Acceptable
VS Un-acceptable Behavior - September 10, 2009
By way of background likely everyone
in the United States and perhaps much of the free world can identify the
man in the center, pointing his finger. If on the chance that you
were sleeping in a bomb shelter without TV you may not recognize him.
The Brits sure do, because this photo came from England’s newspaper, the
Globe and Mail.
He is U. S. Representative Joe Wilson,
a Republican from South Carolina and in the photo he is pointing and shouting
at the President during the President Obama’s presentation on healthcare
reform. The President had just stated emphatically that illegal aliens
would not be covered under the plan. Wilson’s outburst was “You Lie”!
Granted I addressed this matter to a
limited degree in my blogs of September 7 and September 9, 2009.
However, in the intervening period between then and now something additional
has occurred that supports the need for additional discourse.
I mentioned earlier that in all the
years I have watched Presidential speeches from Eisenhower to today.
Previously I stated that ever in all those years have I ever seen anything
that even comes close to Wilson’s disrespect.
Well perhaps it may have been his colleagues
as they waved signs and legislative drafts. But then there is Eric
Cantor, the Republican representative of Virginia's 7th congressional district
and House Minority Whip who could be observed texting on his Blackberry
during the speech.
Where did all this rudeness come from?
Surely Atwater and Rove in the two prior blogs had some contributory role,
but do they get all the credit? I would hate to think that this derives
from the old Southern strategy with its roots in the Civil Rights backlash.
If that is the case then it means that the disrespect emanates from a racial
bias and if that is correct, these disrespectful jerks should be voted
out of office post haste.
There is absolutely no room for racial
bias in my USA. The color of a person’s skin has even less to do
with anything than gender or sexual preference. Not that they should
make any difference either, but only because the civil rights movement
has been a larger issue since the 1960’s and our public awareness is greater.
The personal political world view of
any American citizen is a matter of First Amendment rights. However,
I have always maintained the philosophy that you have a right to free self
expression, but it must stop before it reaches my ear because your rights
come to and end a millimeter or two before reaching my ear!
A quick review of the full Constitution
as well as supporting materials makes no provision for such outrageous
behavior to be directed at our President. We are not required to
respect the office holder but surely have the obligation and duty to respect
the person holding the position as President.
What is perhaps even more appalling
is the support that is accruing toward Congressman Wilson. Offers
for campaign finance as well as well wishes have been pouring in to his
office from a variety of areas and groups. I simply cannot comprehend
how this can be? If Joe Wilson were to be my representative I know
what would happen with my vote; it would accrue to his opposition.
Each of us needs to insist by pen, vote
or voice that behavior such as this is unacceptable. We need to accept
his already offered apology but be in waiting for the chance to get to
view and enact any prohibitions against him in his political views, actions
or both!
