I'M APPAULED RIGHT NOW AND SO SAD AT WHAT I JUST WITNESSED. I WAS WATCHING WASHINGTON NATIONALS BASEBALL GAME WITH MY HUSBAND AND THEY JUST INTRODUCED THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO THROW OUT THE FIRST PITCH AND THE CROWD STARTED BOOING SO LOUD. IT WAS APPAULING. I DO NOT CARE WHAT POLICAL PARTY YOU ARE AFFILATED WITH OR WHAT YOUR POLITCAL VIEWS MAYBE. IF YOU ARE AN AMERICAN THEN YOU NEED TO REPECT OUR COMMANDER AND CHEIF AND ABSOLUTLY NOT BOO AT HIM. I DON'T HAVE MUCH RESPECT FOR HILARY CLINTON BUT IF SHE WINS THE PRESEIDENCY YOU WON'T SEE ME BOOING HER OR NOT GIVING HER THE RESPECT SHE DESERVES AS PRESIDENT OF THE COUNTRY I LIVE IN. I THINK AS PARENTS WE SHOULD ALSO CONVEY THIS TO OUR CHILDREN AND THE PARENTS THAT TOOK THEIR CHILDREN TO WATCH AMERICA'S FAVORITE PASTIME SHOULD BE TOTALLY ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES! THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TODAY AND 40 YRS AGO. YOU WOULD HAVE NEVER SEEN WHAT JUST HAPPENED BACK THEN. PEOPLE HAD RESPECT FOR THE OFFICE NO MATTER WHO WAS IN IT!
SORRY... I'M JUST UPSET AT WHAT I JUST WATCHED..
I agree with you it's very
I agree with you it's very disrespectful and although I can't wait until the man is out of office I wouldn't stoop to that level either. However, you have to look at the whole picture and look at our nation and look at what condition it's in and for the majority who's responsible for it. I know I'm probably opening up a huge can of worms by putting that out there, but I feel very strongly that HE IS responsible for the disgrace this nationa is facing both with the economy, the war, how close we are to a recession (if we're not already there), gas prices, and so many other things that has turned this nation upside down. Unfortunatley, some people choose to put their respect aside when it is hitting them and knocking them or loved ones, family & friends down. When people are struggling to make it from day to day due to decisions made by the government that has had such a major influence on our nation people tend to be very opinionated and when there's that one chance to let someone know how they feel whether face to face or by emotions, i.e. the booing they're going to do what their first instinct is and let them know. Yes, it's unfortunate, but it's America for you ...
What a bummer. Political
What a bummer. Political differences aside (and I have MANY with our current commander-in-chief), booing the person holding the office of U.S. president is a real low point.
I totally respect your
I totally respect your opinion in feeling that way. I know there are tons of others that feel the way you do...
There's a rule of etiquette
There's a rule of etiquette that says that, when the President is standing, everyone in the room stands (except for when s/he is at a podium, and has invited everyone to sit, etc.).
I may not respect many of the things GWB has said or done, but I respect the office. That's why the only appropriate address is, "Mr. President" (which is what we call his father, President Clinton, and President Ford).
Of course, I am appalled that announcers at ballparks have to tell people to take off their hats during the Star Spangled Banner.
Oh, and my second-grade
Oh, and my second-grade teacher (who taught a lot of etiquette) said that the only time it's okay to say, "Boo" is on Halloween.
Perhaps this is where the we
Perhaps this is where the we should all follow the golden rule: If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.
I did not vote for him and i don't agree with many things he says and does, but i probably would have just kept my mouth shut had i been there.
just~me
I agree, very tacky. I'm
I agree, very tacky. I'm not surprised that happened, but I do wish our citizens held a little more respect for the office. If they were to meet the President face-to-face, I'll bet most people would be respectful then!
right there with ya... It
right there with ya... It was tacky.. However, It was good for me to take some time and explain to my 6th grader how that was rude and why we should have repspect for the President no matter what their political views maybe.. That was a good lesson....
I agree, but...I'm also glad
I agree, but...I'm also glad that people who feel compelled to can boo the leader of the free world if they want to. I mean really, if you don't like him, you don't need to pretend you do for your own safety. The first amendment is a powerful thing.
The general populice is very dissatisfied with the way the country is going. Is this all W's fault...probably not. But he's the bottom line, top of the heap guy, so it is ultimately his responsibility. I personally feel he's been extremely shortsighted in most of his policies. Would I personally boo ho\im, probably not, because I do not feel that strongly. But I'm glad other people can if they do feel that strongly.
It's also why I'm glad that flag burning amendment proposal largely went away, because the thing that they sought to protect was a symbol of the freedoms we have, and the symbol shouldn't be more protected than the actual freedoms. If it were so, then the freedoms would be reduced. So while I never think it's a good idea to burn a flag (mainly because it never expresses the point that the protestor is trying to make), I'm glad it's not illegal.
In the same way, W is a symbol of the whole country. If you're really unhappy with the country, you have the right to rebel against the symbol. I'm very thankful we have that right.
I agree! I was going to say
I agree! I was going to say that although it's disrespectful of people to boo our president, or anyone for that matter, we should be thankful that we live in a country that protects our right to do so. We could live in other countries in which we get hauled off to a stadium and get executed for far lesser offenses!
I've been saying this same
I've been saying this same thing for quite awhile now; you don't have to agree with everything he says or does, but his office is still due some amount of respect. Yes, our First Amendment can be a wonderful thing; not when people "hide" behind it. Look at all the hate groups out there that spout horrific things, then cite their "First Amendment" rights. Just because you CAN say something doesn't mean you SHOULD.
I agree with you about being
I agree with you about being shocked by the booing. Unfortunately, it seems like people no longer separate the Office of the President and the respect we Americans should have for it, and the actual President (the person) who happens to hold that office. I wouldn't hesitate to "boo" George W. the person, but as he's still our President (can't wait till he's not!!), I feel that we should show him the utmost respect as the symbol of that office.
I wonder how this came to be in our society that people no longer understand/know that they should respect the President (whether they like the person or not).
DesertMom
http://ppdsurvivor.blogspot.com
I'm glad that I didn't see
I'm glad that I didn't see it. Its a shame how people lose respect for the highest authority these days. I can't wait until the President is out of this cruel world of pointing fingers.
I pray he has a very peaceful retirement and the others get what they have coming to them. What goes around comes around in time.
DHC
President Bush is a disgrace
President Bush is a disgrace to our country. I was at that game and participated in the booing and would do it again if I could. I was actually surprised that he got ANY cheers. He should know that the American public doesn't approve of his work in office, he's surrounded by yes men all the time. I think it would be unpatriotic to pretend I approve of his careless disregard for the American public. Respect should be earned, he has not quite earned it yet, sorry to say. President Bush also made the choice to throw out the first pitch in DC, which voted 98% Democrat in the last election and it is the ONE place in the United States that gets federally taxed but DOES NOT receive representation to US Congress via a Senator or Congressman and has the least amount of electoral votes in the nation. I think the residents of DC deserve to have thier voices heard and if booing the President is the only way it can happen, well then, maybe Congress should give DC actual representation.
I respect your
I respect your opinion...But, I must say that you are part of the problem. Do you not understand no matter what the vote count was (which I don't think they should tell us anyway) and I don't care by how much he won, fact is he won. He won the Presidency of the United States of America. He won so therefore he gets our respect. It doesn't matter who is in the office. The President deserves respect. The problem today and with the younger generations is that there is no respect. No respect for anything. Your opinion matters and you can share and speak and tell others how you feel b/c that is your right to do so but when the President walks out and your are in front of him you are supposed to show respect because that is your President. Believe it or not George W is your President. YOURS!!! If you would like to change that before the next election then you might want to think about Canada or France as a place to call home. I was just raised better than you apparently b/c I was taught to respect authority and the President of the United States is a figure of authority. I hope you get out and vote b/c you feel very strongly. If you do vote and the person you vote for is someone that I, (using your word) think is a disgrace then you better believe I would show them respect. I may not agree with them and I may speak my mind and say how I feel but I would sure show them respect b/c they would have earned it. That's right earned it for winning the Presidency. So yes, even if you didn't vote for him, George W Bush has earned your respect.
yes he may have earned our
yes he may have earned our respect at first but has done a terrible job maintaining it, and as for " the office", when the powers is missused so horribly what has he earned then???
Don't Hate!
So you're saying that booing
So you're saying that booing the President in hopes that Congress will give DC representation?
I still have to agree with diva on a lot of what she had to say. I've been noticing this growing trend as each year passes that goes beyond this. People are beginning to show less respect, whether it's towards an elected official, an authority figure, or just someone they pass on the street. I'm highly disturbed by the number of young people who seem to have very little, if any, respect for anyone other than themselves. Even more disturbing is it would seem many of them are learning this by the example they're being shown by their "elders".
Again I will say that just because Constitution guarantees us all the right to say whatever we want doesn't mean we should. If you don't like someone, why say or do anything at all?
I think you missed the whole
I think you missed the whole point of my post. you might want to re-read it and think about it with an open mind.
We are talking about 800,000 people who live right next door to someone who not only did they not vote for, but are unfairly taxed without representation. Sound familiar? DC residents should have an appropriate venue to voice thier displeasure with the current administration, but since they have no venue for it, I believe they are entirely within thier rights to boo the President at a sporting event.
Oh, and please refrain from making statements regarding how I was raised, as you know nothing about me and are woefully unaware of the DC political situation and haven't even tried to address it.
One more thing...you
One more thing...you recommended I move to Canada or France since I don't approve of the current administration, well,I recommend that if you don't like living in a country where you have the freedom to voice your displeasure with elected officials, that you move to Iran, China or North Korea. Oh, and you might want to read up on the Milgram studies, as you are obviously impressionable to authority figures...it might be interesting to you.
my father has always taught
my father has always taught us not to talk about religion or politics in social settings or work to avoid conflict. He taught us to always answer when asked an opinion about our President " I respect the President of our country and the decisons he makes." Period. I guess I took that a little to much to heart because when my husband asked who I was voting for in the upcoming election I told him that was very personal to me and he thought I was weird. I agree- not everyone will agree with GWB including me but show some Respect.
I think everyone is also
I think everyone is also failing to take into account that this took place at an entertainment venue, not at an official capacity. I've seen Bush speak several times in his capacity as President and not booed him. But at an entertainment venue? We were there to see the baseball game, not Bush.
Compounding that with our freedom of speech and civil liberties, despite being taxed without adequate (or, really, any) representation, yes I do think it was a reasonable reaction. If it upsets you so much, change the channel, or move to North Korea. We can agree to disagree, but you must also take into account you at least have political recourse if you didn't vote for Bush. You have representation in the House and the Senate, several Congress people to make your complaints heard.
I think blind faith in leaders is another problem with this whole thread. I'm glad my parents taught me to question authority, not blindly follow it. While I respect the office of the President, in an official capacity, I do not respect the President and do not respect the complacency of the US government to continue to stifle the voices of taxpaying Americans. Revolutions have started (in this country) for that same reason.
I think there's nothing to add to this! So this will likely be my last post. I do highly recommend the Milgram studies for further research into authority figures and obedience and also reading up on the history of the struggle for DC to attain voting rights.
Boo Bush or don't boo Bush, I don't really care, but I'm glad I have the choice and intend to make my voice heard.
Respecting the Presidents
Respecting the Presidents decisons is not the same as blinding following him. And I stated I was taught not to discuss poilitics in social settings where conflict will surely arise. I never ever said I was taught to blindly follow for that I have not been taught to do. And this is only in response if you were referring to my post which I assume you were.
One last time, Liz: Every
One last time, Liz:
Every four years, you get to say who you want to be the President. You, and every other citizen who is registered to vote, get(s) to vote. Once. Then, it's over. That man or woman is the leader of the free world.
Whatever Milgram has to say really doesn't matter at this point, since we've got a lame duck president, and the democratic race has the potential to toss most conventional wisdom aside. I do seriously doubt that we'll see an uprising of taxpayers, and I'm pretty sure that obedience isn't going to reign come November. The District of Columbia is not a state. It will never be a state. It can't be a state. The whole point of the District of Columbia is that it isn't a state, and Milgram doesn't have a legal leg to stand on.
It doesn't matter what the venue is. If President Ford, President Carter, President Bush (Senior), President Clinton, or President Bush enters a room, or stadium, or auditorium, or any other space, you must stand until he sits, you must either applaud or refrain from applauding (no booing), and you must sit mute throughout whatever speech he chooses to give.
I'm not a fan of GWB, but I think his Mom is pretty cool. His daughters seem to be smart women. As an American, I have the right to not respect what he says, what he does, or what he stands for, but I do not have the right to disrepect him and the office that he holds.
It's too bad that you're bailing because your opinion isn't popular. That's what most of America does.
Liz~You said that it was ok
Liz~You said that it was ok at an entertainment venue like a baseball game that is America's favorite past time.. So what is that teaching the children at that game? It's teaching them disrespect and that it a huge problem today!
Is this Micheal Moore???
Is this Micheal Moore???
Okay, I've gotten into
Okay, I've gotten into trouble for not being nice, so I'm just going to provide a few facts for people who like to know what they are talking about. And, uh, maybe, not be so nice.
Washington, District of Columbia, is not a state. It was designed in 1791 because Jefferson, Madison, and Hamilton were uncomfortable with the federal government being housed in Philadelphia. We took a chunk of Maryland and a chunk of West Virginia and made DC.
The Vatican is a sovereign country inside the Rome city limits; the Italian government has no authority there. If you walk into the United Nations building, you are no longer in the USA, but when you walk out, you are in New York. Similarly, when you cross the beltway into DC, you are in the USA, but not in any particular state.
When DC was designed by L'Enfant, we assumed that no one would actually "live" there. Elected officials would spend part of the year there for a limited number of years, and government workers would commute. Everyone would be represented in Congress (by a Senator and a Representative) in his own state. His, because women didn't vote. Slaves and servants, obviously, didn't have the means to commute, so housing was provided for them. They didn't vote either.
All US citizens pay US taxes. If you choose to live in DC rather than in a state, you'll not be represented in Congress -- just as if you chose to move to Puerto Rico. DC competes with Wyoming for the smallest population, which is why it gets so few electoral votes.
The argument that the President got boos because DC citizens are Democrats without representation in Congress has absolutely no merit. The President got boos because too many people slept through 9th grade civics and stayed home during 2nd grade manners.
Yes, you have the right to voice displeasure with elected officials. You do not have the right to assault them -- even verbally; by law, if they were so inclined, the Secret Service could detain you for that behavior. I personally disagree with President Bush on almost everything, but, if he walked into a room where I was sitting, I would stand. I would address him as Mr. President. I would end the conversation by saying, "Thank you, Mr. President".
I don't know what it means to be "obviously impressionable to authority figures" -- maybe that one makes an impression on authority figures? It's not only our right, but our duty, to question an elected official. However, since a majority of our fellows hired him/her, s/he has earned the job, and we need to respect that. We need to respect him/her, or we are disrespecting democracy.
I do disagree with the recommendation that you move to Canada. They're awfully big on etiquette, so I don't think it would be a good fit for you. Definitely not France. I doubt you'd actually "get" France, and you'd just speak English louder in order to be understood. I'd recommend buying a cabin in Appalachia, and setting up a ham radio operation. You might want to read up on Emily Post ... it might be interesting to you.
Absouletly, perfectly put
Absouletly, perfectly put not_the_mama.
ew.. lizzieb ....I think
ew.. lizzieb ....I think this got under your skin.. you sound angry. Calm down and don't let stuff upset you so much. Like I said I respect your opinion but it seems you don't respect. That is sad and part of what is wrong. I didn't mean to get you worked up. I didn't read the rest of your posts b/c it's just ranting. My post was about how disrespectful it was to boo the President of the United States in his presence "whoever he or she is". Your posts back are just blah, blah, blah and angry blah... Sorry your having a bad day!
Good info not_the_mama.
Good info not_the_mama.
I wouldn't "boo the
I wouldn't "boo the President, because I wouldn't "boo" anyone. It's not my style. I see lots of appalling social behavior, but it doesn't really make me mad, unless it hurts a kid. So, I guess that I don't mind that others "boo'd". That's their choice and I really feel that they have every right to do it.
I don't respect authority, for authority's sake. In my mind, it must be earned. Now, has the OFFICE - the JOB - of President earned respect? Probably. But, do I, "respect The President and his decisions"? Hell, no! I will not "respect" (i.e. accept) the decisions if they are bad decisions. EVERYONE should know the Milgram and Ash studies. They are most relevent on issues such as this.
Likewise, I cringe when I hear parents say to their children,
"Don't you ever speak to a grown-up that way!"...or, "Don't you dare say no to me!". I don't say those things to my kids. But, I do tell them in no uncertain terms that they were speaking rudely and they hurt someone's feelings. I do address those situations and get them to think about the choices that they made and their affect on others. They naturally choose to be respective, because they have been taught to put themselves in the other person's shoes.
But, when my 6 yr old said that the President was "dumb" to "start a war", I did not scold him and tell him to never say that. I sat him down and asked him questions and we talked about appropriate ways to express frustrations and some of the pros and cons of using the military to address problems. He felt that that the "diplomats" should have fixed the problems instead of the "army". Of course, he was only six, but I did agree with him that I think that war must always be the last resort.
"Respecting the President" just isn't a black and white issue to me. I would give the respect that I would like to receive. But, I will never say to myself, "well, he's the president, so he must know more than I do, so I should not question his decision, and I will accept it". Questioning the president IS respecting - and protecting the integrity of the office.
That's good that you took
That's good that you took the time to sit with your son and ask him questions and discuss that stuff. A lot of parents would not have taken the time to do that. It's very important to question the authority. They are only human and they will make mistakes.
I don't think you have to respect the President's actions to "show" respect when in the President's presence. I guess I compare it to burning a flag or something. Who cares who's in office. It could be anyone...It's just my opinion.
I am glad that you mention
I am glad that you mention sitting down with your child and talking with them about respect. This was definitely a teachable moment and one that should be taken advantage of. I certainly do not believe in the behavior that was demonstrated during that particular game, but all too often such incidences pass without discussion, especially when children are part of the viewing audience.