Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Reasons for Respect


Normally my posts are all about our family and our isms. But the past couple of days, what with Martin Luther King Jr. Day and then the Presidential Inauguration, I have been rather pensive and contemplative. I feel that a 'serious' post is in order.

Martin Luther King Jr. is a great example of peaceful objection, protest without violence. Disagreement without disrespect. When others thought his methods would never work and pressed for more aggressive action, his humble but persistent stance of non-violent protest eventually wore down the resolve of his opposition and broke the walls preventing equality for blacks in our country. Why do I respect him? Because of his love for his people, yes. Because of his leadership, yes. Because of his courage, yes. Because of his rhetoric and persuasive power, yes. But really, I respect him most for the respect he gave others even while respect was denied to him. That is powerful. Respect for humanity regardless of differences.

Many people criticize and blame George W. Bush for the troubles of our nation. They cast blame, point fingers, mock, and are angry to the point of forgetting themselves. Forgetting the respect deserved by the Presidential mantle. Forgetting the respect deserved for serving our country to the best of one's ability. ...Forgetting the respect deserved by every individual as a child of God.

Well today (or yesterday, actually) we usher in a new President. A President wildly popular and with so much enthusiasm backing his new era that it is hard to imagine anyone criticizing him to the extent that Bush was criticized. I respect President Obama for many reasons: his charisma, his persuasive power, his compassion, his realism, his vision, his experiences so different from mine, his willingness to listen to reason, his ability to inspire, his ability to soothe and make people feel comfortable, and his touchableness--the way people feel like they can relate to him. And yet, I did not vote for him. We disagree on too many policy issues.

But, does disagreement EVER give one the right to defame or belittle? Does disagreement give me the right to make nasty videos, compose angry songs, or - heaven forbid- throw my shoe at the man? Absolutely NOT. Neither will I ever cast my opposition to policy or decisions as opposition to President Obama himself. He is a man. Capable of great good and capable of great harm. Human and imperfect, so deserving of tolerance, patience, and forgiveness. Son of God, so deserving of mercy, respect, and love. If the time comes, I pledge to disagree without disrespect.

I treasure our country. I am so proud to be an American. I am proud of the progress that our nation has made. I feel humbled and grateful to live in the great nation that we do. I have hope for the future.

10 comments:

  1. Wow Elisa - I'm impressed. That is very well spoken. Thank you so much for sharing that!

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  2. I love this post - so thoughtful and true! Thank you for sharing!

    As for the paper crafts - we are meeting at my place on Feb. 4th at 7:30. Hopefully it will be announced in church on Sunday. :)

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  3. I know I'm supposed to comment on the serious post, but I was wondering more about the picture. . . Is that a cake, and did you make it? If it is a cake, and you made it, that's pretty amazing! Everyone I know seems to have all these nifty cake decorating skills. . . Where'd you learn how to do that?

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  4. Wow. How I wish more people could read that post. It was eloquent and a wonderful reminder about what is really important.

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  5. very well put. Thanks for the reminder.

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  6. I needed to read this. Thank you.

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  7. Amen Elisa! Well said! And, did you make that cake? Beautiful!

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  8. You are so right in what you said in this blog.

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  9. That was amazing. Thank you for your thoughts. That is just perfect. I completely agree. You have an amazing way of putting it into words. Thank you Thank you!

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