"Shut Up, Man."

During the first (and perhaps only) presidential debate I found myself wincing when Vice President Biden called President Trump a clown or told him to shut up. I didn’t wince when Trump lied or interrupted. I was disgusted, but not surprised. It was what I have come to expect from the man I hold responsible for so much that is wrong in our country.  I did yell at the TV.

I had hoped Biden, a decent man trying to be a unifier, would rise above his nasty opponent, but that may have been asking too much. Biden was being attacked personally and unfairly. Trump was rude to Biden, Wallace, and all of us watching. His callous disregard for the rules was, despite his history of bullying, astonishing. Biden tried reasonableness, to no avail. Restraining himself would have portrayed weakness to an audience who needed to be convinced of his strength. In this case, perhaps politics outweighed respect.

Was it just more elevated language I was looking for? I had no problem when Biden legitimately called Trump a “liar,” but “clown” seemed disrespectful to the office of the president. Unfortunately, the man in the office was doing nothing to deserve respect.  “Shut up” was a childish schoolyard retort, but Trump had turned the presidential debate into a schoolyard brawl.

My mother taught us to use respectful language, even with people we didn’t like, and to never say “shut up.” If she were still alive, I wonder if she would accept the excuse that “times have changed.” I worry that they can never change back.