The Sept. 5 column by Richard Benedetto, "Salt Lake mayor crosses the line," criticizes Mayor Rocky Anderson for not being "polite" to President Bush when he visited Salt Lake City to give a speech to the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Benedetto calls Mayor Anderson "a firebrand liberal Democrat with a reputation for bombastic language and a touch of histrionics." (I notice that name-calling must be acceptable when criticizing liberals.)
I believe that Mayor Anderson was doing what more of our elected politicians should be doing. He did not bow to the "show respect for the president because of the office" mentality. George Bush does not honor the office of the president, so why should he be honored? He is a dishonest, warmongering human rights violator. How does that honor the office of the president?
I feel, as Mayor Anderson does, that George Bush does not deserve my respect. I am glad the mayor had the courage to say that in public. Individuals not in public office have little chance to have their voices heard even though we may feel the same. I hope that other public voices will stop being "polite" and speak out against the policies and the people who are leading this country down the wrong path.
Now we can start watching for the responses from the Bush camp where they label Mayor Anderson, or anyone else who criticizes Bush policies, as unpatriotic, unsupportive of the troops, and appeasers of the enemy. They are also good at destroying the opposition with personal attacks. How can that be considered "polite," Mr. Benedetto?
Mary Ann Brim, Henderson
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