The Office and the Man

[DanaC]

Oh! *totally distracted from original point* Youtube options on the reply box! Only just spotted that. How marvellous.

Right. Sorry about that. Back to the point, inasmuch as there is one, which in fact there probably isn't. More a question. A slight mulling over.

It occurred to me, that because our Prime Minister is not in fact our head of state; that office, despite our centuries of tradition and ritualised structures, is not sacralized. There is no conflict in our culture between disrespecting the man and respecting the office. We have a monarch, crowned in a sacerdotal ceremony: it is still culturally risque and a little uncomfortable to most Brits if a comedian goes 'too far' in mocking the Queen. She is not considered entirely fair game. You can have a go...but there's a line to be trodden. There really isn't any such cultural line, beyond outright slander, when it comes to the Prime Minister. Protestors will quite happily attempt to douse said Prime Minister in egg or coloured flour if they can get past security.

The President of America, is of course the head of that state. The essence of American Statehood resides in that office.

So, I think what I want to know is: to what extent is it possible to disrespect the man whilst still respecting the office of President?