Decorum

“You are rarely blamed for the event—but you will be remembered by your response.” _Hendrie Weisinger, J. P. Pawliw-Fry, Performing Under Pressure: The Science of Doing Your Best When It Matters Most

Decorum: Behavior in keeping with good taste and propriety.

This past Thursday, February 8, 2024 may go down in history as a turning point in the Biden Administration.  It was on this day that Special Counsel, Robert K. Hur, gave the results of his investigation into President Biden’s handling of classified documents while out of office.

The short of it was, yes, Mr. Biden was guilty of mishandling classified documents but no charges are forthcoming because it was felt that he would be perceived as “a well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory” and thus not responsible for his actions.

Following that, there was a late-evening rushed press conference where President Biden sought to mitigate the devastating conclusion of Special Counsel.  Instead of refuting Mr. Hur’s claims, Mr. Biden appeared to validate them.  It was disastrous and painful to watch.

Whatever your political leanings concerning President Biden, and I will be clear, I have major reservations with many of President Biden’s policies and pray for a change in the Oval Office.  But nevertheless, decorum is required.  Gloating when someone fails and humiliates themself is never in order. 

A Christian worldview requires us to see everyone as made in the image of God and of inestimable value.  They may be broken, marred, confused, and even evil.  But the shadow of Calvary looms over us all pointing to the heart of God who so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that none should perish.

The worst of us is still our neighbor, and like the Good Samaritan, we don’t mock and rejoice in the calamity of the fallen, we seek to bring healing and help (even at our own expense).

I don’t know what the outcome will be from last Thursday’s report and press conference, but I do know that we are in uncharted territory.  I can only hope and pray that we will rise to the occasion and show decorum and class. 

I am not suggesting that we turn America into a Sunday School Class or become a nation of fussy, frumpy Victorian-age throwbacks who want everyone to tend their manners and be nice.  But I do want us to show some class. 

In what seems a lifetime ago, another U.S. President, George H. W. Bush, made it his campaign slogan for America to become a “kinder, gentler nation.”  Mr. Bush made that statement 36 years ago.  Today, that seems so far away and even naive. 

How did we get here?  How did it become acceptable to be rude, sneering, and mocking?    How did profanity become acceptable in public?  How did we get to the point that we can no longer have civil debates on the issues confronting our nation?  How did we become so debased that we can rejoice in the demise and destruction of those we disagree with? 

It’s a long story.  But I know the way back, it begins with decorum.  Its understanding some things are just not acceptable in public or private.  

It has been said that rudeness is the weak person’s imitation of strength.  Let us be strong in our beliefs and positions, but let’s be equally strong in showing charity and respect to all.  That is the pathway for moving forward.  

The ONE THING for today: What others do is a reflection on them; what you do is a reflection on you.  Show your class, practice decorum.

²⁰ And Noah began to be a farmer, and he planted a vineyard. ²¹ Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent. ²² And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. ²³ But Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and went backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father’s nakedness.

Genesis 9:20-23