Comments on: Is It Really That Serious? Obama vs. “President” Obama

By: Anthony Dorsey

Anthony Dorsey — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 19:47:31 +0000

We know!
A few short years ago (71) I was educated to what a majority of whites were taught about blacks. They were taught by their parents that blacks were no more than advanced Primates. If their parents did not teach them then their friends and friend parents would teach them. In 1959 the governor of my state made a speech before a planned trip to South Africa and said that no Black Man anywhere had the intelligence to run a country. Needless to say he had to cancel that trip. I am still alive; people that taught and were taught this concept are still alive. I have learned one other fact. What you are taught at the beginning of your life remains with you until you die. You can adjust you reactions for survival but you cannot forget what you know in your heart. This concept is verified by another friend of mine. He was a care giver in a mental institution. He observed that white patients that did not know their name, their children name or anyone else in their family; could identify that he was black and curse him all day every day. So when it comes to white verses black there will always be a double standard issue.

By: Ross

Ross — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 00:19:10 +0000

They won’t call him President Obama because he’s black and they’re racists. Simple enough really.

By: jbegin

jbegin — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 18:19:30 +0000

I think we are taking it too far, although I think that political correctness has gone a little too far in every aspect of our society. Respect should be given to everyone, regardless of their job or title, however unless something is being said to be purposely disrepectful, I think we all just need to relax. There are much more important issues out there.

I do think that it is appropriate and correct to refer to our president as President or Mr. President but I feel that this should be done for all presidents, former and future. I also do not think that President Obama is sitting in his office wasting his time on it.

There is definitely a double standard here. Why is this such a big deal? When Bush was referred to as Bush or GW, why was there was no debate or issue? The President is the one who puts himself out there and tries to be make us feel as though he is relatable. Maybe him appearing on talk shows and on SNL make people feel as though they know him or as though he isn’t this untouchable figure. Maybe that is why people just call him Obama as though it is someone they know.

Feel as you wish on whether Obama or Mr. Obama are disrespectful but don’t say he deserves to be referred to as Presidnet because he is the first black president. Say he is deserving because he is the President, plain and simple.

For those of you who have said that Bush did not earn the respect of being called President, you are discrediting your entire argument as you are then saying that you have a right to that opinion but that if others feel the same way about President Obama, that they are disrespectful and incorrect.

“You want free speech? Let’s see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who’s standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours. You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country can’t just be a flag; the symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms. Then, you can stand up and sing about the “land of the free”. – The American President (Michael Douglas)

By: audrey

audrey — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:51:30 +0000

I only recall Mr. being invoked when followed by president. It was always Mr. President. This isnt a huge issue in the physical scheme of things but it is a serious wave in continued psychological warfare. Its a thing whose importance deserves action and visible protest not discussion.
i am glad however that i found this blog.

By: the uppity negro

the uppity negro — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 04:25:15 +0000

@ Michelle

They’ve always referred to the president as “Mr.”

By: Michelle Nicholson

Michelle Nicholson — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 02:51:31 +0000

I don’t mind plain “Obama,” but “Mr. Obama” gets my panties in a twist. I just don’t recall Bush being called “Mr. Bush.”

By: dowl

dowl — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:10:54 +0000

Please notice that Ex-governor, Sarah Palin (the current ‘star’ of the GOP)and her supporters along with the FOX entertainment network rarely say ‘President Obama’ and in so doing refuse to respect the office of the POTUS to the detriment of this democratic republic.

By: nice

nice — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:06:39 +0000

he is the president and it just utter disrespect to call him anything else

By: Shola

Shola — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 19:15:16 +0000

I just think that if you can say Mr. Obama you should be able to switch his title from Mr. to President because that is who he is right now.

Very much like we say Dr. …, Sir … or Queen …

By: Peter Greer

Peter Greer — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 20:51:57 +0000

You mention that blacks called the 43rd president simply “Bush” and you are correct. but the MEDIA called “the President” ALL THE TIME. Now all of the sudden they almost insist on calling our new predisent Mr. Obama…why the sudden change? Its because it is one way of showing disrespect and not placing an African American on the same level as a caucasian, thats why!