First it was Representative Joe Wilson calling President Obama a liar in front of the entire world during the President's address to the Congress. Then Serena Williams decides to threaten a line judge during a tennis match. Most recently it was Kanye West deciding to rip the microphone from Taylor Swift's hands and inform the world that he thought Beyonce's video was far superior at MTV Awards.
Wilson, Williams, and West are just three of the most recent examples of people in our society who seem to have lost respect for others. And we wonder why we have problems with our youth! We need to look no further than the popular culture icons that they are watching. That "I can do whatever I want, no matter who I am talking to or where I am" mentality can quickly rub off on those impressionable minds who are viewing these childish behaviors.
All of this leaves me longing for Aretha Franklin. Okay, maybe not Aretha herself, but something that she sang about. Anyone remember R-E-S-P-E-C-T? It is very obvious that our society is sure having a hard time recalling that word. We better remember it soon or our country is in trouble. It is hard to correct the motion of a society when they are on the downhill slide of a mountain.
2 comments:
Amen! People should learn to disagree peacefully and not make a "jackass" of themselves. Obama was spot on with his "in confidence" comment about Kanye.
And, yes, this does not help our cause in education. I think more and more, like you said, we live in a do-what-I-want-whenever-I-want world, and students certainly don't leave their culture at the front doors of the school building when they enter in the morning.
So, now my question is what does respect mean anymore? Does it have a new definition or are we just throwing the concept down the toilet?
Dictionary.com still defines it as I believe it should be defined:
3. 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: I have great respect for her judgment.
4. deference to a right, privilege, privileged position, or someone or something considered to have certain rights or privileges; proper acceptance or courtesy; acknowledgment: respect for a suspect's right to counsel; to show respect for the flag; respect for the elderly.
5. the condition of being esteemed or honored: to be held in respect.
WHERE ARE YOU?? Miss your posts.
k
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