I was raised to respect others. Simple enough, right?
Respect is becoming rare in America today. We live more like the reality show Survivor, than anything else. We are more about what we need to do to get over on the next guy.
We even disrespect ourselves in the process. Find out how often your courthouse holds traffic court, then spend a few days observing the proceedings. You will find the time spent enlightening. If nothing else, you will learn what not to do if you find yourself in any court.
I spent two years working in a courthouse where most of the proceedings were traffic court. The one thing I saw daily was a lack of respect for the entire process. And, yes, I have received a traffic ticket or two in the years since I started driving way back when, I and will contend at least one of them was bogus. But, I will admit one I had one coming, simply because I was in a bad mood and took it out on a State Trooper who was in an equally bad mood. But three times, because I was respectful to the Troopers, I have been sent on my way sans citation.
I am not saying one has to show up in traffic court in a suite and tie, or a nice dress, but I have seen people show up all but naked or dressed like they were ready for a pickup game of B-ball. Seriously, I saw a girl of about 19, show up sans bra with a blouse that was not there. From 20 feet, you could see a lot more than the small mole between her… Well, let’s just say above her navel. She was given the maximum fine for her infraction. Worse, I don’t think she figured out why. I have also witnessed people with the exact same ticket, get the smallest fine the judge could give, because they came into court prepared and they were respectful.
Growing up, an adult was addressed as Mr. Miss, Mrs, sir or ma’am No PC crap, just respect. We said Merry Christmas, or if we knew the person was Jewish, Happy Hanukkah. Funny, but back then, no atheist was offended, because they too, were raised to be respectful. They understood that the “Holidays” were a calibration of either Christmas or Hanukkah. I wonder though about people that are offended by the Christian or Jewish greetings, who still give and receive gifts on Christmas. Just how offended are they? Or how can one be offended by a greeting for a God they believe a fantasy. Not only is making an issue over what they see as a fantasy disrespectful, it is a waste of anger and well, silly. How can a friendly greeting hurt anyone?
I was living in the barracks when I was first stationed at Malstrom AFB. I was in my assigned room talking to a friend about a Biblical issue, when another friend, Mike B. came in. Mike demanded we end the subject because it offended him. It didn’t matter to Mike that the discussion was in my room, or that no one forced him to enter my room. He was offended, and for Mike, that was enough.
The problem is now there are tens of thousands of Mike Bs in the world who demand you respect their feelings no matter where or when, and your beliefs don’t count anymore.
No, we are more worried about me, myself and I, than treating others as we would like to be treated, and we are a mean nasty unhappy people for it.