Column:

Respect the elected

By Jordan Stein

Published Sept. 15, 2009

Last week, President Barack Obama addressed the students of America with a speech about the importance of education, working hard and planning for the future. It sounded like a speech that would have had a younger me falling asleep on a first day back to school assembly. To be honest, the speech was a little fluffy for my taste, but the backlash concerning Obama's lecture brings up an important issue.

Obama and the Department of Education suggested the speech be made available to students or broadcast into classrooms, but high numbers of students elected to stay home or leave the classroom in order to avoid hearing it.

My hometown school district, like many others, was accosted by calls from parents who did not want their children subjected to Obama's words. As a result, many schools either permitted absences or allowed students to take alternative assignments.

At first, the issue did not really catch my attention. People who saw socialism or another unfavorable ideology in the speech were obviously looking for a reason to take further issue with Obama. My parents were the ones who got me thinking about the true controversy.

My mom had her usual reaction, which is indignant opposition to anyone that breathes a negative word about Obama. My dad, who's not a politico by any means, had some insight that really made me think: "I remember when I was in school, when the president had something to say, we watched it. Whether we agreed with him or not, we listened because he was the president."

This got me thinking, why is this not the case for Obama? Even with an extremely controversial president, such as former President George W. Bush, I remember getting class assignments to watch the State of the Union or other addresses to the nation. I agreed with virtually nothing that came out of our former president's mouth from the moment he took office, but it never even occurred to me to try to get out of the assignment.

Speaking out against Bush, especially after our troops were deployed overseas, was a political, cultural and patriotic no-no. So when I thought about students skipping Obama's speech because they or their parents don't agree with him sounded not only ignorant, but disrespectful.

I think this tiny issue is an indicator of something larger brewing on the political horizon. Recently, it seems Obama is fighting an uphill battle for respect from the citizens of the United States. Somehow, between the last administration and this one, it has become acceptable to behave disrespectfully towards the highest office in our land, based upon your feelings toward who holds that office.

One only needs to take a look at some of the rhetoric coming from Obama's opposition to see that some of the hits are well below the belt. I agree completely Obama should be challenged on his ideas and policies, but I also believe the president and his views deserve consideration, even if the least you can muster is respectful disagreement.

Why is it so hard for Obama? Is it race? Is it the increasing polarization of the electorate? Are people just ruder nowadays? Whatever the answer, I find it unacceptable. I am the biggest proponent of keeping politicians accountable for their actions and ideas, but not at the cost of devaluing the importance of their office.

Like it or not, Obama is the president. He is our representative around the world, and the man we've charged with promoting our general welfare. I think that deserves some reverence.