Is appears to me that we are in a day and age where positions of authority in this country are no longer valued and respected the way they were many years ago.When certain positions of authority were created, there was an “understood” measure of respect that went along with them.There were no written guidelines or rules posted in the office or on a nameplate in front of them on their desk.It was just known that you did not speak to them in a disrespecting manner, not only in their presence but in public as well.You did not write or say things that could be interpreted as “unflattering” in a public form, or on television.If you did have something negative to say, you reserved it for barbershop, beauty shops, or home gatherings.But you never said it before a public audience, or in the media,
Well those days are long gone.It is very common to see someone on television attacking someone of authority. Calling them stupid, incompetent, and making any type of mockery of them you feel warranted. Whether it’s the President of the United States, members of the Supreme Court, a Government Official, or even a well known Minister, It doesn’t matter they all appear to be fair game in this country now. Just watch any of the late night television shows, its part of their opening monologue.Jay Leno and David Letterman feast on making fun of the President. Letterman has a nightly skit that mocks our President that is cheered by the audience as if he had just told the greatest knock-knock joke ever!!Now I am not defending George Bush for anything that he has or has not done in his term in office.I am not defending him for just being George Bush!!I am defending the office of The President of the United States.I am not asking for a respect for the person in the position, but honor and respect the Office!!No matter who is in the Office, respect it. We cannot get upset by an Iraqi reporter throwing his shoe at our President when we see it basically done every day in media local to this country!We have given the world the right to disrespect our President by what we do to the person in that office openly.We have taken the most powerful and highly regarded position on this earth outside of God, and relegated it to a target of open attacks of disrespect and lack of honor.
We call the position “Commander in Chief”, let’s start respecting it that way!!
Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Hebrews 13:17 KJ
Carroll's Blog 
Well spoken
WOW… It’s amazing when a different prospective is put on an idea or thought, how it makes you think. I never thought of it that way…….Great observation!
Great post! I must admit that I do make comments to friends and relatives, but I would like to see myself, Leno or Letterman take on the office of President and do a better job.
I agree with TPMorgan: Well said!
You put into words what I had been thinking. Sometimes when we remember “the old days” our glasses are rose-colored and things weren’t as great as we remember. But in this case, we’ve definitely gone downhill. Great post my friend.
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The respect for proper authority have been slipping for years. What makes the slope more slippery is when the office holder misuses the powers or simply does not exercise sound judgement. The President is not a “King” and holds his office through the Constitution and the consent of the voters. To not criticize “W” is to either be deaf and blind, or an apologist.
Zukunftsaugen,
Though I do not totally agree 100% with what you stated, I do value and respect your opinion. But I do again say that it is a matter of respect for the office, not the person. To me to openly be sarcastic and mock the person in the office, is a sign of disrespect for the office. Not saying that you have to agree with the job the person is doing, but be respectful in your comments of it.
But again I value your opinion on the subject and really do appreciate you taking the time to leave your comments.
I could not agree more with this post. I believe this has become more evident since the election of President-Elect Obama. We have seen criticism of Bush for years and I have already heard many negative comments regarding Obama from people who claim to be strong Christians. While you may not have supported him during the campaign, he is soon to be your President and it is now time to give him the respect and support he deserves.
This has been a major bone of contention of mine for years. We are by nature, critical of authority (not our better nature) even from our Junior High years. We lessen ourselves when we do not respect the very authorities we have put into place. We are one step closer to anarchy. How can the world respect us if we do not respect ourselves?
It is our priviledge to disagree with our leaders, especially as Americans. It is, however, our duty to respect authority and to teach this to the next generation. Whether I agree with the next president or not, I will honor the office, because I honor this country and our union.
Way to go, Carroll. You’ve got my vote.
I totally agree with Carrollb. It’s just like in the military, you must salute the rank, not the person wearing the rank.
If you don’t have respect for the office of our elected officials, then I think you ought to take up your stuff and get out of here. It is certainly disheartening to see the extreme visceral hate displayed by those who do not agree with the current administration.
Those who do not have respect for others usually are not very respectful people themselves.
President – Shelby Place, P.D., Inc.
Good word Carroll. It is unfortunate that both the level of civility in public discourse and the quality of public debate seems to have decreased in recent years.
They are PUBLIC SERVANTS, they work FOR us, and they are put into authority by us. We are their authority, but they seem to forget that so quickly. Since we cannot directly control them, what choice do we have? Comments and observations show public opinion.
Also, I disagree that criticism of authority is not in our better nature. I believe that it is, and it is certainly in our best interest. Remember, our country was founded by people critical of the state and the state religion. We must be ever vigilant. We have a First Amendment, and the rest of the Constitution that guarantees us our right to say whatever we want. If you dont like late night talk shows, dont watch, or go make jokes about Leno or Letterman.
No one is rioting, we are not in a constant state of civil war. People using their words seems socially evolved to me. No American has ever thrown a shoe at W.
DavidC, I appreciate the comments and opinion that you have taken the time to post. I do disagree with you in saying that the officials are not in authority over us. True we do elect them into their positions, and without us they would not be there. And yes they are “Public Servants” that work for us. Being an elected official is a privilege, and they should treat it as such. But I do believe you are missing what I am pointing out. Just because we elect them into office does not give us the right to openly abuse or put them down. Does the owner or manager of your company have the right to come up to your desk and call you names or say you are so incompetent! I don’t think you are understanding what happens to that person when we do that to them. They become powerless in the eyes of the world. The world does not feel they have to respect them, because their own country doesn’t. That is what we have done to the office of President.
But if you think you are not under his authority , drive up to the White House, and give him an order of what you want him to do. Since he works “FOR” you. It will be very interesting to see the response and how far you get!!
Carroll,
I couldn’t agree more with you.
What DavidC and many others are missing:
1. It isn’t so much what you do but HOW YOU DO IT (respect)
2. There’s a difference in private and public
Quick history lesson: In days of yore, only professionals could “publish” or take an idea public. That was sad because there was no “power to the people” and an individual could not express himself easily. It was also good because everything was properly vetted (at least to the standards of the medium publishing the piece) — and the standards by which something was published were pretty well documented and agreed upon. People knew what they were getting.
Now any wingnut has a microphone and a podium. Every wackjob on the planet appears to have highspeed internet and blogs away. So there he sits in the comfort of his Star Wars pajamas down there in his mother’s basement… and someone reads his discourse about politics or religion… or software… and doesn’t know that he doesn’t have a clue what he’s talking about and hasn’t left the house in 2 years. Point being that a lot of people are talking but few are saying anything. We’re becoming a society that will take anything into our heads and our hearts without any attempt to do the homework. Garbage in, garbage out. Couple garbage with disrespect and you have a society in downward spiral.
Respect the title of your supervisor, the store owner, the heads of state – whatever – even if you don’t respect the person. And when in a public forum, understand that you’ve been given the RIGHT to speak freely because of the blood of many people before you.
Someday, you MIGHT find yourself with a title and begin to experience what its like to be attacked by those you lead… but probably not, if you don’t have enough sense to show respect.
You’ll always have your pj’s and mom’s basement, I guess.
Although I do agree with Carroll’s words for the most part in theory, I will not be agreeing with those words in action.
For about the past six years, zero respect has been shown to the president. I find it funny that we are now concerned about this show of disrespect with just a few weeks left of his eight years in office. One respondent even went as far as to say it had already gotten worse since Obama won the recent election :”I believe this has become more evident since the election of President-Elect Obama”
Wow–maybe that’s because your eyes have been closed for the past six years. It has become more evident to YOU. And this person is already questioning the beliefs of these self-proclaimed “strong Christians” who say negative things about Obama??!!?? How dare you question the validity of someone’s beliefs! Look at your statements for the past several years.
Have you ever been with a group of friends when someone rags on the president and you laughed or agreed?? I have even heard individuals state, “HE’S NOT MY PRESIDENT.”
I will enjoy the next 4/8 years. It is my turn to lampoon your rich, powerful, elitist figurehead like you lampooned my rich, elitist figurehead.
Caroll –
I believe that the owner/manager does have the right to call the employee incompetent. It is their business to run any way they see fit.
I also do not believe that openly disagreeing and insulting the president makes him appear weak in front of the world. He is still the Commander and Chief of the wealthiest and most powerful nation on earth.
I am a Bush supporter, but I will never tell someone they are not allowed to say anything they want about him. It is their right to blog in their star wars pajamas. They are of the people that bled and are bleeding for this country.
I think the downward spiral stems directly from political correctness and feigning respect for people you that you dont actually have (we called that lying when I was growing up).
Maybe when we are all waiting in line for bread and victory gin we will think “perhaps someone should have said something”. Also, I know that you think I dont understand your point, but how do you disagree and still show respect? A person is supposed to respect their parents, and it cant be done if you disagree with their will, can it?
David,
I totally hear what you’re saying and in most points I agree with you. I’m all for open discourse, accountability and freedom of speech. That’s not the point.
The point is respect for an office, not advocating a Socialist government where no one is allowed to speak the truth. The point is that when you stand up and say “listen to me” in a public forum, you are taking a leadership role and are morally accountable for the words that come out of your mouth. Those words better be founded and they should be done “decently and in order,” per scripture.
Disagreement is a good thing. It is iron sharpening iron. Disrespect and irresponsible behavior aren’t disagreement, they’re just a sign of ignorance and a lack of self control. On the flip-side, there’s nothing better than a resolved, mature man standing up for truth, talking straight talk, with facts to back his case. Again, it isn’t so much what you do but how you do it.
@JasonB, I do agree that the timing of this subject is very interesting seeing how our current President is about to exit office. I can understand your position having sat though all the years of the public lambasting of President Bush. I do feel your pain, because he is “My” President as well. But I can tell you this for sure, the timing of the subject of this blog was solely based on the incident with the Iraqi reporter. I don’t like seeing the office of our President disrespected period. I have also sat through all the years of mocking George Bush and have not liked it for the simple fact that he is President of the greatest country on this earth. Trust me when I say, the disrespect of our present President is the sole reason for this blog. Not because of our incoming President Elect.