Senator Barbara Boxer was conducting a hearing with an brigadier general when she got tired of his referencing her as "ma'am" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBnbv4rmOmg). She politely asked him to refer to her as "Senator," saying she has "worked hard for the title." The general honored her request.
Here's how I would have responded if I had been the general; "Yes ma'am, I'd be happy to refer to you as Sanator. But with all due respect, Senator, I believe that "ma'am" is a term of honor just like "sir" is for gentleman. I also believed that as a Senator you 'earned' the term because of your desire to be a public servant. You worked hard, not for a title, but serve the people of this great country. By your insistance on claiming the title 'Senator' I was obviously wrong. You have worked hard not to serve the people but to acquire a self-serving title. Therefore, you are not deserving of the term of respect, 'ma'am'.
In keeping with your request, I humbly ask you to refer to me as Brigadier General, a term I have earned by serving and protecting this country from self-serving leaders like yourself, Senator."
Titles of respect are earned, not dictated. What our country needs are leaders who understand that if they want to be great, they must learn to be the servant of all."
2 comments:
Yes, I believe even the Queen of England is to be referred to as ma'am after initially addressing her by her title. However, I expected no less from Senator Barbara Boxer? Seriously, politics aside, she has always been rude and self-serving, almost makes me ashamed to be a Californian. Then again, most states have a senator to be ashamed of...
I wonder if she makes her husband call her "Mrs. Senator Barbara?"
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