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In Maine middle schools in the mid-1960s, students received civics instruction. We were taught that the proper salutation for elected officials began with the word honorable. Hence, we referred to the Honorable Sen. Ed Muskie, the Honorable Gov. Ken Curtis, etc., as we sometimes contacted our elected officials in civics learning endeavors.
This acknowledgement of praiseworthy regard also expressed what citizens expected in terms of the ethical norms for public service. Simply, we expected our elected leaders to be honorable regardless of their political affiliations.
Regrettably, we now seldom hear this statement of propriety used in reference to our public officials — and with good reason. In our current political climate, it appears to me that our MAGA politicians wear the badge of shameful dishonor proudly. Who among them, it seems, can be the cruelest, most discriminatory, most blatantly corrupt, most uncaring, most intentionally untruthful, most unethical, most self-serving?
If these are the attributes that now frame the accepted norms for public service, then we have indeed devolved from the profiles of honorable service set by the likes of the Honorable Sen. Margaret Chase Smith or the Honorable Sen. George Mitchell, and many more.
The exemplar for honorability should be modeled by the nation’s chief executive. Yet I believe President Donald Trump is proudly leading his governing team by his most immoral, cruel, and dishonorable example.
How sad that our students today have so few leaders that deserve to be acknowledged as honorable. As our collective future unfolds, will we continue to sow what is taught by example?
Neal Guyer
Thomaston