Aretha Franklin has it right when she sings: "What you want... Baby, I got it... What you need... you know I got it... all I'm asking for... is a little respect." If you're not familiar with this tune, check it out (URL below). Then think about the last time somebody treated you without respect. It probably didn't feel so good. You may have had any number of reactions; some get fightin' mad when they're diss'd; others withdraw; still others become disrectful in return... tit for tat. One thing you probably do not feel when somebody shows you disrespect is warm and cozy... or like joining their side.
We know this happens on a small (micro) level, but did you know that it also happens on a macro level as well? For instance, when a country treats the leaders of another country (or their own citizens) without respect, still being people, these individuals will have a negative reaction... just on a larger scale. Take Egypt, for example or here... where women, the young, and the poor are being treated by some politicians as if they don't matter. In Japan, there's a name for the feeling of being disrespected. It's called "losing face." That's because when somebody acts as though you don't count, they make you metaphorically "faceless" in their eyes.
Contributing to others' loss of face was an increasingly noticeable problem during the latter part of the last century, especially in our dealings with Mid- Eastern countries, and may have had more to do with our country's inability to get cooperation from foreign governments and their citizens than anybody realized. Therefore, Amazon Sage dream-travelled back to some of those war-torn areas to see what happened. Amidst the anger and threats of violence voiced by those who felt disrespected, Amazon Sage was amazed to find one young military man who knew about the power of respect and carried it with him, no matter where he went or with whom he interacted. He knew that if he treated others with respect, even when he had to carry out noxious orders, then all of those involved knew that they were dealing with an honorable person. Believe it or not, that helped save his life many times over.
This concept is not dissimilar to what so many Native Americans have been teaching since long before colonists invaded their sovereign lands. They've always taught that even if you must kill a deer to have food, you do it with respect for the animal, not as if the deer's life doesn't matter. Rather, as if in giving life, the hunter is enriched by the deer's body and blood. Hmmm. Sound familiar? It makes me wonder if that's not what the Christian Easter message has been trying to get across; that when something -- or someone -- is willing to die for us, then we owe them a debt of gratitude. Think about it for awhile and see what you think. While you're at it, listen to Aretha. :-)
http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=song+respect+by+aretha+franklin&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
We know this happens on a small (micro) level, but did you know that it also happens on a macro level as well? For instance, when a country treats the leaders of another country (or their own citizens) without respect, still being people, these individuals will have a negative reaction... just on a larger scale. Take Egypt, for example or here... where women, the young, and the poor are being treated by some politicians as if they don't matter. In Japan, there's a name for the feeling of being disrespected. It's called "losing face." That's because when somebody acts as though you don't count, they make you metaphorically "faceless" in their eyes.
Contributing to others' loss of face was an increasingly noticeable problem during the latter part of the last century, especially in our dealings with Mid- Eastern countries, and may have had more to do with our country's inability to get cooperation from foreign governments and their citizens than anybody realized. Therefore, Amazon Sage dream-travelled back to some of those war-torn areas to see what happened. Amidst the anger and threats of violence voiced by those who felt disrespected, Amazon Sage was amazed to find one young military man who knew about the power of respect and carried it with him, no matter where he went or with whom he interacted. He knew that if he treated others with respect, even when he had to carry out noxious orders, then all of those involved knew that they were dealing with an honorable person. Believe it or not, that helped save his life many times over.This concept is not dissimilar to what so many Native Americans have been teaching since long before colonists invaded their sovereign lands. They've always taught that even if you must kill a deer to have food, you do it with respect for the animal, not as if the deer's life doesn't matter. Rather, as if in giving life, the hunter is enriched by the deer's body and blood. Hmmm. Sound familiar? It makes me wonder if that's not what the Christian Easter message has been trying to get across; that when something -- or someone -- is willing to die for us, then we owe them a debt of gratitude. Think about it for awhile and see what you think. While you're at it, listen to Aretha. :-)
http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=song+respect+by+aretha+franklin&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
