Character and Respect

I came across a story just the other day that humbled me. Ex-President Bush was giving his first speech since leaving office. Regardless of what you think and feel about how he lead our nation, it was obvious that in the transition time he treated the incoming President with dignity and respect even when it was not given in return. Of course the media hungry for gossip and opinions (what ever happened to investigating truth) asked George Bush what he thought of President Obama and the recent choices he has made. His response was simple - "he deserves my silence." This was a golden opportunity to take a shot back at an administration that demonized him. This of course is not news worthy. If he would of criticized President Obama there would of been papers scrambling for a front page article on this historic event. I was humbled by his silence in light of his situation. Character matters! Doing the right thing even when you are not treated with the same respect matters. In a world that is caught in it's own inflated ego . . . we need more people who simply refuse to enter the polotical world of gain at everyone else's expense. Our ability to remanin quiet before our accussers speaks a great deal about our character.