Respect the office
I was watching the local newscast on Monday morning (6/11/2018) and the male anchor was reacting to an item about how Robert DeNiro had said "F**k Trump" during his appearance at the Tony Awards broadcast the prior evening. The anchor said something to the effect that even if you don't respect the man, its important to respect the office.
It is very difficult to respect the office when the man residing there temporarily (hopefully for a very temporary period) has no respect for it. A person who achieves that high office should not be attempting to enrich themselves and their family while in office. No one in high office should do that. I have no problem with people using their former office to make money giving speeches and writing books; once they have left office. Attempting to influence government affairs after leaving office is a subject for another blog, on the subjects of lobbying and influence-peddling.
To quote the late Bruce Lee, "knowledge will give you power, but character respect." The present occupant of the Oval Office is utterly devoid of character.
Let's use another quote on the subject of respect, this one dating back a lot further into history. It was Lao Tzu who said, "when you are content to simply be yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you." Donald Trump sees himself in competition with everyone and everything, and worse yet; he's convinced that he is better than anyone else at everything. Egomaniacal is not a strong enough term to describe this man.
In my mind, every relationship begins with me assuming that the other party is worthy of respect. Unless and until they prove that assumption to be wrong. One of the training instructors who made my experience at Air Force basic training a living hell proved he wasn't worthy of respect the moment I met him. In that situation, I was forced to show respect to him, outwardly. Inside, I had no respect for him. I had the chance to tell him so, after I'd completed my training and was on my way to my first permanent assignment.
Another factor in whether or not we will respect someone is how they treat and respect others. Can you name any individual that Donald Trump actually respects? Some will say he respects Vladimir Putin. I don't buy that. That relationship, whatever it may actually be, is not based on respect (mutual or otherwise). He had no respect for anyone who was running against him at any time during his presidential campaign. He has no respect for the office he holds.
Respect is earned by honorable, ethical behavior. I just listened to a cable news network talking head opining about how we are lucky to have a "deal-maker in chief" who is so good at business. So good at making deals for himself. It is undeniable that Donald Trump was both a failure and a great success at business. The problem is, the methods he used in business don't work quite as well when dealing with nations.
He doesn't hold up his end of a deal. Frequently. He doesn't play by the rules. Frequently. Businesses owned by Donald Trump have been involved in more than 100 disputes with tax authorities. The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance has filed liens against Trump businesses more than 30 times.
Juan Carlos Enriquez owns a paint business in South Florida. He prevailed in a lawsuit against Trump over a debt of less than $35,000. He had to spend more than $300,000 in legal fees. He in April of 2017. I wonder if he ever got paid.
Trump signed deals and then used his big wallet to bully people into settling for less than promised. That is not behavior that generates respect.
I have great respect for the office of the presidency. But not while it is being seriously damaged by the man in it.
It is very difficult to respect the office when the man residing there temporarily (hopefully for a very temporary period) has no respect for it. A person who achieves that high office should not be attempting to enrich themselves and their family while in office. No one in high office should do that. I have no problem with people using their former office to make money giving speeches and writing books; once they have left office. Attempting to influence government affairs after leaving office is a subject for another blog, on the subjects of lobbying and influence-peddling.
To quote the late Bruce Lee, "knowledge will give you power, but character respect." The present occupant of the Oval Office is utterly devoid of character.
Let's use another quote on the subject of respect, this one dating back a lot further into history. It was Lao Tzu who said, "when you are content to simply be yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you." Donald Trump sees himself in competition with everyone and everything, and worse yet; he's convinced that he is better than anyone else at everything. Egomaniacal is not a strong enough term to describe this man.
In my mind, every relationship begins with me assuming that the other party is worthy of respect. Unless and until they prove that assumption to be wrong. One of the training instructors who made my experience at Air Force basic training a living hell proved he wasn't worthy of respect the moment I met him. In that situation, I was forced to show respect to him, outwardly. Inside, I had no respect for him. I had the chance to tell him so, after I'd completed my training and was on my way to my first permanent assignment.
Another factor in whether or not we will respect someone is how they treat and respect others. Can you name any individual that Donald Trump actually respects? Some will say he respects Vladimir Putin. I don't buy that. That relationship, whatever it may actually be, is not based on respect (mutual or otherwise). He had no respect for anyone who was running against him at any time during his presidential campaign. He has no respect for the office he holds.
Respect is earned by honorable, ethical behavior. I just listened to a cable news network talking head opining about how we are lucky to have a "deal-maker in chief" who is so good at business. So good at making deals for himself. It is undeniable that Donald Trump was both a failure and a great success at business. The problem is, the methods he used in business don't work quite as well when dealing with nations.
He doesn't hold up his end of a deal. Frequently. He doesn't play by the rules. Frequently. Businesses owned by Donald Trump have been involved in more than 100 disputes with tax authorities. The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance has filed liens against Trump businesses more than 30 times.
Juan Carlos Enriquez owns a paint business in South Florida. He prevailed in a lawsuit against Trump over a debt of less than $35,000. He had to spend more than $300,000 in legal fees. He in April of 2017. I wonder if he ever got paid.
Trump signed deals and then used his big wallet to bully people into settling for less than promised. That is not behavior that generates respect.
I have great respect for the office of the presidency. But not while it is being seriously damaged by the man in it.
posted by me at 5:20 PM
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