This week's Supergirl episode was about her being forced to realize that her idea of justice wasn't right. Even though she is not human, she had to do what's right for a human prisoner. Maxwell Lord, I think we can all agree, is a horrible excuse for a human being. He has no concept of right vs wrong and no shame. He could care less about another person's life and feelings. He lies, steals and kills without a second thought. He has even tried to kill Supergirl on occasion. However, regardless of how he treats others he, deserves the same treatment of justice as anyone else who has done wrong.
Now, most of us aren't a part of the judicial or supreme court system on a daily basis, but the same principles apply. The bullies I've encountered over the years probably deserve the same pain I experienced. However, it is not my place to give it. In order to be better than my enemies, I have to rise above my anger and the hurt I feel. I can't let them win by going down to their level. Instead, I remove myself from them and focus on overcoming my fears, insecurities and helplessness. I don't have to be friends with them and trust me, it's not something I'm striving for. At the same time, I should respect the fact that they are human.
Being better than your enemy is difficult. Supergirl found it hard too. After realizing that she wasn't much better than Maxwell Lord by imprisoning him without trial never-mind kidnapping him, she let him go. She hopes, as do I, that he won't continue to plan her demise or tell the world who she really is. Letting him go was the right thing to do and we shall see if he repays her with kindness or tries to overpower her, yet again.
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Respect vs. Trust
Recently, I had a discussion on LinkedIn about respect and whether it not is should be earned or given. In light of the elections coming up and the individual candidates, I've found it appalling that people abuse the "I have a right to share my opinion" so negatively. Not only on social media, but also face to face we mock and tear down with thoughtless words towards people we don't like. I feel that that is showing disrespect. The criteria for respect shouldn't be based on whether you agree with what's been said, but rather because they are a human being.
I deserve respect just as much as a doctor, our president or your neighbor. Personally, I feel that when someone is in a position of authority or has gone to school studying a subject I don't know much about, I should respect them because of their knowledge. They don't have to earn respect for me to give it. I may not agree with everything that President Obama has done. I may not like some of my professors in college. I may not understand why my parents forced me to stay at a school they knew I hated. However, because they are in a place of authority, they should have respect. If you can't find it in your heart to respect the person, at the very least, respect the position. We 20 somethings don't understand the stress of what being a country leader brings. We don't understand what it takes to be in charge of a college campus. We have no idea what it's like to raise a teenager much less counsel someone our own age. There's a lot we don't know.
Trust on the other hand should be earned. If I handed out trust like I handed out respect, my soul and spirit would have been beaten severely; more so that it has already been. If I totaled my dad's car, I don't expect him to just hand me the keys to his new one. If a friend kissed my boyfriend, I'm not going to suggest we go bowling together. However, I would respect them as a person, meaning I'm going to do my best to treat them like a human being. I won't draw up caricatures and put them in the newspaper. If we trusted everyone with a bight smile, we would be in big trouble because there are shady individuals out there who have no regard for your feelings.
Trust is precious and should be taken seriously. In terms of friendships, because of the people that have betrayed me, I am very cautious to whom I give my trust. I have criteria that must be passed before I share anything close to my heart. I purposely make it difficult to be my friend, let alone my best friend. You want to be careful with this because if you trust the wrong people, you're not the only one getting hurt. Those around you may too.
In closing, respect seems to have been a lost act/emotion. Constantly, I'm seeing social media posts that criticize presidential candidates for everything under the sun. People rant and rave, poke fun of and basically borderline bully not only those who help run our country, but those who hold onto principles that many deem stupid or old-fashioned. People scream for acceptance/equal rights, yet many still try to make those whose ideas are different or not "widely accepted" feel uncomfortable or threatened. If you really want "open mindedness" maybe we all should be towards EVERY opinion and point of view out there including the ones that are based on belief.
If we can respect the pouch (Capri Sun), we can respect each other no matter what office we hold or what belief system we are a part of.
I deserve respect just as much as a doctor, our president or your neighbor. Personally, I feel that when someone is in a position of authority or has gone to school studying a subject I don't know much about, I should respect them because of their knowledge. They don't have to earn respect for me to give it. I may not agree with everything that President Obama has done. I may not like some of my professors in college. I may not understand why my parents forced me to stay at a school they knew I hated. However, because they are in a place of authority, they should have respect. If you can't find it in your heart to respect the person, at the very least, respect the position. We 20 somethings don't understand the stress of what being a country leader brings. We don't understand what it takes to be in charge of a college campus. We have no idea what it's like to raise a teenager much less counsel someone our own age. There's a lot we don't know.
Trust on the other hand should be earned. If I handed out trust like I handed out respect, my soul and spirit would have been beaten severely; more so that it has already been. If I totaled my dad's car, I don't expect him to just hand me the keys to his new one. If a friend kissed my boyfriend, I'm not going to suggest we go bowling together. However, I would respect them as a person, meaning I'm going to do my best to treat them like a human being. I won't draw up caricatures and put them in the newspaper. If we trusted everyone with a bight smile, we would be in big trouble because there are shady individuals out there who have no regard for your feelings.
Trust is precious and should be taken seriously. In terms of friendships, because of the people that have betrayed me, I am very cautious to whom I give my trust. I have criteria that must be passed before I share anything close to my heart. I purposely make it difficult to be my friend, let alone my best friend. You want to be careful with this because if you trust the wrong people, you're not the only one getting hurt. Those around you may too.
In closing, respect seems to have been a lost act/emotion. Constantly, I'm seeing social media posts that criticize presidential candidates for everything under the sun. People rant and rave, poke fun of and basically borderline bully not only those who help run our country, but those who hold onto principles that many deem stupid or old-fashioned. People scream for acceptance/equal rights, yet many still try to make those whose ideas are different or not "widely accepted" feel uncomfortable or threatened. If you really want "open mindedness" maybe we all should be towards EVERY opinion and point of view out there including the ones that are based on belief.
If we can respect the pouch (Capri Sun), we can respect each other no matter what office we hold or what belief system we are a part of.
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