It’s something sports fans know and something those in power
should quickly learn—having ones enemies’ respect is a lot safer than having
their fear or anger.
Many is the historic incidence of pre-game trash-talk
leading to a big fail come the final whistle.
People (and teams) (and nations) who feel disrespected tend
to get angry. And energized. And defiant.
And people and teams and nations that are afraid, fall back
on the most basic of instincts—fight or flight. Very often it is fight. Just scare
a fellow driver with a driving error and see how quickly that fear escalates
into rage.
We don’t tend to wish harm on those we respect, but we do on
those we fear. We tend to be open to communication, to exchanges of ideas with
those we respect, whether or not we like them. We’re not open to any kind of relationship
with those we fear, or those who don’t respect us.
They say one has to earn respect but they don’t explain how.
However, it’s really, really easy. Just giving respect, being respectful,
elicits respect in return.
Disrespectfully calling someone a son of a bitch for
disrespecting, say the flag, hardly elicits any feelings of respect in return. Calling the leader of a nuclear nation a little
rocket man, elicits no respect. Probably no fear, either. Definitely doesn’t
foster any sense of cooperation.
A nation that respects another’s military might would likely
not willingly launch an attack against it.
We all need to find some really great words to show respect
for others—for Muslims, Blacks, gun-owners, Republicans, Democrats...
Police officers, protesters, mayors of ravaged cities.
Mexicans.
Leaders of foreign nations. Street cleaners. The homeless
and those without hope. The successful, the artistic, the autistic. Those who
love differently than we do.
We can have widely differing thoughts and feelings, behaviours and
opinions and still live peaceably—if we curry respect.
Imagine the power I'd possess if everyone in the world
respected me.
RESPECT THY FOES has been brought to you by
"Love for an abuser is a mystery...but Schuh carries us
so thoroughly into Allison’s mind...we almost understand."
