VA official who tried to ban iconic WWII kissing photo has..

[Tennesseer]

The woman has too much free time on the job.

VA official who tried to ban iconic WWII kissing photo has controversial history: 'Unequivocally offensive'

A Veterans Department official who sent a since-rescinded memo calling for the removal of an iconic photo of a Navy sailor kissing a woman in Times Square has been at the center of previous controversies in the past.

Assistant Under Secretary for Health Operations RimaAnn Nelson sparked a firestorm, including calls for her to be fired, last week when she sent a memo to VA employees calling for the historic photo of a Navy sailor kissing a woman in Times Square on V-J Day in 1945 to be removed from all VA medical buildings because it does not fit with the department’s "no-tolerance policy towards sexual harassment and assault.

The incident is not the first time Nelson has faced scrutiny during her tenure at the VA.

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Nelson was appointed to be head of the Phoenix VA in 2016, which prompted outrage from then Democratic Rep. and now Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, along with former Republican Rep. Matt Salmon, who wrote a letter to then-President Obama calling for a reconsideration of Nelson’s appointment due to her previous tenure at the St. Louis VA hospital.

"When I first heard of the VA's latest appointment in Phoenix, I immediately felt it must be some sort of a cruel joke," Salmon wrote at the time. "After working with the Phoenix veteran community for years, I know they deserve better."

Rest of article here: VA official who tried to ban iconic WWII kissing photo has controversial history: 'Unequivocally offensive'

[busymom]

While that sailor did probably grab that nurse to kiss her (yes, that happened a lot that day--my Mom was living in Chicago at the time, and she said on the radio they were warning the young ladies to "stay home" due to the enthusiastic celebrating by some of the young men), I don't believe in hiding our history.  Whether that sailor was celebrating the USA victory in a way that by today's standards would be unacceptable, history is what it is. 

[Tiny]

Assistant Under Secretary for Health Operations RimaAnn Nelson sparked a firestorm, including calls for her to be fired, last week when she sent a memo to VA employees calling for the historic photo of a Navy sailor kissing a woman in Times Square on V-J Day in 1945 to be removed from all VA medical buildings because it does not fit with the department’s "no-tolerance policy towards sexual harassment and assault.

Wait. This picture is hanging in ALL VA medical buildings?? It's standard issue office decoration??

That kind of changes the way I feel about this story.

First, I never realized/knew the sailor was kissing a stranger. For some reason I was under the impression that they knew each other (perhaps they were a couple). 

I know the picture is iconic but should it be required to be displayed in EVERY VA Medical building?   Even if it didn't capture a darker moment. 

At the very least, does it retain it's "iconic-ness" as time goes on and the memories of WWII fade from public memory?

I'm sure there are other possibly as iconic photos of service men and women showing their joy at being home with their loved ones after serving their country that would be more appropriate.

Maybe it's not such a bad idea to let this photo be left to history - when remembering WWII.

[djAdvocate]

i didn't know he was kissing a stranger, either.

i had always assumed it was his GF.

[thyme4change]

My opinion on the photo changed when I found out it was a stranger.

🙅‍♀️

I don’t think the pic should be banned - but I don’t think it should be required.

[daisylu]

Mar 14, 2024 18:17:10 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

My opinion on the photo changed when I found out it was a stranger.

🙅‍♀️

I don’t think the pic should be banned - but I don’t think it should be required.

  Though I have no issue with it being banned from display in a government building.