Respect

Jangran....was reading about a new book in Times the otherday...about psychopaths in everyday life...he claimed that many of these so called captains of Industry are 'Corporate Psychopaths'.....interesting eh?

It was Charles Kingsley, Waterbabies...

Respect - I expect respect. I don't expect to have to earn it, particularly, but on the other hand, I think I should respect everyone else too.

What is needed is equality of respect - we have a long way to go before we achieve it, though. Not least on the part of politicians, investment bankers; men in general... Well, you get the idea.

Bless you Baggy!

Not aggressive, absentgrana, just straightforward, as is HildaW's approach. The golden rule is golden for a good reason, and I think we're all agreed that there is no need to respect things or ideas that are not worthy of respect but that we should always respect people (even when we don't respect their ideas or what they represent). ha! Hope I'm clearer than mud. cheers to you both. BtC!x

oooer Absentgrana......wasn't that Enid Blyton?...never a huge fan of her...and was not aware that I sounded aggressive....sorry if did!

I wasn't being aggressive HildaW. Maybe you should change your gransnet name to Mrs Doasyouwouldbedoneby – probably the most easily understandable moral figure in the entire history of English Literature. I salute you.

Quite absentgrana....as I said...'just as long as they are not expecting me to sacrifice what I hold dear'....and as I'm a regular old style moralist (well I think I'm more a treat people as you would like to be treated sort)....its quite a long list lol!

absentgrana, I agree with you on all points. Thank you for expressing it so well.

I'm not against general tolerance towards other people's views and beliefs – unless I consider them to be so extreme that they are damaging to other people HildaW and I am all for courtesy and a "live and let live" attitude. What I am against is this sloppy use of the word respect, a term that I think implies a level of admiration. Consequently, I can respect the courage of a soldier, while still being a pacifist. I can respect the hard work, skill and compassion of clinical staff while being critical of the NHS. I can respect the Queen's dedication, commitment and hard work, while regarding her role all as almost completely pointless and anachronistic. What I object to is the suggestion that you respect someone simply because…she's a woman, he's old, she's got lots of money, he's a leading religious figure, he's the political leader of a country, they've got oil, they've got guns, he's got a title, she's on television…

Love it, absentgrana!

There is respect...that is earned as you said absentgrana, but there is also a more general tolerance or respectfullness that I am usually happy to show towards another's views or beliefs....just as long as they are not expecting me to sacrifice what I hold dear. For example...am happy for someone to be strictly vegan...and would happily cook for them....but I would be eating my usual nosh along side them and expecting them to allow me to.