What We Have Here Is A Complete Lack Of Respect

I do try not to get into discussions of a political nature with people around me. Nothing good comes of it...especially between friends.

Today at work though, some colleagues and I were discussing the recent use of slurs to refer to the President by Republican representatives in Congress. It struck me that unlike any previous President, Mr. Obama faces a complete and total lack of respect for the office of the President, just by virtue of the fact that he, an American black man, inhabits it. Why is blatant racism on the part of our country's leaders being tolerated? Why is President Obama not standing up and saying, "I am the President of the United States, and you will treat me with the respect this office deserves"?

I find that this idea of a complete lack of respect really speaks, in my mind, to the all out sand box war we are seeing within Congress. Republicans aren't fighting Democrats - they're fighting something they're not quite comfortable with. See, no one questioned that President Clinton was born in Hope, Arkansas. No one questioned that President George W. Bush was born in New Haven, Connecticut. In fact, to my knowledge, no one has questioned the location of birth of any previous President of the United States. Our Founding Fathers were born as British subjects prior to the formation of the United States. What makes their births any more legitimate than that of President Obama? The only difference I see is that Mr. Obama is black.

I find it appalling that Americans are so quick to jump to such disrespect as is being afforded the President. I find it amazing and frustrating that people that are otherwise decent individuals actually believe...I mean, they ACTUALLY BELIEVE that Mr. Obama's birth certificate is a fraud and that there are factions of terrorists within the state of Hawaii that assisted his parents in a massive conspiracy to cover up the true circumstances of his birth. Come on...let's think about this for a minute like the Mythbusters...so, if Mr. and Mrs. Parents of Obama knew that their bouncing baby boy was going to become the President of the United States in 2009 when they had him in 1961...are you with me so far?  Right.  So, the parents knew that their son would be elected the President of the United States in 2009...yeah, I can't get passed that - how would they have known? How could they have known? Therefore, how could they have concocted such a massive and far reaching conspiracy to hide the true circumstances of his birth?

Yep, I'm stumped too.

What I'm trying to say here is that President Obama was elected to his office...just like most every President before him. The majority of the Electoral College thought he deserved the office. Mr. Obama deserves the respect of the office of the Presidency of the United States. You may not agree with his politics. I may not agree with his politics. But he is the President of the United States...and that is to be respected.

Happy Birthday Mr. President.

Observations

Over the last couple of months I have tried to sit back and observe the life happening around me.  This observation, I find, serves to help me try to understand the people I work with and live around more clearly.  Now, I'm not saying I'm suddenly a whiz at understanding or that I am at all more amiable.  Rather, I think my observation has led me to an understanding of myself more than those that surround me.

Firstly, I find that I am rather intolerant any more.  I suppose that can't be entirely good, as tolerance is the key to getting along with people of all stripes.  Perhaps it is less an intolerance and more an aversion to people's bullshit.  There seems to be an awful lot of bullshit swirling these days.  Am I the only one who has noticed it? 

Secondly, understanding is a relavant term.  I find that I really understand only as much as I am willing to wrap my brain around...only as much as I'm willing to do the work for.  Awful, right? 

Statistics is not something I really want to wrap my brain around...though I do want to at least pass the class. But, back to understanding, I don't understand statistics. That is where my trouble with the subject stems from. Now, not to toot my own intellectual horn, but I'm not a stupid person. I am reasonably well read and can comprehend the most complex of concepts...except for statistics. When the genes were being divvied up in the ol' chromosome pool between my Mom and Dad, I got none of the math genes. Generally, this isn't a problem. Specifically, for the last four weeks, and next week, it is. I have to laugh at myself...or cry, but that's just not pretty for anyone. There, I said it.

What I do not understand is when people willingly mislead others in a blatant attempt to make themselves look like they are better than other people; or they concoct a story such that they do not come off like the bleep they are.  When, exactly, did taking responsibility for oneself become such a scarcity?  Sure, there are two (or more) sides to every story...but when did personal image supplant integrity?  Mental illness not withstanding, people shouldn't get to just make things up about events in their life that effect other people as well.  A lot of really great people get hurt needlessly this way, in my opinion.  I've seen it happen professionally and personally. 

My last observation for the day is more of a lesson learned - be careful to whom you gossip. I got in a bit of trouble last week for repeating something I had heard about two distant coworkers. I couched my relating of the tidbit by saying that I had absolutely no first-hand knowledge of anything, but I had heard that something had occurred. Two of the individuals that were participating in the conversation proceeded to leave and run to the two rumor subjects' boss. I was called to account for what I had seen and said. I had no idea my idle prattle would grow such legs and result in my hand being slapped. Now, upon reflection, I really just should have kept my big fat mouth shut. I find out a lot of nutty things about people in my job and I don't repeat those...why I chose to divulge a rumor on this occasion, I can't recall. But, I have learned my lesson. Not only will I keep my trap shut, but I will make a concerted effort to better read the room for tattle-tales. :-)

Happy Thursday friends.

Great Weather in Vegas

I love this weather. It's warm, but not strangling hot. The nice breeze helps too.

I haven't blogged in a while and thought I might give it a go today. The problem: what to write about...so I picked the weather.

I think it's time to plan a camping trip up to Grass Valley.

Happ Saturday readers.