What happened to dignity and gravitas?

I realize that I am showing my age when I ask the question, "What happened to dignity and gravitas?" It used to be that the office of President of The United States, the most powerful executive in the world, required a person that exhibited those qualities that made Americans proud and reflected the power and dignity of "The Arsenal of Democracy" for the world that brought peace and freedom to over a billion people over the last 70 years.

Think of the "class" and dignity of Truman, Eisenhower, JFK, Ronald Reagan, and George Bush Sr. and Jr. compared to the "Saturday Night Live" type pandering that we see from President Obama nearly every day.

Notice that I have given credit to both past Republicans and Democrats in my lifetime. Even if I disagreed with them, they acted with dignity and gravitas that represented the greatness of our country.

Today, thanks to the "Freak Show Media," adolescent and "lowest common denominator" social media, and the declining morality in our country, the office of president has become "The Chief Entertainment Executive" that has to appeal to a generation that doesn't even understand what dignity and gravitas mean.

These are dangerous times and there is a level of global chaos and strategic danger not seen since before World War II, with weapons technologies that can kill millions in minutes.

World peace is threatened by ISIS, Iran, Putin, China, North Korea and other radical Islamic jihadists that make Hitler and Tojo look like kids. We need a serious president with dignity and gravitas that is focused on protecting America and not entertaining millennials on Saturday Night Live.

Randy Rossi

Grayslake