Right, Wrong or Confusing

I know little to nothing about what I am about to write.  I wasn’t a college guy.  I graduated from high school and went into the military back in the 60’s, so letter arrangements such as, AA; BA; MA; PHD; MD etc. didn’t mean a whole lot to someone from the streets, except for MD.  We all knew that meant Medical Doctor.  With the exception of polio shots, I didn’t see much of doctors growing up.  Most of the DOC’s I had seen were in Bugs Bunny comic books.  So what exactly entitles someone to have the term Dr. before their name?  These past couple days have been flooded with articles, both pro and con, about Dr. Jill Biden.  

Let’s, for the sake of argument, look at a hypothetical situation.  President Biden and the 1st Lady are flying aboard Air Force One and the President is having a conversation with a staff member, who happens to be a former teacher.  The 1st Lady walks in and the President introduces the two of them to each other by saying, “This is my wife, Dr. Jill Biden.  The two of you have something in common in that you both received your teaching degrees and taught high school English.”  He had an option to simply intro her as his wife Jill, but since the occasion was formal, he used a formal introduction.  Would that be considered proper and correct?  Yes, of course it would.  Now let’s look at it from a different angle, same flight, same cast of characters and the staff member is complaining about her lumbago and the President replies, “Well, here comes my wife Jill, you should talk to her, she’s a doctor!”  How proper and correct would that introduction be?  That one would be pretty much off the charts, eh?  In reality, Joe wouldn’t do that, he would recommend his own personal physician who may happen to be on board.  It would be the same if there was an immediate medical emergency and someone shouted for the doctor, the 1st Lady isn’t going to step up to bat, unless she is a 1st Responder, EMT or Paramedic.  So, is the title Dr. Jill Biden right, wrong or just plain confusing, then?  I would say, all of the above.  As in many instances in life, it depends on the situation.  I’m not taking anything away from the future 1st Lady.  She has earned her Doctorate in her field of profession.  People can earn doctorates in almost any subject area, it just comes down to a series of letters: PHD or MD?  Now I make no allusions about ever wanting to be a doctor.  I never had any interest in the medical field, just as I had no interest in being a lawyer, policeman, fireman, accountant, plumber or circus clown.  Well, I guess the circus would have been okay.  Anyway,  I would think that if one obtains a doctorate in their chosen field and they decide to make business cards with a Dr. title attached to their name, there has to be a certain element of homo sapien vanity and/or ego in that decision.  I do not personally know Jill Biden, but what will really count, in the end, will be the respect afforded her in this spotlight either with or without the title.  Stay tuned…..!

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