R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Aretha Franklin spelled it out for us. John Wayne gave us a great quote about it in the movie “Big Jake”. After giving his son a good thrashing, he said, “Since you won’t respect your elders, maybe you’ll respect your ‘betters’.” What’s happened to common decency and respect for others? It seems like it gets worse every year.

When I was a kid (yes, I know, ancient history) you respected the preacher because he was the preacher, you respected your teacher because he/she was your teacher, you respected the sheriff because he was the sheriff….you get my drift. It doesn’t mean they were always right, but we treated them with respect for two reasons. First, they were in a position of authority and respect went with the position. Second, we’d get our butt whipped if we didn’t. My guess is nowadays, if we had more of the latter, we'd get more of the former.

And what about respect in politics? Are you kidding! They’re the worst! Here are a few recent examples that concern me:

• Since when is it ok to tell the President of the United States that he can’t speak to school children? I don’t care which party he represents, he’s the President of the United States! He’s our President! No, I didn’t vote for him, but he’s still the President.

• Since when is it ok to call the President of the United States a liar during his address to a joint session of Congress on national television? That’s not freedom of speech, it’s a lack of respect. The guy who did it should be reprimanded, fined, censured, chastised, and neutered. Ok, scratch the last one.

• Why do we need a “rebuttal” from the opposing party every time the President speaks to us? Democrat or Republican, that just doesn’t make sense to me. Again, he’s the President of the United States! Thank God we didn’t have rebuttals to Roosevelt’s “Fireside Chats” or we’d still be fighting WWII.

• During the President’s speech earlier this week, I heard him make some statement that no one could argue with. Something like “now is the time for healthcare reform.” The Democrats stood and cheered and the Republicans sat there with their arms folded. Why? Because they disagreed? No, because he is a Democrat and they’re Republicans. Idiots! It’s a lack of respect, not to mention common sense.

• And what about these town hall meetings on healthcare? I haven’t seen that much screaming and shouting since……well, ever.
  

So why do we act this way? What are we teaching our children? Time was when we could disagree and still tolerate one another. That’s what made us different from those flag-burning, chanting extremists in the Middle East. Now it’s a full-on shouting match over every issue. I don’t know how we get anything done. Then again, maybe we don’t.

I think back to the days of Lyndon Johnson, Barry Goldwater, Everett Dirksen, and Sam Rayburn (if you’re under 40, go look them up). They could disagree without any shouting. But then after they disagreed, they’d go in a backroom somewhere and get something done. Nothing major, mind you, just stuff like The Civil Rights Act, Medicare, and the space program.

We need to remember that a leader is not the guy who can yell the loudest, it’s the guy who takes us where we wouldn’t go on our own. The one who makes tough decisions regardless of the political climate. The one who recognizes a good idea, no matter who brings it to the table. And the one who treats everyone else with respect simply because it’s the right thing to do. Of the 535 men and women in the House and Senate, does anyone come to mind? I didn’t think so.

Till next time……….