A Call to Civility
A Call to Civility
I usually try not to speak about political issues… quite honestly, because of the potential backlash. The country seems so polarized on things. But this I must mention, because it grieves me tremendously.
Three Questions…
I want to ask three questions. Has anyone stopped to think about the President’s daughters? Has anyone stopped to think about America’s youth? Has anyone stopped to think about what message is sent when adults can’t act civility towards the person who holds the highest public office in our country?
An Example For Our Youth?
As American citizens exercise their freedom of speech… much has turned into freedom of cynicism and hate towards our president, Barack Obama. What does that say to youth, when their parents can’t respectfully disagree? What does it say to Sasha and Malia when they see their father being bullied, slandered and libeled by the media, political leaders and others?
Youth are often quick to point out hypocrisy among adults. So what effect will these numerous outbursts have on our population? Americans calling the president a liar in public and only God knows what else in private; Americans keeping their children from hearing the president encourage youth towards education and a strong work ethic; Americans calling the president a terrorist and the anti-Christ; Americans wanting to disconnect their state from the United States of America; Americans wanting the president dead. Where is our unity?
Necessary Criticism
Now I know that every president has their detractors… and that’s a good thing because it helps to keep things balanced and fair. It pays to weigh the merit of the criticisms leveled against a person. And it’s not that we never get angry. We will get angry over issues and circumstances, but how and when we act out that anger is crucial.
Below The Belt
The level of attack on our current president has reached such an extreme level of intensity and scrutiny, as if he was solely responsible for the war in Iraq, our failing economy, health care inequalities and other issues we face on a daily basis. What kind of message are we sending to our youth - when we tell them to show respect for their peers, adults and the elderly, but we can’t respect the office of the president and the man who was elected president? Where is our civility? Where is our respect? We can disagree with policies and the execution of policies without being disagreeable. We can state our claim while being civil. How else will we bring benefit to the American people, if we do not come to the table of discussion and work together?
True Change Comes…
It’s not us verses them. It’s not Democrats verses Republicans verses Independents. It is us. Our children are watching. The world is watching. God is watching. America… we can do better.
-Allen Paul Weaver III-
Tagged with: Barack Obama • civility • youth
Filed under: Risks and Opportunities
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
2 comments
I just didn’t hear this outrage when people were calling Bush an idiot, stupid or a monkey.
Ms. Simone,
No president has been put through the magnifying glass as this president and his family…..from the outcry over his religion to his birthplace to his wife’s arms, to his wife’s shorts and ridiculous labels that people don’t understand….makes you wonder how much it has to do with the fact that he looks different from all our other presidents. Although I was never a Bush supporter, I was extremely disappointed in the disrespect shown to him by the Iraqi journalist, but this is far worse, this is our own countrymen disrespecting our leader….playing on the fears and ignorance of the masses.