The U.S. Naval Academy: a weapons-free zone!

For the first time in, oh, ever, there will be no weapons allowed at the graduation ceremony at the U.S. Naval Academy.

This means no ceremonial swords.  Never mind the fact that the ceremonial sword is part of the uniform of the very same officers who have sworn an oath to - among other things - obey the orders of the President.  As my father, who retired after 30 years service as a naval officer, reminded me: full dress white includes "wear sword."  No, we can't have swords there... to dangerous... too... militaristic.

I suppose while we are at it, we should remove all the cannons from the campus.

And maybe we had better get rid of all the cutlery at the mess hall.

You know... the Navy SEALs are weapons.

 

Better be sure none of them are in attendance.  That includes you, Jesse...

I suppose we'd better not have the Blue Angels fly over this year.

Perhaps we should do away with the drill team.

Actually, better do away with all the marksmanship training, too.

After all, why do we even need weapons?  Instead of combat training, let's give our best and brightest advanced negotiation and mediation training!

Why even have militaries?  Get rid of the service academies!  After all, all these kids could have gone to schools like Columbia or Harvard, where they could have studied the nuances of foreign policy instead of being indoctrinated into jingoistic nationalism camps.

Clearly, we have been doing this wrong all along.  Thank God, er, I mean, thank OBAMA we have finally seen the light!

Comments

[Richard J.Guter]

Unfortunately this is just the beginning. We have seen the arrogance of the Obama administration displayed before, and I am sure we will again. At some point,one can only hope, the teflon will come off this guy,and some one will hold these people accountable.

[Andy]

Gully, you gotta be freakin' kidding me! We're screwed... I'm with Ron Paul...THIS IS ALL A BAD DREAM...

Sad thing is...it ain't.

[R.Humble]

What do you expect from an illegal Muslim parading around as an Commander in Chief afraid of his shadow. Next it will be no uniforms can be worn in public. I'm a retired Reserve Naval Officer and airplane driver that is ashamed of this nations position on Leadership,of which we have none. I can't image what the future holds for this nation.

[Vic Gulliver]

Just to set the record straight, and to provide a little added information to the topic, but also to refute some of the comments that appeared on the Washington Times website: Midshipmen graduating from the Naval Academy as Navy Ensigns or Marine Corps 2nd Lieutenants would not be expected to wear swords now or at any time in the recent past (since before WWII). Ceremonial swords are not required uniform items until one reaches the rank of O-4 (Lieutenant Commander or Major). So all the hullabaloo about not allowing the midshipmen to wear swords out of a fear of danger or hijinx by unruly 20'-somethings isn't really germane.
The wearing of naval uniforms is prescribed in the Navy Uniform Regulations, which stipulate various types of uniforms and where they should be worn. It is odd that "Uniform Regs" stipulate a "Full Dress Uniform" for commissioning ceremonies, and that the "Full Dress Uniform" (either white or blue for the Navy)includes the wearing of large medals (versus ribbons)and swords for those required to have them (O-4 and above). In viewing photos of several Naval Academy Commissioning ceremonies going back 20 years or more, which can be viewed on a variety of websites, I find it odd that all the Navy folks from midshipmen up through the admirals in attendance (at least all those in the photographs) all wear the full dress white uniform, but with ribbons instead of medals and no swords. When two of my sons were commissioned at the Naval Academy in 1981, the Chief of Naval Operations handed out the diplomas wearing full dress whites with ribbons instead of medals and no sword. As a retired Navy career officer, I don't recall seeing the full dress white uniform worn with ribbons at any other occasions. So, I have to wonder if that uniform was invented for the Naval Academy ceremonies so that swords would not be worn by those who would normally wear them. Of course, we're talking about the career naval officers, not the midshipmen.

[Earl]

I've never seen a ceremonial sword at USNA Commissioning, and I've been to quite a few.

[Dave Melvin]

We elected a narcissist,socialistic man who may or may not be qualified to hold the office according to our Constitution. He has never worked anywhere that was not funded by taxes. His so called "transparency" leaves us knowing nothing about his education or birth. God help us!

[tim evans]

we are totaly screwed...... i cant believe how this country is being run..into the ground.

[N. Taxman]

Did the alleged "banning" apply to non-graduates who participated in ceremonial guard or pass-in-review functions at the graduation?

[Jim lafferty]

This issue is bogus. The Naval Academy has not used swords at graduation is MANY YEARS. It is not part of their protocol at graduation. They didnt use them for Bush in 2005 either. Don't let these idiots spoon-feed you this garbage for God's sake think for yourselves!!! Here is a pic of 2005 Naval Academy graduates without swords!! Bush was there then!

http://photos.military.com/community/Military/keyword/covers#157852980_MnkXZ

[ZZMike]

(Anybody still here?)

I was wondering what sort of harebrained idiot thought up this offensive rule.

The I read the article in the Times:

"... featuring an address by President Barack Obama."

I believe Mr Lafferty and Mr Gulliver. But I have to ask if the same notice was sent out during those earlier graduations?

If not, this only casts doubt on the sincerity of the Commander-in-Chief.