Respect Should Not Be Up for Debate

As soon as we can comprehend what “respect” is, we are taught to respect many different things in our lives. We respect our parents, because they are raising us. We respect our elders, because they are wiser and deserve to be listened to, and they are in a position of knowing what is best. We are taught to respect our teachers, because in the classroom, they are in charge.

Our teachers instruct us to respect the law and those who uphold the law, such as the police. We are taught that regardless of whether or not we “like” someone or something that they have done, certain people deserve our respect because they are in positions of authority which demand a certain level for respect.

Now, call me old fashioned, but I still stand by this mentality. We do not have to like the police, but they are there to protect us and uphold the laws that we have voted into place in the United States. We do not have to agree with everything that the dean of the school says, but he/she is in a position of authority that deserves respect.

As long as these people are not abusing the power that they have been given, they deserve our respect.

So why does this change when we are talking about the president of the United States? I understand the fact that Donald Trump is not liked by everyone. I do believe that Hillary Clinton would have had her share of hate as well but these people ran for office and we, the people, elected one of them. You can argue about hacking and false votes all you want, but ultimately, Donald Trump will be our president.

I understand that Trump has said and done some very controversial things, and I am not saying that I agree with them, but name a president that has not. Every president has faced opposition but only recently has this opposition turned into flat-out disrespect towards the man who will be running our country. We do not have to agree with the things that Trump says or does, but he is our president and we need to respect his elected position, at least until he begins to abuse this power that the American people have given him. That is when respect is lost and action should be taken.

Thomas S. Monson once said, “When we treat people merely as they are, they will remain as they are. When we treat them as if they were what they should be, they will become what they should be.” With this mentality, why are we treating the President elect as if he has already failed the American people? As of writing this, Trump has yet to officially take office, but when he does, we should give him a chance to see what he can do for our country instead of whining about every tweet and word that he says. Respect the position of president, even if it is not someone you voted for, and give the man a chance to be president before being overly critical.