconsin, who gave me this bracelet that I'm wearing. Inscribed on it is the name of her son Ryan. Next to his name it says, 'He gave,' " Obama said before choking up. " 'All gave some but he gave all.'

"We are here because it is time to ask ourselves as a nation if we are serving Ryan and his compatriots and all our young brave men and women as well as they are serving us. They need us to end this war and bring them home and give them the care and the benefits that they deserve."

Jopek said she has supported Obama since he declared his candidacy, and she went to Green Bay determined to give him the bracelet, created after Ryan, 20, died in 2006.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=720053


Quietly the bracelet is spotted again by a reporter but not because Obama was waving it around...



Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., wears a bracelet in memory of a soldier killed in Iraq, during a news conference in Indianapolis, Sunday, April 27, 2008. The bracelet was given to him by Tracy Jopek of Merrill, Wis., at a rally in Green Bay, Wis,, in February 2008.


That is precisely how you differentiate between nominal displays of nationalism and humble indications of true patriotism.

[democracy1st]

1. God Bless that family thats a great bracelet too

[cliffordu]

2. Exactly..... This old veteran thanks you for this.

:patriot:

[usregimechange]

4. I should be thanking you...

:pals:

[bigbrother05]

3. Some talk about it, others just do it.

What is support our troops?

[RazBerryBeret]

5. awesome story..

I'm glad he's still wearing it.

SO much more meaningful than a flag pin made in China.

[usregimechange]

6. That you put on after the trumpets sound

[DeepModem Mom]

7. K&R

[noel711]

8. But but but... Obama don't wear a flag pin...

And isn't THAT what is important?????

[Triana]

9. And they want to slam the man because he doesn't wear a 'flag' lapel pin?!

Gawd this country has some f*cked up priorities and attitudes.

Of course if they talked about the bracelet, then they'd have to talk about a REAL tough issue: getting OUT of Iraq. And Hillary, the M$M and Republicans would rather distract from that by wagging their finger about "lapel pins" instead. And that is what it is: a distraction. As was "bittergate" and most of this other garbage. And Obama knows that and has said so. The man recognizes it for what it is.

I'd rather have a person like Obama who is deeply, quietly, genuinely and personally patriotic in this manner -- than one who is shallowly, pretentiously and loudly so, draped in flag paraphenelia and declaring it to everyone (and damning anyone else who doesn't share the same brand of pretentious patriotism).

[usregimechange]

12. I firmly believe that many confuse nationalism with patriotism.

[Raine]

10. THANKS...

I wondered about the bracelet, I'm glad to find out. :thumbsup:

[barack the house]

11. President Obama saving private ryan or at least his memory.

[usregimechange]

13. Both when he gets to bring them home

[quantass]

14. This is why Hillary has already lost!

[FrenchieCat]

15. I would call that Authentic Patriotism!

:patriot:

[Hoof Hearted]

16. How convenient. How innocent. We believe you.

you won't wear a flag pin, but you'll wear this bracelet when it's expedient for you. How admirable.


EVERYBODY will understand that in the general election.

[graycem]

17. Where's Hillary's bracelet

given to her by the mother of a fallen soldier? Oh, that's right, she voted FOR the war. True patriots WILL understand that true patriotism doesn't need to be bragged about. If it were politically expedient, don't you think he would be bragging about it as evidence to counter all the flag pin garbage? Do you think Bush is patriotic? Cheney?

It's sad that you would use this particular instance to say that he operates on political expedience. Especially when Hillary voted for the war on political expedience, when true patriots like Senator Byrd was railing against it.

[FrenchieCat]

18. You drip of cynicism about even a bracelet that one of his supporters

who lost a son, gave him.

engraved “Sgt. Ryan David Jopek, August 2 2006. All gave some – he gave all”.

Sergeant Jopek was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq and his mother, Tracy, gave the bracelet to Mr Obama on February 15, a few days before the Wisconsin primary. She said: “I wanted him to know my son’s name for one thing, for when he’s Commander-in-Chief.”

Mr Obama has not spoken much about the wristband, but he did mention it at the rally where he received it, noting that he meets “mothers and family members all over the county” who mourn their children and wonder when it will end for the sake of others in Iraq.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article3671974.ece



That makes you despicable!

[Raine]

19. Typical

how Hillbot of you. :puke:

[usregimechange]

20. Don't you have something else to do?

[RoadRage]

21. But.. But.. But.. it's not a FLAG PIN! Where is his FLAG PIN? FLAG PIN FLAG PIN FLAG PIN??!!

:eyes:
Wow.. a politician who is actually patriotic without being political about it. One who "gets" what it's like to support the country.

Run away fast.. we don't want a guy like that running the country....

Go Obama!

[fight4my3sons]

22. K&R

[usregimechange]

23. kick

[DearAbby]

24. Now that means more than a flag pin

made in china...I have no other words to say.

[Cha]

25. I remember that story..a really poignant

human interest story that the slobbering media won't touch 'cause they catapulted the War On IRaq.

[Oilwellian]

26. Wonderful story.

That poor mom. Thanks for posting. K&R