Al-Madina Respect is an ethical conduct and a noble value that every man and woman expresses toward those around him or her and those with whom he or she deals. It is a feeling of admiration and consideration toward the other. Today living in an environment in which we respect each other is simply not possible. We always hear about respect and its importance but we see exactly the opposite in our daily lives. Some of us respect neither other people and their time nor the rule of law. We see every day many living examples of this disrespect. We see drivers not heeding traffic rules. They overtake other drivers from the wrong side and do not stop at the traffic light. Employees, including the managers and senior officials, rarely have any respect for office rules and regulations. In our daily conversation, we do not show any respect to the people with whom we talk. Even within the family, the members do not have any respect for each other. There are many instances of disrespect to the point that one may come to believe that total disrespect for people has become the norm of our society. Moreover, disrespect has become our identity with which we introduce ourselves to others. Respectable people who show any consideration for others have become a rare breed in our society. Respect is not acquired by studying even at top universities of the world. It comes with the upbringing from an early age, the style of living and the societal culture. Respect is gained through self-esteem, one's personality and reputation. People who do not respect themselves will not be able to respect others even if they live in an affluent society or are part of a carefully chosen group of elites. We sometimes find that some illiterate people with no education at all have more respect and esteem for others. They treat others with much more respect than highly educated people are capable of showing. It is a fact of life that when you show respect to others, they will reciprocate with similar sentiments. As long as you display respect in your dealings with others, they will, on their part, shower you with love and empathy. Today we need a massive national campaign to spread the culture of respect in our society, especially at our homes, schools, offices and work places. The employees should be taught to respect themselves, their superiors and people who they serve. This respect should be innate and authentic. It should not be a fake or an ostentatious one. There should not also be any kind of hypocrisy in dealing with others. Respect should not vanish in thin air after a certain interest is served. It should not be a respect for a certain category of people but for the entire human race. The culture of respect should be displayed with all people at all times and under all circumstances. This is a natural trait with which we are born and not a character we gain with time or throughout life. Let us bring up our children to respect themselves, their families and those around them. Let us make our life overflowing with respect.
