More Proof This is NOT Your Grandmother’s America! At the exact same time that President Obama dismissed the Revolutionary War heritage of America, he was praising with uplifted voice the “timeless heritage” of Russia.
It seems that the current American President has officially snubbed the women of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (The DAR) at their yearly convention in Washington, D.C., appropriately named “Continental Congress.” Tradionally, American Presidents send greetings to the respected, non-political woman’s organization, either in person or via written or video address. This year, 2009, the stunned audience of descendants of Revolutionary War Patriots sat in silence awaiting a message from their President, for whom many of the women had voted.
The lineage society, whose motto is “God, Home and Country,” accepts women who can prove direct descent from a patriot of the American Revolution regardless of race, religion or ethnic background. This year, civil rights legend Dr. Dorothy Irene Height was awarded the DAR’s highest recognition, the DAR Medal of Honor, for her lifetime of service, leadership and patriotism.
Other events highlighted during Continental Congress were:
- Founders Medals for Patriotism, Education, Heroism, and Youth
- Americanism Award
- Outstanding Veteran-Patient of the Year
- Outstanding Youth Volunteer of the Year
- Dr. Anita Newcomb McGee Award for the Army Nurse of the Year
- Margaret Cochran Corbin Award for distinguished women in military service
- Outstanding Teacher of American History
- Outstanding Community Service Award
During 2008-2009, which included Barack Obama’s tenure as America’s President, women of the DAR volunteered more than 60,000 hours to veteran patients, awarded over $150,000 in scholarships to American students, and supported schools for the underprivileged with donations exceeding one million dollars.
While President Obama deemed that the women of the DAR were not worthy of their nation’s gratitude, he did address, in person, the 2009 graduating class of the New Economic School at Gostinny Dvor in Russia on July 7, 2009, during the exact time that the Daughters of the American Revolution were in Washington remembering America’s “heritage” and the sacrifices of their patriotic ancestors of the Revolution. Obama spoke to the Russians of their “heritage,” with these exact words from The White House Official Web Site:
I speak to you today with deep respect for Russia’s timeless heritage. Russian writers have helped us understand the complexity of the human experience, and recognize eternal truths. Russian painters, composers, and dancers have introduced us to new forms of beauty. Russian scientists have cured disease, sought new frontiers of progress, and helped us go to space.
These are contributions that are not contained by Russia’s borders, as vast as those borders are. Indeed, Russia’s heritage has touched every corner of the world, and speaks to the humanity that we share. That includes my own country, which has been blessed with Russian immigrants for decades; we’ve been enriched by Russian culture, and enhanced by Russian cooperation. And as a resident of Washington, D.C., I continue to benefit from the contributions of Russians — specifically, from Alexander Ovechkin. We’re very pleased to have him in Washington, D.C.
Obama Misses DAR’s Continental Congress
UPDATE: The official statement from Linda Gist Calvin, President General of the NSDAR, graciously states “Rumors have been circulating suggesting that the absence of greetings was an intentional slight on the part of the President. Your President General is sure this is not the case. … Greetings from the White House to the DAR Continental Congress actually did not begin until 1910. There have also been more than a dozen years since that time in which greetings were not forthcoming. Regardless, please be assured that the DAR will continue to foster relationships with those in the White House and share our objectives of historic preservation, education and patriotism.”
Posted by Neddy 
Kerfuffles and Flourishes 