Almost everywhere I go, I see the lack of respect in kids as well as adults. We all demand respect for ourselves yet very rarely do we understand how to respect others. Honestly, the world is going downhill fast if we don't do something about this concept.
What is respect? According to dictionary.com, there are many definitions for this word so I will just point out a couple.
1) esteem for or a sense of the worth or excellence of a person, a personal quality or ability, or something considered as a manifestation of a personal quality or ability:
2) deference to a right, privilege, privileged position, or someone or something considered to have certain rights or privileges; proper acceptance or courtesy; acknowledgment:
Regardless of your race, occupation, tastes, religion etc we should all learn how to truly respect each other's differences. God made us unique therefore, we are going to disagree on things or simply just not like something. Do we have to bash each other for those differences? NO! We state our opinion on a matter respectfully and hear what the other person has to say.
What I see happen quite often is this...Sam says, "I think that smoking is bad for you because it damages your lungs and causes cancer." James says, "How dare you accuse me of being wrong! I can do whatever I want whenever I want!" Sam says, "If you look at the facts..." "You're stupid!" "Well, you're the one who's too stupid to know the truth when it's right in front of you!" and so on. Is this showing respect to either person? Nope. Now, Sam tried to just state facts but unfortunately he let his emotions get the better of him.
Sometimes we become stubborn in our way of thinking and push ideas on other people. It's ok to have a difference in opinion on how the welfare system works, whether or not we should have a law against abortion or when is it ok to spank a child. The problem occurs when we ostracize each other based on our opinion or ridicule others because they hold an opinion you strongly disagree with. THAT IS NOT RESPECT.
Thank God we still live in a country where we have freedom of speech, freedom of religion etc. Frustration overwhelms me when I see hurtful conversations on social media or hear people talk about someone else and their "opposite" opinion in a bullying kind of way. I do my best to respect others lack of faith, what I would deem "wrong" choices etc. but I can be just as wrong as the person next door. The difference between them and me is my choice to show respect even if I wholeheartedly don't agree.
See where that gets you.
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