A couple of hours ago, I finished listening to the 47th President of the United States give his Inaugural Address. There’s a good chance you heard it, too. No matter what you thought of the speech, or of Donald Trump, you have every right to express your opinion. A lot of people don’t realized what a great privilege that is.
Another President, Theodore Roosevelt, spoke some words that maybe we should all think about….
“The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the Nation as a whole.
Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile.
To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else.”
Roosevelt also said:
“Here is your country. Cherish these natural wonders, cherish the natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children’s children. Do not let selfish men or greedy interests skin your country of its beauty, its riches or its romance.”
As a minister on the radio used to say, not a sermon — just thoughts. This just seems like a good day to ponder things…. like what’s the difference between a leader and a boss — the leader leads and the boss drives.
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