8/22/10

"Out of Respect"

"Out of Respect"...this is a term I heard my parents say many times.  It used to mean offering or showing respect for something or someone.  Apparently I’m behind the times!

Growing up one thing that really impressed me was to see cars pull over and stop when a funeral procession would drive by.  "Out of Respect" for that family's loss we would pull over and stop until the first few cars went by. I remember how it made me feel when my parents died and I saw the cars stop "Out of Respect" for my parents.

Today I happened upon a funeral procession coming toward me and I found myself slowing down and pulling over to the side.  I knew I wouldn't be able to stop in the middle of the road but I had this uncontrollable urge to show my respect for their loss. The other cars continued to fly past me and the funeral cars. It was at this point that the term "Out of Respect" came to my mind.  Why didn't they, at least, slow down "Out of Respect" for this family I thought?  It was then that I realized that the meaning of "Out of Respect" has changed.  It now means exactly what it says...we are Out of Respect...people no longer have respect for anything.  Children have no respect for their parents and are no longer taught respect for their elders, others, manners or being polite!  Why?   The lack of "Respect" is rampant in today’s society!!!!  What happened?  Where did it go?  When did we decide that “Respect” was unnecessary?
 
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