Respect

There is a risk that our Government is trivialising and/or pontificating on the critical issue of respect.
A Minister of respect? What a wank.
Respect is given by a person who admires someone for something they have done. Something in line with their own beliefs. Respect is earned by someone doing something others believe is in line with their own thinking.
Hitler was respected by the brown-shirts, serial killers respect other serial killers, Christians respect Christians, Muslims respect Muslims, creationists respect creationists, evolutionists respect evolutionists, unionists respect other unionists, street thugs respect other street thugs, most people respect our legal system and drivers who run red lights respect no one even themselves. Yet, Christians do not respect the opinions of Muslims, Muslims do not respect the opinions of Christians, evolutionists do not respect creationists and serial killers do not respect the legal system.
Therefore, it is obvious that focused respect is not always a good thing. This is not about right or wrong but about respecting others opinions.
The message is that by using a ‘narrow’ definition of respect, everyone will say they exhibit respect for someone or something – and they will. However, this means squat unless this narrow definition can be expanded to include areas outside of personal beliefs. This does not mean accepting some actions evolving from certain beliefs [Hitler or suicide bombing for example] but trying to understand why people have certain beliefs and respecting their right to those beliefs.
The problem is that people under societal pressure will narrow their perspective into a tunnel vision in order to cope. Smokers are a perfect example – they ignore medical, societal and attitudinal pressures and instead focus on argument by exception. They need to do this to continue with their beliefs and do the thing they want to do.
Same applies to other relationships such as union/business, Christian/Muslim and thugs/police.
No one in their right mind would or could respect suicide bombing as a solution to anything and surely this is the final act of desperation by a section of society marginalised by a set of circumstances outside of their control. Blinkers are up, tunnel vision is alive and well and respect is introverted to like thinking people within their own enclave.
Perhaps a solution is the common enemy or something which binds disparate opinion into a singularity for a common purpose.
A simple example was the world wide coverage a burnt and wild Koala being given a drink after the Black Saturday bush fires was given. People forgot their own survival-critical-tunnel-vision and refocused. They ignored inculcating trauma for a few brief moments and moved outside of the tunnel vision. They gave ultimate respect for the Koala as a survivor.
Tattooed bikers, some of whom have less than law abiding lives, are given respect when they donate stuffed toys on mass for a good cause.
The respect message is obvious.
Provide a focus which all people will respect and identify with – together with all other parts of the community.
I personally think creationists have lost the plot and fly in the face of known and provable science yet I respect their belief that there is some deity which is always good, kind and provides a model to live by. Evolutionists don’t necessarily share this life-living model; what a pity. Just because I believe creationists are a fraction challenged does not mean I don’t respect the values they hold and live by.
It is possible to have fundamental disagreements yet maintain respect.
I think anyone who a jumps out of a plane, without needing to, is definitely a sandwich short of a loaf yet I admire and respect their courage. The fundamentalist sky-diver perhaps will not respect anyone who chickens out on these suicide attempts yet he may respect the pilot because he has a job that the fundamentalist admires and respects. I don’t understand vegetarians yet it doesn’t change the respect I have for them as people because they may enjoy a few glasses of red; something I do understand and respect.
How good is life when I can respect people whilst still arguing about their obviously errant beliefs.
Politics is great because everyone has an opinion; it’s just that everyone else is wrong! But what good fun the discussion is – as long as people see the discussion as just that – a discussion not something impinging or subverting core values or respect.
The respect message is easy – enjoy others for the things you find mutually important and respect their rights to have opinions which disagree with your own.