Every day I see variations of statements that indicate that people are still waiting and wanting the president to be “presidential”. I don’t know what they expect to see in these last 20 or so days that they haven’t seen in the last four years.
People haven’t learned that their snipes, shade, pleading, criticism, comparisons, and guilt trips don’t move him at all. He’s not Obama, but the “If Obama had done, said, or thought...” statements keep coming. The nonstop attention to his behavior is beginning to sound like tattling. We all see it, but it doesn’t seem to faze those who have the authority to actually do something about it.
Why do talking heads keep lamenting his silence; expecting him to, for example, suddenly sprout empathy and comfort Nashville, as if he fell off of his golf cart and encountered an angel or something? He is who he is. It’s a lesson.
Whether it’s our leaders or our friends, family, or acquaintances, we all have got to stop trying to will or guilt people into being or behaving like someone else, especially if they’ve consistently shown us who they are.
People change and make adjustments when they want to; when they’re honest, self aware, and recognize a need to. Others, unfortunately, are oblivious to, entertained, empowered, or amused by the constant cries and complaints of those they’ve negatively impacted. They don’t see, hear, or care about who wants them to behave a certain way. Being deliberately contrary or hurtful is a game.
Perhaps the way we want someone to respond is reasonable, right, or appropriate in our own eyes. It’s based upon our own moral code, upbringing, or experience. When it comes to what others do, we should prefer that their responses be genuine and not performative.
The rest of us would do well to find an outlet—like he clearly has. He’s not the least bit bothered.
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