Posted on 06/23/2009 5:22:04 AM PDT by Kaslin
Last week a U.S. Senator treated the world to a shocking display of rudeness toward a member of our armed services.
As Brigadier Gen. Michael Walsh testified before the Environment and Public Works Committee, Chairwoman Sen. Barbara Boxer arrogantly and ignorantly reprimanded an officer and a gentleman who has risked his life many times over for her "right" to become a U.S. senator in the first place.
When he respectfully began a statement with "ma'am," she abruptly interrupted and gave the smarmy directive, "You know, do me a favor. Can you say 'senator' instead of 'ma'am'? It's just a thing. I worked so hard to get that title, so I'd appreciate it. Yes. Thank you."
More than any other group, America's military insist that their members show respect for authority. When addressing a male superior, they say "sir." When addressing female superiors, they say "ma'am." And out of simple politeness and common courtesy toward others, they are also taught to say "sir" and "ma'am" even when addressing civilians. As the wife of a retired naval officer, I have always been so thankful to be in the company of those who serve our nation with such dignity and respect.
Many moms and dads are trying to teach their kids to be polite and respectful by using the time-honored titles of "sir" and "ma'am" too. Most women appreciate when someone takes the time to show such honor. We recognize kindness and chivalry when we see it, and we're not so insecure in our gender identity that we lose our dignity by complaining.
I guess Sen. Boxer forgot how important it is to be a role model of civility when you are a public figure. As the most powerful person in the room that day, she should have been gracious and kind. She really should have thanked Gen. Walsh for his years of service to our country. She should have expressed praise for all military personnel who are making it possible for other women around the world to enjoy the same privilege that Sen. Boxer has of holding public office or even voting. And she should be aware that most women appreciate the respect afforded by the term "ma'am," regardless of any other gender-neutral titles we may have earned. Instead, she set a poor example, insulted every military officer in the land, and left many males wondering (once again) about how to be respectful to females without inflaming some feminist psychosis.
A very likely ripple effect from Sen. Boxer's petty complaint is that many may become afraid to practice simple courtesies, especially toward women. We can't allow our family members to be bullied into choosing the "safe" route and thus abandon acts of common decency. It's sort of like the quandary a male faces in wondering whether or not to open the door for a female, or if he should offer his seat on the subway or help a woman place a heavy bag in the airplane's overhead compartment. The shrill complaints of a few angry feminists have caused many to avoid eye contact and instead, to just look out for themselves.
We must teach our sons to value the concepts of respect and kindness enough to always be gentlemen, even if that means making themselves vulnerable to attack. And our young women need to be taught to accept the thoughtful gestures for what they are -- thoughtful gestures.
Showing and accepting kindness for and from others is the definition of civility, and our nation needs more of it. So, in the wake of this much-discussed rudeness by a prominent public official, let's make it an opportunity to remind our kids to always err on the side of respect.
Heh!!
I was always taught that addressing a woman as Ma’am was a sign of utmost respect. It is levels beyond ignorance that Pelosi would take it any other way.
What an utter douchebag.
.......I was always taught that addressing a woman as Ma’am was a sign of utmost respect......
A lady is addressed as Mam.
A bitch is a bitch is a bitch
That’s no lady, that’s my Senator (groan).
This thing “worked so hard” to become a Senator, what does she think the Brigadier General did?
The correct term of address for Ms. Boxer is "National Embarrassment". Although, I did think it was just a matter of decorum for him not to refer to her in such a manner.
Assuming he’s a taxpayer, he should have called her ‘employee’. I just call her Boxerocks.
In the mind of a “feminist”,
recognition of her gender is an insult.
Had that been me? I'd have ignored her and continued using “Ma'am” - or made it a POINT to specifically address all the men in the room as “Sir” and her as - nothing - ...no “Senator”, “Ma'am”, “Miss” - no appellation whatsoever.
Really, really tired of their stupid little power games... You don't talk down to a warrior who's spent most of his adult life DEFENDING the values which she sh*ts on every day of her useless existence.
A fine testament to the General, his patience, and his professionalism. He is a true credit to the professional Officer corps of this country. He's a better man than I am for dealing with that snotty commie witch so gracefully...
LOL! What an idiot.
The General was certainly more patient than I would have been.
Hope all is well and good....with you and yours!
A mannerless, filthy hog, wallowing in the mud can demand that people call it “Ruler of The Barnyard”. But it’s still just a hog. :-)
You've lost me there. I didn't get the "reasoning."
No you are not assuming that he is a tax payer. You are assuming the military doesn't pay any taxes
Just asking, because ego runs rampant.
Servants used the terms “sir” and “m’am”. She believed that here grandchildren would **have** servants and would never be a servant.
She was born into an extremely wealthy family, and her father was friends to the king.
So....Even now we do not call people “sir” or “m’am”, and we would prefer that others not use “sir” or “m’am” to address us ( except in the military). I realize that in the United States that “sir” and “m’am” are merely a form of politeness, but to my granny it evoked memories of rigid class-ism.
I believe that my great grandparents ( even though wealthy) came to the U.S. with their family to escape suffocating class ism of late 19th century England.
Dear sir or madam,
the way I was raised...
and the way I have raised my children...
-
I was taught to address ALL males as sir and ALL females as ma’am.
This applies to:
my mother, my father, my aunts, and uncles...
my wife, my daughter, and my granddaughter...
my sons and my grandson...
my boss, and my subordinates...
my friends, my acquaintances, shopkeepers, and strangers...
teachers, judges, doctors, police officers...
senators, representatives, and governors...
whites, blacks, reds, and yellows...
preachers, priests, rabbis, and reverends...
old, young, and in between...
-
Those titles then become a great equalizer of any class distinction.
One time a boss man told me,
“You really don’t have to call me sir.”
I replied,
“I know I don’t ‘have to’, but it is the way I was raised.”
Indeed...the Hog analog is spot on. Goes for most of what passes as Liberal these days.
Just contemptible...utterly so.
He probably had an English granny. :-)
I was taught to address ALL males as sir and ALL females as ma’am.
As posted in #57:
"I realize that in the United States that “sir” and “m’am” are merely a form of politeness, but to my granny it evoked memories of rigid class-ism."
I am very respectful of people who do use "sir" and "m'am" because I **know** that it has nothing to do with class ism here in the U.S., and is a form of respect.
We don't teach our children though to use "sir" and "m'am". And....I would probably be like the man above, and would say, "You really don't need to call me 'm'am".
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