The Situation Room

Oh The Situation Room, what a good photo. It shows power, strength, unity, patriotism, among countless other things. This picture might very well define President Barack Obama's presidency. There is no reason to change such an iconic photo unless you're the Brooklyn-based Hasidic newspaper, Der Zeitung. They decided to airbrush out Hillary Rodham Clinton and Audrey Tomason. I am not a feminist, but there was something inside of me that really didn't like the photoshop job. Let's just look at who all is in this picture first:

Vice President Joe Biden

President Barack Obama

Brig. Gen. Marshall B. "Brad" Webb

Deputy National Security Advisor Denis McDonough

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates

Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Tom Donilon, national security adviser

Bill Daley, chief of staff

Tony Blinken, national security advisor to the vice president

Audrey Tomason, director for counterterrorism

John Brennan, assistant to the president for Homeland Security and

James Clapper, director of National Intelligence

These are all-important people, but note that Audrey Tomason is the Director of Counterterrorism! Counterterrorism and Osama Bin Laden go pretty much hand in hand. Hillary Rodham Clinton is of course, Secretary of State and she is even sitting in the front of this picture! Everyone in this picture is solemn, a very boardroom-esque setting with the presidential seal on the wall, white paint, wood table, complete with pictures and documents. Everyone is focused on the mission. It is illegal for this photo shopped, even though plenty of enthusiast changed it to get some laughs. So if not to get laughs, and apparently an accredited news source, what did Tzitung change the historical picture.

A representative for Der Tzitung said

“In accord with our religious beliefs, we do not publish photos of women, which in no way relegates them to a lower status… Because of laws of modesty, we are not allowed to publish pictures of women, and we regret if this gives an impression of disparaging to women, which is certainly never our intention. We apologize if this was seen as offensive.”

Ok, now not only is it against the law to photo shop that picture, but it also is altering history. Why even publish the photograph? Instead write a column without the picture. I would like to think that this is a stupid mistake and not a publicity stunt. It’s also against the belief in Jewish culture to steal and give false testimony which is what happened here.

To others and me it seems like the paper took the women out because they were too “sexy”. I don’t think that a pantsuit is sexy, or that it lacks modesty. No one in this picture is smiling, or looking like they are enjoying themselves. Personally, I think it’s time for the newspaper to change the policy and accept anyone in power. That goes for everyone, whether he or she like or dislike somebody that person still needs respect, and if you don’t agree with what’s going on, leave.