An Alarming Trend

          Candidate Obama is called a "socialist," a "Communist," that he "consorts with terrorists," and that he wants to "usher in a government take-over."
          A certain radio talk show host calls Obama a "Hitler" and compares the President's policies and decisions with those of that former German Dictator.
           A certain faith-based quarterly newspaper calls Obama a socialist who "has an agenda to destroy our Christian youth with his liberal agenda."
          A pastor is preaching a sermon and is denouncing abortion and then he prays. The prayer? For Obama to die!
          On certain Facebook user profile pictures I see photoes of Obama with the inscription, "I lie."
          A certain politician calls President the "Food Stamp President."
          On social networks I see independent applications like one called "Nobama."
          Regularly, when I log into Facebook, I see numerous anti-Obama posts, articles and propaganda, doctored photos of the President.
           Facebook pages and Causes with the mission to "impeach Obama!" sprout up all over social networks.
           "Imposter." "Un-American." "Unpatriotic." "Damn Liar." "Dictator." And more!
           On and around patriotic holidays like Memorial Day, Veterans Day or The Fourth of July, I will see Facebook posts that look like this: A picture of a veteran will appear with the inscription "Some gave their all." Next to this picture, another, doctored picture of Obama will appear with the inscription "Some gave nothing."
            A certain politician orders the President to "Get the ---- out of the United States!"
            Politicians order that Obama produce a "long copy" of his birth certificate, which he does. They continue to call him a liar and to question his US citizenship.
            A certain Governor shakes her fist in the President's face.
            A certain politician likens Obama to a certain sea captain who has been convicted of manslaughter and declares that Obama has "abandoned the ship."
            Recently, a Candidate, in response to the President's singing a few notes of "Let's Stay Together" at an Al Green event, calls Obama the "Entertainer-In-Chief." He says of the President, "He is bad for singing."
            Recently, a certain state Senator led a "prayer" for Obama's death!
            These examples and more, all illustrate an alarming trend that has taken on a life of its own; it has become ingrained in every area of our society. This trend is dishonoring the US President. I don't know exactly why this is. Certainly it cannot be because Obama is worse in his performance of his Presidential duties than any other US President. We have perceived other US Presidents to have been mediocre or even bad Presidents, but I don't recall dishonoring of them on a scale anything like now. Politicians, including Presidents, have, since I can remember, been the objects of tasteless jokes on late-night television and featured in political cartoons. Yes, we have called former President Jimmy Cater "The Peanut Man," and we have called former President Bill Clinton "Slick Willie." Even throughout the many months of Clinton's scandal with Monica Lewinski, his impeachment trial, his impeachment and afterwards, he was not subjected to the level of name-calling, mud-slinging and smear campaigns that the current US President has been subjected to and every step of the way.
            Why has this dishonoring of the US President become so prevalent and so "cool"? I think a part of this is because so many people have, because of the unethical, petty, mean-spirited, even criminal conduct of so many politicians which has been made very public, have lost virtually all respect and trust for anyone in public office. Therefore, the Presidency has also been tarred with the same broad brush. By often dishonorable conduct which is most unworthy of their honorable, high offices, so many in power have greatly harmed the credibility of all politicians in general and this includes the President. Therefore, many in public office have to take responsibility for the sad fact that the highest office in the Free World no longer commands the respect and honor that it did in prior decades. We have become used to scandal after scandal surrounding our public servants breaking out in the news. In relation to this and because of their role in holding the powerful responsible for their bad conduct, the media have, by default, contributed to this culture of disrespect toward the President.
            A culture of general disrespect also plays a big role in dishonoring the President. In general, the scandals, unethical and even criminal conducted among so many persons in position of prestige, authority and power, contribute toward the declining credibility of people in these positions, in
general.What has been going on in politics and in media scandals concerning politicians, has likewise been going on in scandals involving people as diverse as teachers, doctors, attorneys, nurses, executives, sports coaches, pasors, priests, and others in positions of trust or power. And this includes parents, too! Thanks to the media, so many of these people have and continue to be, exposed as crooks, frauds, and criminals. All of this leads to disrespecting anyone in power or authority over us and such disrespect makes it easier to disrespect everyone, no matter what walk of life he or she is in. Also, in the past, before the era of scandals involving so many in positions of authority over us, we were taught respect and honor for our elders. "Respect your elders!" it was drilled into us. "No lip talk!" Verbal or attitudinal disrespect was grounds for discipline. "Sassing" and "talking" back were grave offenses and even grounds for physical punishment. We would never tell an adult, "Wait," when asked to do something. "Delayed obedience is disobedience!" held true in the past. But today is a far cry from 50 years ago, or 40 years ago. Now disrespect, thanks in lage part to media exposure of countless scandals surrounding those in power, authority or prestige, and thanks to declining morals and manners, is more easily directed even at the person who fills one of the highest offices in the Free World, the US President. In the past, we were able to separate the offices of authority or power from the persons who held them, whether it was in the government, education, the Church, or the home. Therefore, we were able to respect and honor those in authority over us, even when we did not like them or did not agree with them.
           We have lost that today, the ability to respect or honor those whom we don't like or agree with, no matter what their walks of life. I wonder if some of this dishonor of President Obama is unconscious racism as well as jealousy, as Obama is both Black and highly successful. A couple of writers have, in their books, opined that many of us are much more racist than we would ever care to know, but I won't go into this very extensively discussed topic here. Whatever the case is, Obama has been probably the most dishonored US President in US history.
            Maybe social networking has something to do with it, as Obama has used it in his campaign and now, as US President. And social networking emboldens us to say things to people that we would never say to them in person. I'm not talking about dishonoring only President Obama. We need to honor any President who happens to fill that office at any time. For when we dishonor the US President or anyone in authority, because we dislike them or disagree with their decisions and policies, it becomes easier to disrepect anyone and everyone and contributes to a culture of contempt.
            Yes, it is forever true that to recover respect for those in power or authority, there has to be trust and that can happen only if the powerful and those in authority conduct themselves in trustworthy and honorable ways. Therefore, the powerful and those in authority positions in every walk of life, need to take their responsibibilities to and for the governed much more seriously.
             We all have our work to do here.