Check your attitude!

 

Acting Director of Secret Service, Ronald L. Rowe, Jr.

 

My husband and I were watching the Senate hearing about security failures in regards to the former president's assassination attempt.

I have watched this type of hearing in the past because I find it interesting to see first-hand how our elected officials carry themselves in their official capacity.

No matter the topic, I am almost always disappointed.

The senators very rarely allow the person they are questioning to actually give a full answer.  They are almost always indignant to the point of self-righteousness. And--this is key--when the person being questioned manages to answer, at least partially, the questioner never accepts the answer if it isn't what they want to hear.

And, the exchange, is typically either politically charged, or attempts to lead to a political conclusion (like the notion that those protecting the former president, along with other law enforcement officers who have dedicated their lives to this dangerous service, had a political agenda with the intention of allowing him to be assassinated.)

So, during these hearings, rather than having an intelligent exploration of facts with the goal of getting to the truth about the failures in implementation and communication, we get to watch a futile grilling that is designed to try to trap someone and, naturally, goes nowhere.

The self-promotional power play exhibited by some of the senators showcases the idea that they are trying to secure their position as they try to sell themselves to us, John Q. Public, by showing us that they are working hard at their job.

What they don't realize is that, rather than accomplishing THAT, they are just infuriating the casual citizen observer.

Of course, they are not all like that, but the ones that I have watched over the years, always act like that.  Front and center, they reflect ignorance and a genuine lack of integrity and character.

I'm not sure what happens to people when they get to that level (and, as I said, I am certain it is a particular handful), but a good dose of humility would definitely move the process along and lead to some answers.

That being said, the same could hold true for all of us when we have to deal with people with whom we do not agree. We need to become better listeners when someone is trying to tell us what they think. We need to stop being so accusatory and angry in the midst of conversations when we are frustrated. We need to be less self-interested in the appearance we present, and more interested in truthfulness.

So, in the end, I have to conclude that some of our senators in these types of hearings definitely set an example that we can learn from, albeit not a good example, but at least an example.  

From these exchanges we can extrapolate how we should NOT act, and take them as a reminder that we must be better. Don't get me wrong, I understand their outrage, I really do, but when you watch them, you realize that their attitude gets in the way of accomplishing anything.

As a side note, I have been enjoying the Olympics. Although I commented on the opening ceremony, I am not among those who have chosen to boycott this amazing display for resilience and skill. I especially enjoyed watching the women's gymnastics. What's your favorite event?

Janet Cassidy
Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com
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