Sunday Night with John: Respect My Authority! (Maybe Not)

Maybe I’m not my normal self because I’m tired after a stressful week. Or maybe I’m over hearing the excuses from people in charge. And maybe the answer, “it wasn’t like this when I was a kid,” is so totally a narrow view that I can’t help but react with a little more energy. The video of the police officer violently taking a student out of her chair in the classroom over a cell phone disgusts me to no end.  As I have read the outpouring of support for an officer who used violence to solve an issue where there was no violence before he recklessly introduced it to the equation. I have lost my ability for the moment to present an articulate educated opinion about the role of authority and how authority has to walk a fine line to maintain the respect of the people it’s leading.

Maybe because we were so quick to label a still growing, still maturing teen-ager as a brat, that I tossed aside my usually calm demeanor to say here tonight that there are deeper issues with this situation. Perhaps it’s because I used to be a brat who openly questioned authority figures in high school and college that I can no longer hold my contempt for shoddy leaders trumpeting their authority as absolute. I was a brat or maybe worse. I stand here today as a member of the community who contributes society.  Who is trying to help others understand their traumatic experiences and who works with behaviors like the one in the video without using violence.

It might be because my dad always told me that anyone in authority must earn your trust and respect if they want you to listen to them. Dad emphatically stated, “If they don’t work to do those things, they have no right to be an authority figure.”  All I know is we don’t know what led that young lady who is still maturing and still growing as a human being to not respond to the police officer. What we do know moving forward is that the next person who attempts to earn her trust will have a tougher road to gain her trust. How on earth is it okay to give a teenager that view of the world?  If you want people to respect authority start talking with authority figures about how violent interventions are always a last resort and should only be used when safety is in danger. No one was in danger over a cell phone. I repeat violence over a cell phone is beyond going to far.

For those of you who think the girl was wrong, I will offer this famous quote, “Attitude reflects leadership,” from the movie “Remember The Titans.” If people don’t respect your authority, start by changing your attitude. To the young teenager involved in the incident, do not let this define you, I was once labeled a brat and lots of people think I turned out pretty darn good. Not all authority figures use violence. I hope you learn to trust us again.