For as long as I can remember, my mother has used the phrase “God doesn’t like ugly.” She said this when someone around her would use language or say something that was not very nice

These wise words have stuck with me for the last 50-plus years and I’ve tried to keep them in mind when what pops into my brain is about to come out of my mouth. More than once, I have come up short in living by these words. I’m sure there are plenty of people who read my column regularly would agree that there have been times when my words have come across as “ugly” when I have not been nice to one segment of society or another.

I’m not perfect and admit it.

However, I am respectful when it comes to being cognizant of knowing the appropriate time and place for using my words. That apparently isn’t the case for many people who don’t have the same view of being respectful.

Nearly a week ago, Carolyn Staton — an Oxford pioneer at the University of Mississippi as provost, U.S. Army veteran and a dear friend of Bill and Hillary Clinton —  passed away after her fight with cancer. Many great things have been said in the last week about Carolyn Staton and what she meant to so many people. I wish I could say that same respect was given to Hillary Clinton when she decided to attend the funeral of her Yale University roommate and give her eulogy during a ceremony at Paris-Yates Chapel. By all accounts, those in attendance were quite respectful, but others took to social media to post what I can only describe as vile and disgusting comments when word got out the former Democratic presidential nominee and U.S. Secretary of State was in Oxford.

I think most people who have read my previous columns know where I stand on the political spectrum and my beliefs, for the most part, do not agree with the policies of Clinton and Democrats. However, I do have the decency and put aside my political views when it comes to a person attending the funeral of a friend. And that was what Clinton was doing on Monday. I applaud her for attending her long-time friend’s funeral. Such friendships are rare.

On the other hand, I am embarrassed and ashamed of the words many used on social media directed at Clinton. People are entitled to their views and comments, but at the same time Mississippi used to be known as the “Hospitality State” and these days I’m not so sure that is true any longer. We used to be better than this because some of us were raised to believe “God doesn’t like ugly.”

Rob Sigler is managing editor of The Oxford
EAGLE. Contact him at rob.sigler@oxfordeagle.com