Recently
while skimming various social media postings I’ve noticed a trend. I often read statements bemoaning the lack of respect for the president. They usually
include some sort of language which admonishes those who complain, instructing
them to at least respect the office of the president. And, as one who took an
oath to protect and defend the constitution and as a Christian who takes
similar admonishments in Romans and Peter seriously, I concur. We must approach
the office and our elected leaders with an appropriate level of respect no
matter the boorish behavior or the occupant. I expect my students to treat me
with a base level of respect; especially on those, hopefully rare, days when my
actions or lack of preparation may not warrant admiration. This positional
respect helps society function smoothly during minor instances of sub-par
behavior. However, this positional respect does not require that I condone
everything a particular leader does or says.
In
fact, my respect for an office might require that I say something about
unacceptable behavior. As an officer in the Army I could face loss of rank,
pay, or status, due to “conduct unbecoming an officer.” There is a similar rule
for Non-commissioned officers. These rules served as a catchall for those behaviors
which brought disgrace to the service. They also served as a reminder to all of
us that the privileges we enjoyed due to our rank came with additional
responsibilities. One of those responsibilities was to help our fellow officers
or NONCOMs by pointing out unacceptable behaviors before they became serious. I
knew officers whose careers foundered simply because they stood by and watched
while fellow soldiers misbehaved. They did nothing to intervene. After the dust
settled their chain of command held them culpable simply for letting things
happen. We all understood the message clearly, “you are your brother’s keeper.”
In
a like fashion I cannot in good conscience sit idly by and watch, hands folded,
while something significantly wrong takes place. I must, with respect, say
something. I fully understand that my small voice from the western reaches does
not carry much weight. The efficaciousness of my voice does not matter; that I
act does. I am, as a Christian and an officer, required to use the tools at
hand to agitate for justice, for right behaviors, for those things that redound
greatness on the high office of president and on to our country. Keeping my
mouth shut while misbehavior occurs is not an option available to me. I do not
advocate becoming a gadfly. But raising my voice in protest of misconduct is
not disrespectful.
When
our president fails to uphold the high standards that attach themselves to the
high office, we must respond appropriately. Attaining the Oval Office does not
provide one with a shield from criticism. The White House is one made of glass.
The occupants are on public display and are accountable to the public for their
actions and pronouncements. We fail our President and our Republic when we
allow them to conduct themselves inappropriately. We are a check and a brake
and must attend to those duties with diligence.
I have also
noted that some of those who now bitterly complain of disrespect spent the last
eight years heaping scorn upon our previous president. Many of them regularly
spoke darkly of his lack of citizenship, embracing and forwarding blatant lies.
I find this current clamor for respect rather hollow and ironic; perhaps even
hypocritical. Respect for our leaders, yes. Respect for the office, yes.
Condoning misbehavior through silence and inaction, no.
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