#Respect
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To respect is to admire someone or something deeply as a result of their abilities, qualities or achievements. It's to have due regards for something or someone.
Generally, respect is a positive thinking, feeling, word or action shown towards something or someone but do we really have respect for people?
In a bid to answer the EcoTrain Question of the Week, I will be looking at Respect for elders and respect for the eldest, Mother Earth!
Does the saying "You should respect your elders" still hold true today? NO! NO! NO!
I think the saying is gradually losing its meaning in today’s society because more and more young people believe they can live their lives in freedom and treat their elders with lack of respect and courtesy.
But, why are more young people losing respect for their elders?
If we understand why more young people are losing respect for their elders, then I think we can tackle the problem of respect for elders. Some of the things that make young people to disrespect their elders include;
1. Technology:
In as much as technology has come with a lot of benefits, I think it has greatly widened the gap between the elderly and the young and this has greatly contributed to the lack of disrespect young people have for the elderly.
How do we expect people who spend almost all their lives on TV, Video games, computers and social media to have a feeling of respect or appreciation for people they don’t spend time with? More young people respect their technological gadgets more than they respect people today because they spend more time with their gadgets than they spend time with people and experience has proven that if you spend more time with something or somebody, you tend to value and respect that thing or person more
2. Human rights:
The fact that more young people have learned about their rights and understand their rights, have caused them to use their rights to disrespect elderly people because they think they have rights. It’s common to hear children yell at their parents and say it’s my right to do this or do that, and you have no right to control my life and this is common in situations where the parent wants to counsel their child/children and because elderly people understand that young people have rights, all they can do is to watch them disrespect them during such moments and hope that they can learn from the mistakes they make.
3. The family and or community in which the young people grow up with.
The family is the first school where children learn to live in solidarity with the community. I can say the way young people disrespect elderly people in today’s society is a direct reflection of how bad most families have become. It’s a direct reflection of how bad most communities have become. If you grew up in a family where your dad disrespected your mum or where your mum disrespected your dad or if you grew up in a community full of disrespect and a lot of shitty stuff, there is a high probability you will disrespect most elderly people.
4. The elders who want respect
Respect is given to he/she who is due. If you earn the respect of young people, young people will respect you and I think most elderly persons are not working to earn the respect of young people and this explains why most young people are loosing respect for the elderly. If you are a runaway dad, how do you expect your son or daughter to respect you? If you are a bad politician, how do you expect the young people of your community to respect you?
5. Cultural assimilation
In Africa and particularly in Cameroon, more and more people young people are losing respect for the elderly because of the westernization of culture. Cultural assimilation has played a great role in the disrespect of elderly people. This is very peculiar in Cameroon and I don’t know if its the same in other Countries. I will like to learn.
6. Socio-economic and political factors:
Poverty, corruption and bad governance are some of the fuels of disrespect of the elderly persons. A poor and hungry man is an angry man and I don’t think you expect an angry man to show some respect. The promotion of bribery and corruption are greatly accelerating disrespect of the elderly persons.
7. Alcohol and Drugs
A lot of young people now take a lot of alcohol and drugs and this makes them to lose the respect elderly people have for them as well as motivates them to respect disrespect elderly persons especially when they are on drugs.
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8. Pride and greed
In their quest for power, fame and money, more and more young people have become arrogant, greedy and show some total disrespect to elderly persons.
Greedy people are disrespectful respectful.
Boastful people are disrespectful people
Does the saying "You should respect your elders" still hold true today? YES! YES! YES!
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On the other hand, I think there is still hope and there are lots of young people out there who respect their elders. Most of them who do, are those aren’t boastful and greedy, they are not corrupt nor take drugs and excessive alcohol; they spend a lot time with their elders and they grew up in families and communities with a strong culture of respect of the elderly people.
Respecting elderly people is wisdom
Are you respecting Mother Earth?
We all are a part of nature and it seems we want to be respected but we don't want to respect the laws of Nature. Isn't it insane that we want respect but we don't to respect the laws of nature and the eldest, Mother Earth?
I think its time we thought about our thoughts, words and actions take a step towards respecting the laws of nature and Mother Earth.
I will say this "If we don't work for a sustainable planet for our children, then we shouldn't expect any respect from our children"
What can be done for young people to respect the elderly?
Respect is reciprocal and for young people to earn respect, they should respect their elders so that their elders will show them respect and assist them to grow and likewise for elderly people to earn respect, they must respect young people.
Young people should spend more time with the elderly, visit or communicate more often with the elderly, be polite, seek advice from elderly people, eat together with elderly people, volunteer at centers for the elderly, appreciate the elderly people for their good works, and discuss family heritage, history and traditions with elderly people.
Elderly people should be more receptive and open to young people if they want young people to connect with them and show them some respect.
Lots of respect from me to You!
#Dynamicsteemians #ecotrain #steemiteducation #respect #earth #upfund
Peace!
