The Norfolk Virginian-Pilot reports that the Commanding Officer of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, Navy Captain Owen P. Honors, Jr., due to deploy shortly to support operations in Afghanistan, while serving as its Executive Officer [XO] on a similar deployment in 2006-2007, starred in the above video series to the crew. See for yourself; the newspaper has bleeped out potentially offensive dialogue.
Here are our thoughts:
1. Consider the time and the context: Any kind of deployment is stressful; leaders need to guide and channel the intensity of emotions towards topics that are less [but not totally zero] politically incorrect, just to burn off the steam and stress and tension in a more [but not completely] socially acceptable manner. Furthermore, back in 2006, one political party controlled both political branches of our government; it takes time for socio-political changes like the Democratic takeover of Congress, effective in January 2007, to filter out to our ships at sea.
2. We need leaders with courage, rather than timid wimps afraid to make a decision. Yes, he should have a little egg on his face [see speculation in the page 2 etc. Comments on TowleRoad], but that's it. Clearly, the crew's loyalty to their Captain has ensured that the American people know what a great job he's doing. [Snark!] Other leaders are certainly learning and will be guided by this, but we don't want to destroy the need for creativity and imagination to maintain morale on a deployment.
3. Make your own decision whether it's really homophobic, or whatever. It's certainly juvenile, sophmoric and a bit raunchy, but so what? Keep the good elements of military culture; don't destroy everything.
4. With Congressional repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," to be fully implemented this year, will all such 'humor' be tolerated? No. Commanders and Leaders will need to ensure that all motivational materials ensure that everyone is treated with dignity and respect. A more pressing issue is whether Captain Honors recognizes how much things have changed, and the current, pre-deployment command climate on the USS Enterprise.
5. To a certain extent, this video is already a historical document of life under DADT.
further Update [08JAN2011]: For some reason, the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot has removed the video from its website; the above video has also been removed from YouTube by the original poster. We left a comment on the newspaper's website politely inquiring why. Sans response from the paper, it's back on YouTube:
And there´s what appears to be a fabulous one featuring content from Sony Music Entertainment, "Caught Up (dancing Marines)," posted by batman32a, which is apparently blocked. We politely request that Sony Music Entertainment please allow the public to view our servicemembers in this video. Thank you.
There's something about Lady Gaga that our servicemembers [mostly Soldiers, but also Marines] downrange really like, to the point that they record themselves doing something silly, then post for posterity on the Internet. Here are some of the best, followed by one more [quite crazy, but then, they're deployed, so it's OK]:
The world-famous Telephone Remake [from Afghanistan]
from the U.S. Air Force Academy:
Vanilla Ice Remix [looks like MPs in Iraq]
And another from Iraq, spoofing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
Finally, here's Lady Gaga's Pokerface [also from Iraq]
OYE Comment: The Atlantic's Cailey Hall said it best:
The military has more important battles to attempt to win without taking on the extraordinarily pervasive popularity of social networks. But just in case they do, I recommend you get your fill of soldier music videos while you can. You might laugh, you might cry. And perhaps you'll even think about some of the other things those young men and women in uniform are facing over there.
If these crazy videos help to bring the American people closer to our deployed servicemembers, it's all to the good.
Our troops in Afghanistan made this video of Lady Gaga's "Telephone" and it's gone viral. As the Washington Post suggested, it's time for Lady Gaga to Send Something Homemade.
Maybe even make a donation to Fisher House. How about a USO tour?
The Norfolk Virginian-Pilot has released two more "XO Movie Night" videos from the USS Enterprise, starring its former Commanding Officer, CAPT Owen P. Honors, Jr.
