Respect is a simple concept, right? Once children are old enough to understand its meaning, parents teach and preach this value. Starting in grade school, students are reminded of the importance of showing others respect. Aretha Franklin sang a song about respect and what it means to her. So, if we as a culture are taught from the get-go to respect others, why is it so rarely seen?
My husband, Jeremiah, came home from work and told me something that honestly infuriated me. Jeremiah is an incredible, hard-working man. He is really one of the smartest people I’ve met. I know I’m biased seeing as I’m married to him, but it’s true. Jeremiah, who is a construction worker, mentioned to me that at his job site (a major computer company) he was told that he is not to look their employees in the eyes. Are you kidding me?! Are they saying that the people working so hard to create quality structures for this company are not worthy of their acknowledgement, let alone their appreciation and respect? It’s just ridiculous.
I have several family members who work in the construction field. Despite what society may think, they do not spend their days eating sandwiches and gawking at women who walk by. They’re all hard-working, intelligent people who have families they support and love. One even served his country as a Marine in the Iraq war. Yet they are not worthy of even a little respect?
It does not matter if you work at a fast food chain or are a CEO for a major corporation. Our degrees and job titles are not what makes us worthy of respect, but it’s the characteristics of people and what they do for others that entitle them to such a simple ideal, respect!
Marie Chudnofsky
Lake Stevens
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