Reported in The Onion today:
"With the host of problems this country is currently facing, the fact that our president is devoting time to the human process of aging is an affront to Americans everywhere," said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who advocated a provision to keep Obama 49 at least through the fall of 2013. "To move forward unilaterally and simply begin the next year of his life without bipartisan support—is that any way to lead a country?"
And while it's fun to laugh about Republicans feeling affronted by "the fact that our president is devoting time to the human process of aging," it seems to me that some liberal sources begrudge him a simple human indulgence like turning 50. Some people seem to feel that it is unseemly for him to be celebrating when there is so much suffering and death in the world that he is responsible for or could do something to alleviate.
The fact that he is president makes him responsible for the well-being of all of the people who live in the United States and many other people of the world as well, but that does not mean that he's to blame for all of the death and suffering in world. It doesn't even mean he's culpable for every death and all the suffering that results from decisions he's made.
Being President is an awesome and terrible responsibilty. It would not be possible for anyone to do the job without making decisions that will result in some people dying or suffering. Those are just facts of life.
It is not a signg of callousness or inhumanity that this president sometimes does things that normal human beings do like smile, or tell a joke or celebrate their birthday.
Regardless of what you think of this president, I don't think anyone could argue with a straight face that this President doesn't work hard enough. He doesn't need to remain chained to his desk, eating gruel and wearing sackcloth and ashes until death and suffering have been ended in this world.
So, here's my wish for the president: that he enjoy a happy and guilt-free rest of his birthday.