Senator Ma'am?

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   tksenseiposted 15 years ago

   During a senate hearing, Barbara Boxer got a bit 'huffy' with a Brigadier General who addressed her as "ma'am." She rather indignantly demanded he address her as "Senator" instead.
   
   The General was obviously trying to be respectful in the manner in which he was accustomed, but do you ladies think she was being touchy or can you relate (after a fashion)?

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      marinealways24posted 15 years agoin reply to this

      I heard this today on the radio. This is truly disgusting to me. A general who has volunteered his entire life to the country compared to a ignorant politician whom has volunteered nothing but ignorance.

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         nicompposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         She's volunteered to confiscate our freedom and dignity. We aren't the only ones watching her dress down a military hero. Terrorists eat it up.

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      Eaglekiwiposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Oh I can relate ,not as Senator ( no shit sherlock) lol but as a non-american living in South Carolina . Everytime someone says Ma'am I just melt , its so lovely and sweet! yes respectful (even girls in a store will say it) Its courteous and doesnt make ladies feel old here.

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   fierycjposted 15 years ago

   She just wants to be treated like her male counterparts, is all. Women love that stuff.

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3. 60

   tksenseiposted 15 years ago

   Yeah, but the very same day at another Senate hearing two Naval officers repeatedly referred to Sen. Roger Wicker as "sir" to no objection.

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      fierycjposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      cos most of the time, men are men and dont feel the need to prove anything. Whereas women who attain a certain political height tends to feel the need to usurp her authority over male subordinates. They don't wanna feel like wuchmacallit, gender discriminated.

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         \Brenda Scullyposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         THAT is what you think is it young man

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4. 76

   Uninvited Writerposted 15 years ago

   "Sir" doesn't have the connotations that "ma'am" has.
   
   Many women are annoyed by that word because it makes them feel older. You wouldn't call a 20-year-old woman "ma'am" but you might call a 20-year-old man "sir". Personally, it doesn't bother me all that much if someone calls me "ma'am"
   
   Actually, I think both of them should have been referred to as Senator.

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5. 59

   marinealways24posted 15 years ago

   When in the military, we called every officer "sir" or "mam". If we would have addressed an officer by title, "captain", this would have been huge disrespect and they would look at us like we are fkn crazy then probably had us disciplined to make a point.

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6. 76

   Uninvited Writerposted 15 years ago

   Funny that I can only find this news story on Fox and a bunch of right-wing blogs. Today's talking point?
   
   Of course, you will say that shows the media bias. But...making a mountain out of a molehill much?
   
   People have the right to be referred to however they wish. I'm sure the general would not have like it had she called him "buddy".
   
   And if the President had called Sarah Palin "ma'am" instead of Governor you would all be in a stink.

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      tksenseiposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Obviously not the end of the world, just thought it was an interesting topic. No offense.
      
      
      
      
      Not at all.

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7. 75

   Eaglekiwiposted 15 years ago

   hmm..kinda agree with you there ,however women have had to fight hard for their voice and opinions to be taken seriously  over the years ,some men sadly , feel threatened when a woman is able to articulate better than he and feel somehow hormones dictate intelligence levels.
   
   On one hand,' whats good for the goose, is good for the gander' ,on the other hand, dont sweat the small stuff.

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8. 66

   Mishaposted 15 years ago

   How many hands do you have, Kiwi?

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      Eaglekiwiposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Lemme count
      one + one = two
      ya need a hand misha , I gotta spare on the end of my arm lol

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9. 59

   marinealways24posted 15 years ago

   I'm simply trying to make the point that the General could have been thinking it as disrespectful to call the Senator by title "Senator", so he was trying to be respectful by calling her "mam". Then she made the arrogant comment to him. If you listen to her tone, her arrogance shines through her voice.

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      Eaglekiwiposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      I hear ya marine.
      My answer was more of a general thought, not specific

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10. 66

    Mishaposted 15 years ago

    LOL I thought kiwis don't have any, only wings, sort of
    
    If fact scratch it, kiwis don't even have wings, they are almost round and green

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       Eaglekiwiposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       Actually they do have wings (but are flightless)
       We use planes now days ,lol
       Was in my hub too ,makes them kinda unique ,dont ya think.
       Kiwibird..brown and feathered bird
       Kiwifruit..brown n furry and green fruit on the inside.

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11. 57

    moposanposted 15 years ago

    matter of status and social domineering.

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12. 73

    livewithrichardposted 15 years ago

    Taking gender out of the equation and having reverence for her office is the right thing to do when in an official capacity such as a Senate hearing.  You wouldn't go in front of a female judge and call her Ma'am, would you? Especially if it were Judge Judy.  You would have reverence for her position and call her Your Honor.

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       nicompposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       The point is that they're (supposed to be) on the same side. If he hurt her widdle feelings when he was trying to be respectful, she was completely out of line to disrespect him as she did.

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       1. 73

          livewithrichardposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          They're not on the same side.  The military is accountable to the Congress.  She would have neve addressed Brig. Gen. Michael Walsh as Mr. Walsh.  Here is the remark:
          
          "You know, do me a favor," an irritated Boxer said. "Could say 'senator' instead of 'ma'am?'"
          
          "Yes, ma'am," Walsh interjected.
          
          "It's just a thing, I worked so hard to get that title, so I'd appreciate it, yes, thank you," she said.
          
          "Yes, senator," he responded.

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          1. 61

             nicompposted 15 years agoin reply to this

             Let me clarify. They are on the same team. They are both working for the same goals. They both have as their ultimate goal the safety of American interests and carrying out the policies of the commander-in-chief. They are not adversaries.
             
             The military is actually accountable to the president, not the Congress.

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                tksenseiposted 15 years agoin reply to this

                The fact that you have to explain all that really says a lot...

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                1. 73

                   livewithrichardposted 15 years agoin reply to this

                   Don't know what country you live in but they are adversaries and they do not have the same goals.  They may both have the same intentions, to do good for the coutry but ultimately they have their own agendas to promote. 
                   
                   And yes TK the fact that I have to explain all that really does say a lot...

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       moposanposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       May be you are right.
       But calling female Ma'am is military tradition/regulation of very conservative institution. the man just said what he was taught to say-not his fault. And I am sure he would call the Judge -your Honour. And in this particular case her remark was certainly the way of underlining her status she even admitted that"she worked so hard to gain this position".

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          livewithrichardposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          Agree but he is a Brig. General and I'm sure it wasn't his first time in front of a female member of the Senate.  It may just have been a slip of the tongue for him, which will remind him that a person in his position cannot afford slips of the tongue in public or private.  Look what happened to that Rep. in SC who made that "joke" on face book about Mrs. Obama.

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             moposanposted 15 years agoin reply to this

             The problem of gender indication adressings  is a bit overinflated and can be even distracting.people are better to be concentrated on good professional performance of their job not gender indications and Titles.

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                Eaglekiwiposted 15 years agoin reply to this

                That would be all nice and dandy ,but since men thought up the idea of titles ,wouldnt be nice if they followed their own rules

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                   moposanposted 15 years agoin reply to this

                   I'm just saying that paying too much attention to it can be a bit counter-productive .

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       2. 59

          marinealways24posted 15 years agoin reply to this

          Excellent point. I think the senator was henpecking.

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             Eaglekiwiposted 15 years agoin reply to this

             hen-pecking ,cock-crowing hmmm

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                marinealways24posted 15 years agoin reply to this

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             moposanposted 15 years agoin reply to this

             Exactly - agressive henpecking;)

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                Star Witnessposted 15 years agoin reply to this

                do you c lady liberty

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13. 72

    maven101posted 15 years ago

    I'm still confused over Ms, Miss, Mrs, Ma'am, lady, woman, your Honor, your Honoress, actor, actress, Chairman, chairlady, chairperson....
    So many little verbal traps lying in wait for the unsuspecting but well-intentioned white male...I doubt Boxer would have said anything to a female officer...

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    1. 76

       Uninvited Writerposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       And that is why referring to her as Senator makes the most sense.

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       1. 72

          maven101posted 15 years agoin reply to this

          I would agree with tk sensei in that the use of Ma'am and Sir are generic terms commonly used by the military when addressing superior officers...I think Ms Boxer understands that yet choose to denigrate this serving officer in public...perhaps there is some underlying animosity related to the general's prior service as Director of the Army Corps of Engineers in Sacramento during the 90's...He would have been responsible for handing out service related contracts at that time in Northern California...

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14. 60

    tksenseiposted 15 years ago

    The fact that you had to have it explained to you and that you still insist on missing the point that the poster was making really does say it all...

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       nicompposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       I write a lot and I also teach at the college level, but I have no idea how to respond to him. Thanks for helping me out.

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15. 75

    Eaglekiwiposted 15 years ago

    Maybe men can say "Senator Ma'am" then everybody happy

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       marinealways24posted 15 years agoin reply to this

       lol no way. Everyone is never happy. There is always hope. lol

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          Eaglekiwiposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          oops no we  dont want that
          humans like to complicate things lol

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             marinealways24posted 15 years agoin reply to this

             Work Harder, Not Smarter!! Thats our motto.

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16. 0

    Leta Sposted 15 years ago

    A non-issue.  Political grandstanding.  And that goes across the party lines (oh, amazing!).  Haven't we got enough other things to worry about?
    
    Makes me think of this chef I work with who needs to be called 'Executive Chef' in all the copy I right for him, or he throws a prima donna hissy fit.  I tend not to respect PEOPLE like that, ultimately.

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17. 65

    puppascottposted 15 years ago

    I think you have all missed the point. I have had my doubts as to whether she is a "ma'am" at all. Perhaps that was the rub.

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