What Commands Your Respect?
Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 7:47 pm
Age?
Experience?
Record?
Reputation?
Other?
Does being older, more formally educated, more experienced, or being more lauded by the media command respect by default? Not to my way of thinking. Otherwise, every Strom Thurmond want-to-be would command respect by default.
Does anything command respect by default? Not to my way of thinking.
Even self-respect is commanded, not demanded. One cannot simply order oneself to respect oneself. One must earn one's own respect, and often at a higher standard than that which is set for others to earn our respect.
Does the respect of others, or the perceived respect of others warrant equal respect in return? No, it doesn't. It is entirely possible for respect to be a legitimate one-way street.
What commands my respect? By definition, nothing. I have not been known to refrain from intruding upon nor interfering with (fill in the blank).
So, the question is: What commands your respect? Anything?
respect -
1. esteem for or a sense of the worth or excellence of a person
2. a personal quality or ability.
3. something considered as a manifestation of a personal quality or ability.
4. deference to a right, privilege, privileged position, or someone or something considered to have certain rights or privileges; proper acceptance or courtesy; acknowledgment.
5. the condition of being esteemed or honored.
6. favor or partiality.
7. Archaic. a consideration.
8. to show regard or consideration for.
9. to refrain from intruding upon or interfering with.
10. to relate or have reference to.
Experience?
Record?
Reputation?
Other?
Does being older, more formally educated, more experienced, or being more lauded by the media command respect by default? Not to my way of thinking. Otherwise, every Strom Thurmond want-to-be would command respect by default.
Does anything command respect by default? Not to my way of thinking.
Even self-respect is commanded, not demanded. One cannot simply order oneself to respect oneself. One must earn one's own respect, and often at a higher standard than that which is set for others to earn our respect.
Does the respect of others, or the perceived respect of others warrant equal respect in return? No, it doesn't. It is entirely possible for respect to be a legitimate one-way street.
What commands my respect? By definition, nothing. I have not been known to refrain from intruding upon nor interfering with (fill in the blank).
So, the question is: What commands your respect? Anything?
respect -
1. esteem for or a sense of the worth or excellence of a person
2. a personal quality or ability.
3. something considered as a manifestation of a personal quality or ability.
4. deference to a right, privilege, privileged position, or someone or something considered to have certain rights or privileges; proper acceptance or courtesy; acknowledgment.
5. the condition of being esteemed or honored.
6. favor or partiality.
7. Archaic. a consideration.
8. to show regard or consideration for.
9. to refrain from intruding upon or interfering with.
10. to relate or have reference to.