I've lost my faith in the word 'respect'
By cuckoosnest
@cuckoosnest (250)
Philippines
October 18, 2010 8:55pm CST
I think I've lost my faith in the word 'respect'. Since my Catholic school days it's been drilled into me as something that I should do - to elders and authority figures, most of all. As I grew older though I've seen so many people "respectable" people doing the most unrespectable (is there such a word?) things (just look at our politicians - hehe). And I've experienced first hand how so many people at school and at work take this respect for granted to do things their way without granting same respect to others.
I've just become jaded with the word. These days you've got to earn my respect before I give it to you... the same way that I should earn yours. Or maybe it is other people who have gone and bastardized the term their own purposes which is at fault. I don't know. Am I being too jaded/cynical? Or am I looking at it the wrong way?
1 person likes this
3 responses
@cuckoosnest (250)
• Philippines
19 Oct 10
Hmm..seems likes a sensible thing to do. But something tells me that still sounds a bit cynical...as if you too have realized that respect shouldn't come automatically and that's why you see it the way you do right now because you've realized it is so. Should respect always be conditional?
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
22 Nov 10
You are looking at it the correct way. And yes the word is disrespectful. That is what m,any authorities are these days. It may seem jaded to some, but to me it seems like you are observant! I wasn't raised Catholic, Thank G-d! , so I have Always seem the R word as something that is earned , not just given. And it can be taken away faster than earned!
@cuckoosnest (250)
• Philippines
23 Nov 10
Well said! So many (not all mind you) Catholic school kids are being sold to the "respect your elders" line hook line and sinker. But the way people in power are so brazenly abusing their 'respectability' these days, I doubt that even kids from the most conservative upbringing won't notice!
@jaiho2009 (39142)
• Philippines
19 Oct 10
Give "respect" to people who deserves the true essence of the word "respect"
I never respect people even elders who doesn't know how to respect themselves first.
What i mean is,how can i respect elders who treat other people as idiot,as if they're the perfect ones and they know everything and look other people as dumb.
I respect even kids who pays respect to others and knows how to say sorry when they are wrong.
Respect must be given to people who deserves it.
