Manners?

Watching the Presidential speech I was fascinated by the differences in the Democrat and Republican responses. The areas of disagreement are very clear. What the President sees as success, the Republicans see as their failure. According to the news analyst at the end, the Republicans clapped less, and spent more time in their seats than ever before. The analyst also mentioned hearing cellphones ring, and Republicans being on their phones and tablets during the speech.

Going to any event, a dinner with friends, movie, church, and others, many of us turn off our phones. If that is not possible, we at least silence our phones. It seems to me that the President of our country, should be given our attention when he makes a speech. The State of the Union speech is once a year, covered by every television network, and is uninterrupted my commercials, because a Presidential speech is important.

Disagreement does not mean we can dispense with manners. Disagreement makes manners even more important.
In a disagreement, people on both sides of an issue want their side to be heard, and their concerns acknowledged. Manners show respect during a disagreement.

President Obama deserves respect especially when you disagree, because he is the president. Our enemies are watching, and our angry division they interpret as weakness, and increases their resolve.

If you agree, I hope you will share this with someone else.