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Obama's Decision To Fire Gen. McChrystal Was The Right One
 The Axiom Of Respect Today, President Obama "relieved embattled Gen. Stanley McChrystal from his position as the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan" after Rolling Stone Magazine published an article in which McChrystal and some of his aides were quoted criticizing "several top U.S. officials, including U.S. special envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrook." ("Gen. David Petraeus Will Replace Embattled Gen. Stanley McChrystal In Afghanistan") According to Obama, "McChrystal's conduct, as detailed in the Rolling Stone article, 'does not meet the standards that should be set by a commanding general.'" He is correct. When we are in positions of authority, it is our duty to act with the utmost respect to all people, and our behavior must always be worthy of our position. In Rolling Stone's "The Runaway General," McChrystal and his aides share many unflattering opinions of high ranking U.S. officials, even the President. Their opinions, in and of themselves, are neither good nor bad, right or wrong. In fact, we are all entitled to our own opinions, and judging others is not wrong. To be sure, some people and their behavior deserve to be judged unfavorably. The issue, however, is what we do with our opinions. Where McChrystal and his aides erred was in exposing their opinions outside their inner circle. For instance, if "McChrystal thought Obama looked 'uncomfortable and intimidated' by the roomful of military brass" when the President met him for the first time (just a week after Obama's inauguration), that is McChrystal's opinion, and he is entitled to it. Nevertheless, McChrystal should have known that he was treating Obama, as our nation's President, disrespectfully when he shared his opinion. Simply having an opinion does not give someone the right to share it with others. We must treat others respectfully, and making disparaging remarks about them is not respectful. We can all learn from McChrystal and his aides. We must always treat those in authority respectfully, and when we are in positions of authority ourselves, we must always act in a manner that is respectful of our position. This is true whether we are a general, teacher, police officer, or parent. We must honor our positions. Some believe that McChrystal's actions, and his subsequent removal from his position, may endanger our country's mission in Afghanistan. If this is so, McChrystal has not only hurt himself, but he has quite possibly hurt this entire country and our allies fighting with us. How unfortunate that a man, who has worked his entire career to serve our country, rising to one of the top positions in our military, must leave his position in disgrace because he did not know better than to keep his opinions to himself. Anna and Ellie Sherise
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