A Peeve of Mine

[Liberalynn]

People are of course entitled to their own opinion and I am really trying hard not to be judgemental. I also believe in "I may not believe in what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

Still when did "respecting the office" of the president even if you don't respect the man in it, become no criticism what so ever? A democratic professor even said we should "respect the office, if not the man" in a political science class years ago. Should this really however be a civic duty of an Amercian albeit even an unwritten one? Isn't that blind and faux patriotism? Isn't the true duty of a citizen of a republic to question whether leaders are taking the best actions or are the best leaders?Isn't questioning your government truly American and truly patriotic?

You know I didn't care for it when people were making penis jokes about Clinton but I didn't say anything. I mean I thought in my head how stupid his critics were. His personal actions were not something that even really effected the nation at all, so I felt the people who were mocking him out, just needed to grow up and gain some perspective. But I never questioned their right to say it and make fools out of themselves.

So then why do U. S. citizens even some democrats think it's wrong when people say Bush is a moron? That he uses the media as a political advertisement to try and regain lost political ground. Why do they say "we need to respect the office?"

I mean the President works or is supposed to work for the people, all the people whether or not they voted for him or are members of his party. His actions should be up for review right?

What do these "respect the office" people think "Freedom" is? Why say you believe in the right to voice dissent, when you obviously don't respect or understand the right to dissent?

Why do they think our fore fathers that they are so expert at quoting fought the 1776 Amercian revolution in the first place? Just so we could bow to and respect another King George?


What set this off is a post I read on another board about when Bush's speeches should be televised. I don't get these people who say the President should be allowed to read the phone book on National Television if he wants to because he is President like it or not? Those are public airwaves. Meaning they belong to the people. If it is a National Emergency like oh say we are going to have a huge natural disaster and we need you to do the following right away then okay, but why should he be able to give pleas to forgive him and love him again, when his polls drop? Which is really all he has been doing lately. That is political advertising, IMHO, and not using the airwaves for the good of the populace.

Just ranting. Trying to think positive and know not everyone believes, this way, but still shaking my head, and worrying about the future of democracy because at least some of our fellow citizens just don't seem to get what it really is.

Any one else get their irritated button "set off" by these sorts of statements?

[MsAnthropy]

1. I totally agree with you

I hear that around the workplace, also, when we're bitching about our CEO--"respect the position". I think that's bull. The person makes the position what it is.

[Liberalynn]

2. Exactly

and if they aren't doing justice to the job, why shouldn't you or anyone else be allowed to say so?

The company or the country isn't better off, if you allow potentially huge mistakes to go unquestioned.

I mean the one doing the questioning might be right or wrong as well, but once the issue is brought up for review that can be decided. Keeping silent isn't doing any one any good.