R E S P E C T Find Out What it Means

Today's post is about something that, as referenced in the title, Ms. Aretha Franklin sang about in a very famous song. In other words, it's about respect. While respect is literally spelled out in her song I feel that some people may need a different type of spelling out. It seems to me that many people in the world, myself included don't always respect each other. According to thefreedictionary.com respect is defined as follows:

 1. To feel or show deferential regard for; esteem. 
2. To avoid violation of or interference with: respect the speed limit. 
3. To relate or refer to; concern.


Today I'm specifically talking about definition number 2. "To Avoid violation or interference with..." Respect is dwindling in the world, especially in my age group. People today seem to think that because of who they are or that they are an adult that they are entitled to do whatever they want and get whatever they want when they want it. The fact is this is simply not the case. People are not entitled to whatever they want when they want it and they cannot just do whatever they want. For an example of "to avoid violation" let's say Pauline and Regina are out seeing a movie. Regina cannot just take Pauline's cell phone and start going through it without asking because that violates Pauline's physical space and property. Likewise Pauline cannot start eating Regina's popcorn without asking because that violates Regina's space, property and in this case, the money she spent on said popcorn. 

When people get an attitude of entitlement a lot of times they start ignoring the fact that they have to ask for permission. This especially happens between friends and with younger people. The second part of definition number two states "...Interference with..." Once again, let's say Regina and Pauline are hanging out together. This time Regina and Pauline are spending a week in a hotel for their job's annual conference. Pauline cannot stay up until 2 AM talking on the phone to her college roommate while Regina is trying to sleep because that interferes with something that is necessary to Regina, sleep. Likewise Regina cannot spend the late night or early morning hours making a lot of unnecessary noise while getting ready if Pauline is still asleep because this interferes with Pauline's sleep. 
While these are all hypothetical situations they do demonstrate a point I'm trying to make. A lot of young people in later high school grades and in college do not pay attention to respecting their peers. They often act like they can do whatever they want just because of who they are and they forget that other people have rights and feelings as well. Young people need to start being more courteous to each other, such as asking permission NOT forgiveness and by being kind and remembering the magic words your parents taught you; "Please", "Thank you", "Excuse me" and "May I." They need to stop asking forgiveness instead of permission, owning up to their actions and just remembering common courtesy. It doesn't matter who you are, if you don't respect others it looks bad on you and eventually comes back to bite you.