Apologies, apologies - both show the rot in our culture...and both involve Obama - Granite Grok

Apologies, apologies – both show the rot in our culture…and both involve Obama

Obama Apologizes to California AG for Complimenting Her Appearance

“President Obama has apologized to California attorney general Kamala Harris for calling her the nation’s “best looking” attorney general at a California fundraiser yesterday, according to White House press secretary Jay Carney.

“He called her to apologize for the distraction created by his comments,” said Carney. “He did not want in any way to diminish the attorney general’s professional accomplishments or her capabilities.” He added that the president “fully recognizes the challenges women continue to face in the workplace and that they should not be judged based on appearance.”

…His remarks caused a stir among feminists and others upset that the president commented on Harris’s appearance.”

Chivalry: Coat Over Puddle For LadyWe were not a family of means growing up but my brother and I were taught and expected to know our manners and know how to behave both in public and in private so as not to embarrass either ourselves or worse, Mom. Yes, I grew up in what I consider now to be a much more chivalrous time when it wasn’t out of the ordinary to hold a door open for a lady, regardless of age, to seat a lady first before taking my seat at dinner, to hold the use of cruder words / jokes for times “with the boys”, to show manners, and complementing the ladies was an ordinary occurrence (or, expected at some types of events).  While just being polite was a large part of it, it was NOT as many feminists seem to believe…

as regarding women as the weaker sex, but as small (but important) ways to simply show respect.

I think we’ve lost a lot in our culture during the intervening years in this regard – victim to the feminist ethos that “women need a man like a fish needs a bicycle” and Political Correctness (we must not say anything that can offend anyone – not even the professional outraged) Thought Police.  Look, far be it for me to have to defend Obama and I’m not but this is one occasion in which he’s taking incoming for simply trying to be nice.   Too many in our world today, it seems, read too much into too little.  A simple statement – and I took it that way.  Can’t one be nice without automatically assuming that only the skin-deep matters.  To be a State’s Attorney General, regardless of political affiliation, means some combination of legal and political expertise (the exact combo depends on the person) – emphasis on certifiable expertise.  Actual accomplishment in various matters – certainly more than skin deep.  Is this a case of “reverse skin-deep”-ness where those believing that Obama was dissing Kamala Harris’s career accomplishments when he remarked about the “skin-deep”?

Like I intimated – some folks somewhere just have to end the day being offended by someone or something in order to be miserably happy.

No, I’m not defending Obama but I AM, however, defending the notion and principle that a gentleman can and should (and perhaps, encouraged) be able to compliment a lady without suffering repercussions from either the female PC police (out in public) or the HR harpies (in the corporate world, be they men or women).  No, I don’t mean “Boy, doesn’t that tight dress make you look hot” (don’t go to the stupid end of the argument!)  – but really, what is wrong to acknowledge that someone has taken the time to look nice?  Not that I’m looking for any sartorial remarks, as my favorite fashion statement is a rugby shirt and jeans.  And getting a haircut ranks right up there with clothes shopping (hey, I did the dressed to the nines bit for decades and now able NOT have to, working via the Internet, is GREAT!).

And sometimes, ladies, if a guy has put in the effort to “clean up nice” (‘specially those that ordinarily don’t), a few bon mots should be in order as well.

Hmm, this went on a tad longer for a “twofer” – the other Obama / Obama Administration apology later.

Oh yeah, I forgot – I actually did put my coat down over a puddle for the girl I was dating at the time……this year will be our 32nd wedding anniversary.  I doubt that was the clincher, but it did make her laugh (and THAT ability might have been!).

>