The educated reader will note the deferential spelling of the theme word in the title to this piece. It is the British spelling, which has been employed in order to show some of what is needed in these times: Honour. We ought to honour our allies, who have supported us in difficult and unpopular (though necessary) actions around the world. Instead, our nation’s representatives have acted dishonourably. When the British Prime Minister visited our country recently, he was treated rather shabbily. In the words of the community that he once organized, President Obama “dissed” him.
  The British Prime minister brought unique and expensive gifts that reflected a thoughtful intent to show respect to our new President. In return, he was given some DVDs (which only work in North American players) and toys. In addition, long-standing protocols that were designed to ensure that visiting dignitaries are shown respect were conspicuously ignored. It was not a matter of stroking someone’s ego or being “diplomatic.” It was about displaying the high regard which our nation has for another. In the eyes of one of our greatest allies, our nation has been disgraced.
  The British are not the only people to be treated with such stateliness. The nation of Israel has been “dissed” as President Obama’s Administration offered millions of dollars in aid to Gaza to rebuild after the recent Israeli attempts to stop rocket attacks that originated there. Israel stopped those defensive maneuvers just prior to Mr. Obama’s inauguration as a sign of respect. They received no such deference in return.
  Likewise, President Obama has been unable to bring himself to show any respect for President Bush’s accomplishments. During Obama’s inaugural address, he “dissed” President Bush in line after line of disparaging remarks. And even when announcing that he would pull troops out of Iraq, he could not give President Bush the honour he deserved for the “push” which brought the war to a condition which made it possible for troops to come home. Contrast that with President Bush himself as he respectfully honored his predecessor when he spoke at the dedication of the Clinton Presidential Library, or when he recently refused to comment on his successor’s policies preferring to honor the office and American tradition instead.
  The inability to show honour and deference to others is a serious character flaw which diminishes a leader in the eyes of his peers and his people. It is possible that a man might not know how to appropriately display that respect to others, but surrounded as he is by diplomats and advisers it seems unlikely that he did not have access to someone who could have suggested more gracious courses of action. President Obama did not lack savoir faire, he eschewed it. For a leader who created a campaign image of greatness, this kind of dismissive arrogance is a serious and self-defeating weakness.

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