R-E-S-P-E-C-T

230 R-E-S-P-E-C-T– Tuesday, August 18, 2009

I came across the picture appearing in this blog concerning a topic I wanted to discuss – Respect. Aretha Franklin made a smash hit of the song bearing the same title in 1967 which ultimately became her signature tune and life statement, even though it was originally released two years prior by Otis Redding – the main subject being deference offered by the opposite gender. Now the poster-style image bearing the effigy of Uncle Sam seems to be juxtaposed against our social background and begs the caption from every American, “We will if YOU will!!” As a young man, respect was something instilled in me from the onset – respect your elders, respect your parents, respect your governmental leaders and so forth. It seems to me that respect, however, is slipping away from our social fiber and is grossly lacking as a base model being instilled in our young people today. Respect meant acceptance without resistance – whatever was asked of you, you just acquiesced because it was proper to do so. American youth now neglect the elders, feel that the driver has right-of-way over pedestrians, in other words, it is no longer about relinquishing will to that of the more experienced, rather it is now about ‘me’, ‘my rights’, ‘my space’, ‘what’s in it for me?’! Government is more and more made up of younger people who have cut their teeth in this new Gen-X ‘me’ generation and therefore now act as though it is about them rather than about those they are elected to represent. All I really would like to see once again is a government that wants to respect me for who I am in the arena, the entity with whom they have been entrusted responsibility to make the way for the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness – but then, does that suggest I am becoming self-centered and more like them? I certainly do not want to be disrespectful – neither do I want to be disrespected!! How do you feel about it?

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