1/ The Trump campaign at Arlington controversy can be confusing. Here it is, broken down simply.
You can’t bring your own photography crew to Arlington without permission…
2/ You can’t have your photo crew take photos even if one family consents.
That’s because other graves are included in those photos. And those families haven’t given permission.
More importantly, grieving families shouldn’t feel pressured by powerful people to give consent.
3/ Section 60 is noteworthy because the graves are those of troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. People visiting those graves aren’t distant relatives.
It’s moms and dads and wives and husbands and kids and friends and fellow troops. The grief is still very present.
4/ The staff at Arlington aren’t being political when they prevent photo crews from taking unauthorized photos.
The staff is being apolitical.
They’re being professional.
They’re upholding the dignity of Arlington.
5/5 I have been to Arlington many times and I have never seen someone grinning and giving a thumbs up for a photo.
I’ve never seen it because it’s not something you do at Arlington if you know anything about the place, and the men and women who are buried there.
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I'm getting an incredible amount of feedback on this story:
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