Obama's speech to the students.

Have you read it? I really liked it. Uplifting, motivational, encouraging. What was all the fuss about? Lame.

I would've sent my kids to school. Afterall, he is THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES and all. That deserves respect.

Our kids should have exposure to leaders of our country. Fifty years ago when asked what they wanted to be when they grew up kids often said "President of the United States." Nowadays, the #1 answer is more along the lines of "Britney Spears." Not awesome.


*This is a comment I left on lovely Lindsay's blog post back in August which I've adapted to include here on my own blog, with the links the comment section wouldn't allow me to include.

*Over the last several years, I have been frustrated and disappointed by the lack of respect for our president that was so widespread in society and especially the media. It was completely socially acceptable to bash on President Bush for ANY and no reason. It got to a really disgusting point in my opinion. (You could not watch 2 minutes of early morning or late-night television without hearing something stupid and rude) And people were, just like you mentioned, HAPPY to see him fail. Failure served as some sort of self-vindication of one’s position. That is sad. I think the fact that we see this same behavior transferring to the other side of the political spectrum is a bit of a tit-for-tat type game, “getting back at each other” so to speak for the Republicans putting up with so much open criticism of the leader affiliated with their party.

I am 100% behind you in the sentiment that we need to teach our children to have respect for authority. Whether criticism is warranted or not, there is a certain level of decorum and respect that is owed to our leaders. As members of the church we should be great examples of showing respect for proper authority, whether that be God, the President of the United States, a Senator, the President of the Church or even the president of our local relief society.

In traditional Asian cultures, they have a great awe and admiration for their older and wiser members of society. This perspective and reverence has been ingrained in children from a very young age. We could learn a major lesson from that culture as it seems a similar respect for elders, wisdom and authority no longer exists in America. (And sadly, it’s fading a bit in those Asian cultures as well… Remember that talk Elder Wirthlin gave about the tsunami coming in Indonesia? The people were saved because the elders of the society knew the signs and got everyone out of the way.)

You’re right that although one may not agree with a position or a decision, there is still a measure of respect due to any human being, let alone the President of our country. I have tried to channel all my frustration with the treatment of President Bush into focusing on speaking respectfully of President Obama, despite the ways I may disagree with his positions or tactics. And hopefully, if/when a Republican holds the office of President again, people will remember to extend the same courtesy back to the other side.