I don't understand people, I guess.
While acting as Grand Marshals at the Ford 400 today at the Homestead Miami Speedway, Michelle Obama and Jill Biden were booed by members of the crowd.
Huh? Since when is that cool?
I understand and defend political expression, even when it gets rude. If I had their eyes, I wouldn't hesitate to fire Junior Bush or his Evil Puppeteer a one-finger salute.
But their wives? Since when do opponents do that sort of thing?
In all the years of their husbands' bloody reign, I don't remember Mrs. Bush or Mrs. Cheney being booed at a public event. Am I glossing over my memory, or has there been, up 'til this administration, a rule unwritten because even the biggest idiot didn't need it written, about this sort of expression vis-à-vis wives and children?
Have things really sunk this low? Oh, brother, you don't know how low. . .
Mrs. Obama and Mrs. Biden weren't at the race just for the barbecue and the thrill of shouting, "Start your engines!" The two were there to thank NASCAR for its support of the Joining Forces Initiative, a public/private effort to mobilize and coordinate efforts for US service members and their families.
Here's a PSA of some of NASCAR's drivers, voicing their support for the program.
Speaking at the race today, Mrs. Obama explained why the Initiative is so important to her, and why she is grateful for the support of NASCAR, its drivers, teams and sponsors:
“We just wanted to stop by and say thank you. NASCAR has just been amazing in terms of its support not just today, but everyday of military families.
“What Joining Forces is trying to do is rally the country to make sure these families feel the same kind of support from this country they’ve given us. One percent of our country serves and they protect the freedoms of the other 99 percent of us. ...
“These military families are stepping up in ways that are amazing. Days like this just remind them they do have a country that cares and appreciates what they do, and it means so much to them.”
Boo, right? I mean, who wants to listen to that socialist, America-hating crap?
I swear I just don't understand people.
A quick, updatish sort of note: I took "NASCAR" out of the title because this isn't about NASCAR or its fans. I can't understand anybody acting this way, race fans or philatelists. The letters that stick for me here aren't NASCAR, but WTF?
Okay, then, about NASCAR: Like many commenters, I believed for years that auto racing did not qualify as a "sport," merely "a bunch of guys driving in a circle."
After spending some time with drivers, crew and fans, I have come to accept this pastime as a sport, and a pretty hard one. The skill, timing, calm and strength required (you ever seen the necks and shoulders on these guys?) demonstrate that racing is a sport, though not one that interests me so much.
Back to the main point: decency. Whatever happened to the tradition of simply standing and fake-clapping?