One of the things that always bothered me about the criticisms leveled at former President George W. Bush is that it often times veered into the personal.

In the process, I think his critics often lost site of the fact that he was the president, our commander-in-chief. That title – and the office – demands a certain decorum, a respect, that was too often lacking.

That doesn’t mean that you always have to agree with the man, or his policies, but you always have to be sure not to cross the line and sully what he stands for. The zeal with which some of his critics went after him too often simply obliterated that distinction.

Which brings me to this weekend and the appearance of President Barack Obama at commencement exercises at Notre Dame.

The president was to give the commencement address and receive an honorary degree.

This did not sit well with some at the school, and some abortion foes, who believe that Obama’s abortion policies fly in the face of the basic tenets of the Catholic church and thus should make him ineligible for such an honor.

I disagree. I am Roman Catholic. I happen to be a big fan of Notre Dame, even though I did not go to school there. It is one of the nation’s foremost Catholic institutions. My own beliefs on abortion are conflicted, as I am sure many other Catholics are as well.

Personally, I am opposed. But I don’t necessarily seek to impose my belief on others. I know, in the eyes of some believers, and some church officials, that apparently is something of a moral fault of mine. I can live with that.

I suppose I will not be asked to address the graduating class at Notre Dame anytime soon.

Then again, I am not the president of the United States.

Let me say that again: The President of the United States, a historic president at that. And you’re going to tell me he is not welcome to deliver a commencement address? You’re going to tell me that protesters will try to disrupt his appearance?

That does not mean you have to agree with him, or his policies. That is not what this country is about. We are all about exchanging ideas and a full, vigorous debate of the issues.

That’s not what some of the faithful wanted at Notre Dame. They wanted to silence a voice they did not agree with, and did not believe was in step with the teachings of the church.

The voice just happened to belong to the President of the United States.

Obama addressed the graduates, and stressed that we do not necessarily have to agree on every issue. That it’s OK to disagree, sometimes passionately.

But that’s a two-way street. Something many on the other side of this issue seemed to forget.

And they forgot something else. The president of the United States was willing to come to your campus and deliver a commencement address.

No, you didn’t have to agree with the decision, nor with what he said.
But you should be above simply canceling Obama’s invitation because of his beliefs on abortion.

True, the school was honoring the president with an honorary degree. But the same also is true. The school was being honored with his presence, as would any school.

Some people at Notre Dame seemed to forget that.