That is, someone can be lying against me and I can't say anything to save my name because that is back talk. And talking back to an older person no matter the circumstance is a grievous sin, yeah?
As if communication isn't a two way thing. I feel respect is gravely overrated in Nigeria. Or at least misunderstood.
Respect is treated as something offered up with broken heart and contrite spirit to those who got here before us.
But truth is, all humans regardless of age, gender, religion or race deserve respect.
Everyone recites "respect is reciprocal", but how many of us actually reciprocate the respect shown to us by others? But just like we all deserve to live well and be happy yet we all aren't is also how not all of us get that respect accorded to us a humans.
Another notion I feel that needs correcting is to think that one can demand respect. Respect is commanded and not demanded. Hmm. Sounds somehow eh? Let me clarify.
To Command is to be in a strong enough position to have or secure something. In the context of respect, strength here refers to moral strength. In other words, because of the way you conduct yourself and treat others, other people can't help but respect you.
Now, that been said, back to the above mentioned scenarios. You can hiss at me whether you're older or younger, disrespect me all you want. But it won't affect the way I'll treat you.
I and I alone am in charge of my actions. So you can like to disrespect me and I'll still be respectful to you, not necessarily because you're older. Not that at all.
Rather because I can respect me enough for the both of us.
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