Natalie Baker – 9/27/07

This page was last updated on October 6, 2007.

Respect is earned; Natalie Baker; Beaver County Times; September 27, 2007.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“In response to Rebecca J. Kent’s letter to the editor ‘Who elected her president?’ on Sunday, I have but one question.

“Why, exactly, should we respect our president ‘no matter who holds the office?’ I cannot respect a man who hides behind his religion to further his own agenda, whether he was voted into office or not, and certainly couldn’t expect every other American to respect him simply because he carries the title of ‘president.’

[RWC] When did President Bush ever “hide behind his religion?”

“[W]hether he was voted into office or not?” Oh no, Ms. Baker is one of the “selected, not elected” crowd.

“That’s absurd. Blind faith is not the best course of action under any circumstance. Respect is earned, not title-given.”

[RWC] True, but I always learned you should respect the office if not the person holding. I could be wrong, but I believe that’s what Ms. Kent meant. For example, while it was extremely hard to respect Bill Clinton, I never discussed him in the terms Ms. Baker uses about President Bush.

“Lack of patriotism? Please. Our country was founded on the right to disagree with our government and the right and ability to make changes through democracy. Dissent is patriotic. Being patriotic does not mean that we must follow our ‘president’ like sheep.”

[RWC] I hate to break the news to Ms. Baker, but there’s nothing inherently patriotic about “dissent.” Would it be patriotic to burn the U.S. flag? Would it be patriotic to call for the downfall of the U.S.?

“Nothing on this Earth is as terrifying as the decisions Bush has made as the leader of our nation, and the excuses and lies he’s told to justify those decisions.”

[RWC] Apparently President Bush has allegedly told so many “lies,” Ms. Baker couldn’t choose even one to use as an example. That seems to happen to a lot of letter writers.