Trump must act with dignity, respect

The president has a lot on his mind. So do his constituents. We want to join forces to do the best we can for our nation. Some of us are spending every waking moment worrying about and working toward solutions to vital national and global issues. Our Independence Day is ... a great reminder that the liberties gained through blood, sweat and tears can be easily lost through a combination of strategic errors and mindless tactical mistakes.

When I was growing up and getting educated, I became aware that life was not all about me. When I married my wife, I became aware that life was not about me at all. When we had children, I became acutely aware that life was not remotely about us. It was about our offspring and the world they were to live in.

Now that the president has became our chief executive, life is no longer about him. It’s about the country. It’s about the world. It’s about our planet. It’s not about him. We don’t care what petty arguments he may have with certain segments of the media or certain individuals. We have all been criticized during our lifetime, sometimes unfairly. When I was a child, I often felt the need to push back, to go on the attack, and sometimes savage my critics. But when I grew up, and especially when I married, had children, and became a leader, I knew I had to take a more adult approach. If I was to be an example to my family, my professional colleagues and my community citizens, I had to adopt a different approach. I had to act with dignity and respect.

This is what we need the president to do. Act with dignity and respect.

With all the highly critical activities before us, we cannot afford to let minor issues distract us from our strategic aims. His constant tweets baring his off-thecuff feelings are not helpful, especially when they consist of juvenile attacks on those who disagree with him or who criticize him. It just drags him down into the mire and muck of the worst of exploitative communications. We don’t want him to do this. It’s time to grow up and be the man his father would be proud of. Be the man his sons and daughters can be proud of. Be the man we can be proud of.

It would be good for the president to remember all the presidents that served before him. Some were better than others. This is his opportunity to take the best characteristics of them all and adopt that behavior. This is a critical time for America and the world.

We need him to be the president we need.

FRANCISCO FIGUEROA Sandia Park