Disrespecting the President
--By Sharon Gunter on --
Dear Editor,
I’m for light hearted teasing, appreciate jokes as much as the next fellow although I can never seem to recall the punch line, enjoy harmless practical jokes, and sarcasm is also in my vocabulary though many don’t catch the dry humor.
This political year has been more aggressive and angry than any I can recall since the early 60’s. As a teenager, I recall the fear it generated, the loss of human dignity and life. We appear to have returned to those years of racism, disrespect and intimidation to generate fear and silence.
I observed this first hand by many admitted racists at the Cumming Country Fair earlier this month. Some even stole my personal items from the Forsyth County Democratic Party booth. Now the spineless intimidators are trespassing on private property removing political banners for candidates they don’t support, riding the bumpers of cars containing a single female for miles along less traveled roads, while others stoop to yelling obscenities and hand gestures. I still believe stealing is stealing, a thief is a thief, a bully is a bully and the implication to do harm whether it is physical, social, financial or mental is just as evil as the act itself.
But today, they have crossed the line from freedom of speech from one adult to another to disrespecting and degrading the office of the President of the United States. Obviously they do not understand when one disrespects the person they disrespect the office and are teaching this attitude to countless innocent children all the time coming from party members who seem to think GOP stands for God’s Own Party. Reagan’s Southern Strategy ran deeper and was more successful than he could have imagined. GOP appears to stand for Gang of Prejudiced-persons.
David W. Richard
November 2, 2012 at 7:38 am
While I disagree with the tactics you claim to have witnessed, the reason so many people disrespect this President is because he has disrespected the office himself.
From ignoring the legislative branch through selective enforcement of our laws, to aggressively suing states who simply wish to enforce the laws on our books when the Federal government fails to, to engineering the largest tax increase on the much ballyhooed middle class through Obamacare (even thought it wasn’t a tax when they passed it).
This poor excuse for a leader began with such hope and an electorate solidly behind him, and he immediately turned into just another Chicago thug with his “my way or the highway” legislative style.
Now he stonewalls and hides information on the deaths of 4 brave Americans, including his own ambassador, in hopes the electorate won’t notice that he went to sleep that night while they were fighting for their lives.
Respect for the office? You have to have it before you can expect to get it, and he never had it.
Karen Dowdall
November 2, 2012 at 2:05 pm
Dear Mr. Richards:
I think you miss the point. It is important to respect the Office of the President of the United States, whoever is President. You can disagree with their policies and dislike them for their policies but there should always be respect for the Office of the President of the United States.
If you want to make a statement then put up a sign in your card, write a review that talks about policy, but don’t say a President doesn’t deserve respect. Every President of these United States deserves respect. I would no more want to see a President Romney’s head on a stick than I would President Obama’s.
When 3,000 Americans were killed on 9/11, I did not disrespect President Bush nor should anyone or nor did I blame him, although many people did. That was wrong and so is disrespecting the Office of the President of the United States of America. There are things beyond the control of every President of the United States throughout our history. Please remember that disrespect and the ether of hate hidden in the disrespect poisons not only you but those around you. It is certainly not the Christian thing to do.
David W. Richard
November 3, 2012 at 9:57 am
As my dad says, Ms. Dowdall, respect is earned, not given.
And when the President in question doesn’t even respect the office, it is impossible to respect it (or him) out here.
I do not hate the man. I loath his policies and his beliefs.
But he hasn’t earned my respect.
USMC_Vet
November 9, 2012 at 12:08 pm
As a United States Marine Corps veteran, I agree that the office of President should be respected. However, I must disagree with Ms. Gunter’s assessment that “when one disrespects the person they disrespect the office”. This is far from the truth. With regards to respecting the office, I am expected to respect the authority he has as the Executive leader of our country and the Commander in Chief of our military. I have no respect for Barack Obama the man as I believe that this country is heading towards ruin and he has his foot mashed down on the accellerator.
I have noticed one area that concerns me with this article and others who have voiced similar opinions. Why is it that because the President is an African-American that any comments made against him are racist in nature? I am almost certain that you could have identified similar behavior by white citizens when Bill Clinton or Jimmy Carter were running for office. I am far away from anything considered a racist. When President Obama was elected in 2008, a car pulled up along side of me in Buckhead. Inside were 5 African-American individuals. The woman sitting in front looked at me, pumped her fist up and down and yelled “Yeah, Obama!”. I looked at her and said “I’m sorry mam, I voted for the other guy”. And what was her response as they pulled away? “You f*&%#$g racist”. Why did she have to make the assumption that because I am white that I did not vote for Obama because he is black? If this country wants to see racism really die off, then it is necessary for people to stop thinking automatically that everyone uses race as a determining factor?
To sum things up:
1) I respect the office of The President
2) I do not respect the man currently in office as he has not earned by respect due to his policy decisions, his disregard of the US Constitution, and his attempts to create a socialist society that many, including my father, have shed their blood in order that would not happen here
3) My right to disagree with any individual is one that was granted to me by God and is further protected by the US Constitution
4) No matter what the race of individuals, just because they disagree strongly about someting, this does not make anyone a racist.
5) If you used race as a determining factor in electing the President, no matter what your race, then you are a racist.
God save this country, because we sure aren’t doing a very good job by ourselves.