What were they thinking, anyway?
Recently a news item came out regarding the conduct of a reenlistment ceremony for a Master Sergeant in the Tennessee Air National Guard. It seems that she wore a dinosaur hand puppet during the ceremony, which was conducted by a Colonel in the same unit!
Some occasions do call for a proper degree of solemnity. This definitely seems like one of them.
Apparently, the Air Force agreed. Both the Sergeant and the Colonel conducting the ceremony were promptly retired from the Air National Guard.
While levity can sometimes serve a purpose, some situations do intrinsically call for an element of seriousness. Christenings, graduations, weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, and funerals* do come to mind. More specifically, there is a need for rituals. They serve to reinforce the idea that what is taking place is a Big Deal, and it emphasizes group cohesion.
Yes! What she was signing up to do often calls for playing for keeps. There are risks and responsibilities that go with serving in a profession involving defense. Sometimes peoples' lives are on the line, and that profession should not be trivialized with hand puppets.
*An exception may possibly be made with the Irish wake. See this scene from The Wire.
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7 comments:
Have to say I agree with your strong reasoning, Angel!
I seem to remember something passing my eyes to this effect on television. I didn't pay attention because I thought it was some dumb comedy sketch. It didn't make sense and looking back it was surrealistic. That is a really weird story.
I do agree that certain things should hold special meaning for everyone involved, but I guess it also depends on the people in the group. A dinosaur puppet is really really strange.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
It might simply be an in-group joke of sorts. I wont pass any judgement.
The older I get the less 'proper degrees of solemnity' mean to me.
As an Air Force officer, I conducted dozens of reenlistments and promotion ceremonies during my career. While there is a place for humor and these should be happy occasions, they are also moments for dignity and reflection on the meaning of the act ... as Angel accurately notes, these are occasions in which the participants realize and acknowledge they are committing to put their lives on the line. The place for levity is the party after the ceremony.
I'm late to this post, but I agree. (Hope my comment gets read!) Ritual is very important. The ways of conducting them are varied but a serious intent is needed for any, even if there is humor involved. Rituals bring and hold us together. Laughter does that too but, in a ritual, it can go wrong, so care and context are required.
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