The Meaning of Being Rude

Does anyone remember what it means to be rude?

Usually people have known what it is when they have observed it, but standards of behavior have slipped quite a bit. I concur with Richard Cohen on the subject of Stephen Colbert's performance at the White House Correspondents Dinner, and am relieved that someone shares my disgust:

Why are you wasting my time with Colbert? I hear you ask. Because he is representative of what too often passes for political courage, not to mention wit, in this country. His defenders -- and they are all over the Blogosphere -- will tell you he spoke truth to power. This is a tired phrase, as we all know, but when it was fresh and meaningful it suggested repercussions, consequences -- maybe even death in some countries. When you spoke truth to power you took the distinct chance that power would smite you, toss you into a dungeon or -- if you're at work -- take away your office.

But in this country, anyone can insult the president of the United States. Colbert just did it and he will not suffer any consequence at all. He knew that going in. He also knew that Bush would have to sit there and pretend to laugh at Colbert's lame and insulting jokes. Bush himself plays off his reputation as a dunce and for his penchant for mangling English. Self-mockery can be funny. Mockery that is insulting is not. The sort of stuff that would get you punched in a bar can be said on a dais with impunity. This is why Colbert was more than rude. He was a bully.

I would disagree with Cohen that this kind of adolescent, self-congratulatory nastiness is confined to the blogosphere---it is not. You had only to watch the clips of the White House press corps shown that night to see that. And it has been my experience that the bulk of it is on the left.

It was quite a spectacle. We are at war with truly evil people who want to kill us just because we exist, and Colbert is lauded by the left as some kind of hero for shooting his mouth off.

Next year instead of going to that dinner President Bush should claim a prior, pressing engagement. Maybe he'll spend the time with our troops.