Respect should be earned

[zanadoo_56]

I read recently where apparently people in authority, by way of the positions they hold, should also be entitled to respect.

Hmmm.  I think people in senior positions like politicians, the police, religious leaders , your boss etc can be recognised for the authority they hold because it comes with the job, but respect is a personal thing and I think it should be earned.

There have been so many instances of crooked or incompetent politicians, ditto the police, there's bosses that you wonder how they ever got promoted let alone put in charge of staff, and as for the terrible religious scandals.....I don't need to spell those out.  These are not people that are in any way deserving of respect.

Frankly I think respect is something that should NOT automatically come to persons in positions of authority.

[donnashuggy]

I struggle to respect our PM, even his own colleagues seem to struggle to show any respect towards him and are not leading by example.

[azureline**]

For me, respect is a given, everyone has it.......................... disrespect is earned and some people earn lots of it.

[crystal**flake]

Respect is the first thing you give to youself and others.

[the_great_she_elephant]

I think it is possible to respect the office (of Prime Minister, say) without necessarily respecting the incumbent officer.

[donnashuggy]

I don't know why this sprung to mind but wasn't Osama Bin Laden respected once? By the yanks????

[the_hawk*]

People in positions of power need to be honest and have a high level of integrity to gain the respect of the people.

Sadly our politician's are blatant self serving lying parasites that havent shown the people who elected them any respect so I dont see them getting any in return.

[tasfleur]

I tend not to respect or disrespect anyone automatically until over time, I can see how they function in real life or in the background as far as possible.

There have been very few people who have really earned my disrespect, but then when they do, I just pity them with total indifference, nothing more, nothing less.  Life is too short.

[lind9650]

RESPECT!

Parents should teach their children to have respect for their elders, respect for other peoples property, respect for the law and respect for themselves, etc.

When as adults we can recognise who or what earns our respect, then we can act acordingly.

Yes, as an adult we have to earn respect by being honest, truthfull and doing the best we possibly can in our job and treat people the way we want to be treated.

Actions speak louder than words.

Erica

[***super_nova***]

I think that people need to respect their elders, and people in higher positions even if they sometimes do not think much about them.  We all thought in one stage that we know it all, and the elders are just old fashioned.  Then we grew up, and saw that they had a point.  I am not saying that we should not question authority, but we need to accept that people get into position of authority on some merit.