Soapbox 2009: R-E-S-P-E-C-T
About once a year, I dust off my soapbox and climb on up for one good rant against humanity.
Today is the day. Lucky you.
I wasn’t watching the VMAs when Kanye West so rudely interrupted Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech to proclaim that the wrong nominee had won. Kanye was under the impression that someone else should have gotten the award. And so he took the opportunity to march out on stage, grab whatever microphone he could find (which just happened to be in someone else’s hands at the time) and announce his viewpoint as the absolute fact.
At first, I was appalled. What a jerk. What an ass. But the more I thought about it, the more I could sort of see how it happened. I almost understood what he was thinking.
You see, like me, Kanye has grown up in a rude, disrespectful world. Its not his fault. He can’t help that American standards of what is acceptable behavior and what is unacceptable behavior are skewed.
In a two week period, I have seen so much rudeness in the media. First there was Congressman Joe Wilson who felt the absolute need to interrupt the President during an address to the nation. Now, I understand the context. Healthcare is a hot topic right now. But no matter what side you find yourself on, in my opinion, there is never, ever an excuse to be disrespectful. People are going to have different viewpoints. That’s the BEAUTY of our government! We are ALLOWED to disagree. But disagreeing can and should be done through the lens of respect.
And then this past weekend there was Serena Williams on at the U.S. Open. Apparently being a tennis star is validation for talking like a dog on international television to a line judge that you disagree with. Sure, it might have been a faulty call. Sure, Serena was tired and stressed out. But being respectful doesn’t take that much energy, people. Just BE NICE. How hard is that? You disagree with a bad call on the court, you speak with the judge about it. You challenge the call. But throwing a tennis racket as she did earlier in the tournament or yelling obscenities at a line judge who is doing her job? Not acceptable because it is not respectful.
And its not just the politicians and athletes and celebrities being rude. The disrespect is perhaps most alarming when it comes so naturally throughout our day to day routines that we don’t even notice it anymore. Take one of my co-workers, for example, who interrupted a conversation I was having this week with one of our custodial staff. Our janitor was telling me about his son’s birthday party this past weekend when one of my co-workers walked right up, took one look at the janitor, and then proceeded to interrupt him to talk to me about a situation. The look given to the custodian said it clearly, “You are not worth me waiting for.”
There are lots of things wrong in this world and I usually try to look the other way and focus on the bright side. But it is becoming increasingly harder to do that. My generation is a generation of people who have been raised to believe that instant gratification should come at any price. And often this price is a lack of respect for anyone who might be in our path.
Don’t think someone should have won an award? Shout it out the moment you have the thought.
Don’t agree with a politician? Shout it out the moment you have the thought.
Don’t want to accept a line judge’s ruling? Shout it out the moment you have the thought.
Don’t believe someone is worth waiting your turn to speak? Shout it out the moment you have the thought.
Here’s a crazy idea. How about the next time we are inclined to shout it out the moment we have the thought we don’t. We just don’t. We stop and think and take 10 deep breaths and then go on about our business. Still feel the need to voice your opinion? Sure! But how about instead of doing it rudely, we show some respect for other people and those around us and we disagree civilly.
Respect. I think it is the root of all good things in humankind. And likewise, I think disrespect is the root of all evil in humankind.
Just be nice. Respect each other. Not because we agree or disagree. Not because they are a celebrity or a co-worker. Be respectful because you are a person. Be respectful because they are a person. I’m not asking people to walk around like Ghandi. You don’t have to love everyone and hug trees and save starting children in Africa. Just show some respect. Don’t roll your eyes. Don’t interrupt. Don’t be rude.
And while you’re at it don’t interrupt someone during an acceptance speech at the VMAs. And don’t hackle the President of the United States during his address to the nation. And don’t throw tennis rackets and yell at line judges during the U.S. Open.
You know. Just in case you’re ever in those situations.
Alright. I think that’s about it for Soapbox 2009. I’ll see you next year when I climb back up on it to complain about something else. But I can guarantee that I’ll be complaining WITH RESPECT!
33 Comments
Kelly
Yeah, I pretty much think Kanye is a pompous ass, his music isn’t that great, and he’s not that good looking. I just don’t get what all the fuss is about with that dude. And he thinks is $hi+ don’t stink. I agree that people don’t think before they speak often enough. Deep breaths, and take a moment and ponder, people!
Kristen
I.Love. This. Post.So. Much!!! I couldn’t have said it or written it better myself. I witness rudeness in stores, in driving and the holy grail of rudeness: the internet. Maybe it’s time for the world to take an etiquette lesson.
Camille
I enjoy a good soapbox. Heaven knows I’ve been on many of my own.
The scenario that made me THE maddest of all these is the janitor one. The others are certainly rude, but at least those people are in the public’s eye and have been rebuked for their behaviour. The coworker you spoke of will probably never learn to treat “untouchables” with respect. I, myself, having been a custodian/flyer-passer-outer/lowly worker more times than I can count, am totally enraged by that kind of behaviour. THAT is rude.
Zoe
Agree 100%!!! People are just unbelievably rude now. I can’t stand it.
Sarah
AMEN!!
Katrina
I couldn’t agree more!
Sandy
I won €™t go into specifics, but it really riles me up when parents are disrespectful in front of their kids. And then people want to know why kids are so disrespectful these days €¦look no further than their parents!
Danimezza
*fist in the air*
Go Girl
Lisa
Hit the nail right on the head with this one. People treat each other like crap all the time and its really sad to watch it happen. Awesome post.
Mandy
Thank you. I wish the whole country would read this.
Chris
Word. To help with this effort I think everyone who reads this should go here and nominate this post:
http://www.blogher.com/nominate-blogher-week
I really think the whole country SHOULD read this, and this will help. 🙂 Thanks!
-Chris
Katie
Way to be my publicist, Chris. That’s what I pay you the big bucks for!
dave
Done. Good post. Good blog. My personal favourite was your Taxi cab confession.
But why only take soapbox once a year?
Lauren
I couldn’t have said it better myself. Really. I was venting all of those exact points to my husband the other night…
🙂
Kate
Amen, sister! Sometimes I feel like if I’m NOT rude and elbowing my way to the top of the pile, so to speak, that I’ll be written off as a pushover or a weenie. No, in fact, it’s called being respectful and POLITE!
Tressa
AMEN!
You covered it all in this post! THANK YOU!
I also agree, this whole country needs to read this.
kay
with all due respect i say “DITTO”! you need to write a letter to the editor. let the world(or city) hear your soap box, for heavens sake we have to listen to others who most of the time are not worth listening too.
Ashley
I wish the people you were talking about in this post would read what you write, and all of America for that matter because its something we all struggle with!! AMEN!
Emily
Amen, sister!! 🙂 Tell it like it is!
Lindsay
Well said!
Haley
It’s true that our generation feels a sense of entitlement. And now our generation is having kids and teaching the kids the lessons that “the world owes you something and you shouldn’t have to work for it.” It truly is becoming a dog eat dog world out there.
The one reassurance is that there are good people still out there, they may be far and few between, but they are there.
We just need to be one of those rare good people.
Casey
Your soapbox and my soapbox would be best buddies. They wouldn’t get to play together very often, but when they did… people would have to watch out.
Donna
I so agree with you!
Julie
Very enjoyable soapbox. I can’t believe all of the disrespect that has been going on lately. I have a sign on my television stand that everyone sees as soon as they walk in the door that says “Be Nice or Leave”. That about sums it up with me.
naomi
I’m with you girlie.
It shocks me when people are so rude and inconsiderate.
The only thing that makes me feel good about those sort of people is that while they are voicing their opinion, they are making themselves look like a total ass.
And THAT makes me smile.
Casey
I am in 100% agreement
TeamHaynes
It is pretty shocking how people treat each other nowadays. Even age has made people look at me like I have no idea what I’m saying. Mutual respect is so important so I’m glad you posted on this issue.
Kim
A-Men.
Janet
That’s pretty much it in a nutshell…great post, and so very, very true.
Laura
Well said, Katie.
I remember one of my greatest lessons when I was young was when my dad took me to his office on “take your daughter to work day” (remember those?). He was friendly and respectful to all staff – from his own manager to the cafeteria workers and custodial staff. He absolutely practiced what he preached: that you should be kind to everyone you come across. There is no reason to think you are better than anyone else, no matter what the difference is in your salaries, no matter what car you drive, no matter how “right” your opinion is. Period.
As an aside, Beanie is very lucky to have parents who see the world this way.
Great post!
Jules
I totally agree with your post. It’s tiring to see how people think they’re “entitled” to everything. Even to hurting other people’s feelings.
Ugh.
the inadvertent farmer
Because I live in a cave, in the middle of a cow pasture, in the middle of nowhere…I just heard about the whole awards debacle and never did hear of the tennis outburst.
Your post is right on, people are rude, crude, and uncivilized and it just isn’t that hard to be respectful. If you disagree with someone, fine, disagree all you want, but a least be civilized about it for goodness sake.
My mom use to tell me that if I didn’t anything nice to say then to keep my big yap shut!
Keiko
You took the words right out of my mouth!