Reverence

It first came into my consciousness when I heard Cindy Sheehan being interviewed on C-SPAN about her disgust with "George." It hit me right between the eyes: what's with all this deference to rank and status in a country that's supposed to be the model of democracy. Especially when the object of the deference was a chicken-shit deserter in the Vietnam War.

Then recently, when I listened in to some of the audio clips Kirk has been posting from meetings in Raleigh, the whole deal got even goofier. All I heard was Madame Secretary this and Attorney General that and Representative hooey and Senator phooey. It made me sick, a creepy game of niceties, masking over a culture of privilege and class.

From here on out, I'm swearing off deference as a matter of practice. If I particularly admire someone and wish to honor him or her, I'll not hesitate to use the some flowery term. "Congressman Kissell" comes to mind.