Takin' Names...
I teach a speech class, and the second day of class we cover Ethical Communication. Since listening is half of the communication process, Ethical Listening comprises half of the lesson. I try to make it clear - to be ethical you don't have to agree with the speaker, but you do have to show them the same respect you'd expect when you give a speech (there's a lot more to it than that, but that's one of the underscored points). In my class, individuals who don't listen respectfully to their classmates' speeches are asked to leave and they'll see their own speech grades deducted 20%. Listening is HALF of the communication process. If you don't listen, you can't learn. And you can't expect others to listen to you.
Joe Wilson is taking a lot of flack for his boorish behavior last night, and he should be. Shouting like a buffoon at the President of the United States who was a guest on the floor of the House of Representatives was a new and shocking low, and it needs to be admonished swiftly. I don't care if he gave a non-apology apology. He behaved like a three year old and should be put in time out (by "time out" I mean his website which is still down, and his career which is looking shaky now that his outburst is raising funds for his opponent).
But, Joe Wilson ended up being the scapegoat for a lot of bad Republican behavior. There were other things shouted last night - mostly indistinguishable because the instigators waited for applause (unlike Wilson who interrupted the president with his name-calling). Others held up signs and bills like opposing fans at a baseball game. Eric Cantor - poster child for disengaged from reality now that W is retired - spent the speech playing on his Blackberry (Tetris, maybe?). If Cantor had been in my class, he would have been kicked out immediately for his inattention, and I guarantee you none of my freshmen speak like President Obama. Feigning attention shouldn't be that hard.
Altogether, their behavior is deplorable in any public speaking setting, doubly so because they are elected representatives listening to the President. You hear that, South Carolina? Joe Wilson's behavior represented YOU. YOU disgraced yourself in front of the President because you elected this joker to speak for you in DC.
So, while Wilson's site is out of commission, I want the names of the other Congresspeople who were disrespectful to the President. I want them to share in the disgust I've been channeling at Rep. Wilson. They too need to be put in time out. For now, that will mean their websites, but hopefully in the future that will mean early retirement. If you recognize some of the faces, please post their names below, and help me in carpetbombing their offices with our discontent.
Joe Wilson is taking a lot of flack for his boorish behavior last night, and he should be. Shouting like a buffoon at the President of the United States who was a guest on the floor of the House of Representatives was a new and shocking low, and it needs to be admonished swiftly. I don't care if he gave a non-apology apology. He behaved like a three year old and should be put in time out (by "time out" I mean his website which is still down, and his career which is looking shaky now that his outburst is raising funds for his opponent).
But, Joe Wilson ended up being the scapegoat for a lot of bad Republican behavior. There were other things shouted last night - mostly indistinguishable because the instigators waited for applause (unlike Wilson who interrupted the president with his name-calling). Others held up signs and bills like opposing fans at a baseball game. Eric Cantor - poster child for disengaged from reality now that W is retired - spent the speech playing on his Blackberry (Tetris, maybe?). If Cantor had been in my class, he would have been kicked out immediately for his inattention, and I guarantee you none of my freshmen speak like President Obama. Feigning attention shouldn't be that hard.
Altogether, their behavior is deplorable in any public speaking setting, doubly so because they are elected representatives listening to the President. You hear that, South Carolina? Joe Wilson's behavior represented YOU. YOU disgraced yourself in front of the President because you elected this joker to speak for you in DC.
So, while Wilson's site is out of commission, I want the names of the other Congresspeople who were disrespectful to the President. I want them to share in the disgust I've been channeling at Rep. Wilson. They too need to be put in time out. For now, that will mean their websites, but hopefully in the future that will mean early retirement. If you recognize some of the faces, please post their names below, and help me in carpetbombing their offices with our discontent.











