I am contemplating how our human society is changing, in particular after the epidemic. Though we must understand that the epidemic has not been the beginning of a transformation that finds its origins and is rooted in different soil. I am referring, of course, mainly to our western culture more than others because that is the one I am experiencing daily. I always try to start from a question, not from a conviction, or a statement representing a stronghold, trying to avoid prejudice. I don't want to become one of those old men complaining about the "new generations." It would be a stupid repetition of what every generation of Homo sapiens has done for 2 million years. We can't say that we haven't grown better in all this time.
But there is one point that questions me more and more regarding how our western society has changed during my life. Do we know what respect is? In an interview on Afghanistan, Carlo Romeo pointed out how the Afghans taught us respect for the elders - that we have mostly forgotten, while at the same time, we wanted to teach them respect for women.
What is respect? Respecting is - in the meaning of the word - recognizing and getting in a relationship with someone - or something. There is no respect if there is no reciprocal recognition and relationship. Respect is an equal two-way exchange, giving and having "in respect" of someone or something. Why did I put "something" here? Because our environment, our home planet Earth (and every single part of her), is also a living being that gives us respect - and deserves respect. In that sense, she is more someone than something, indeed. When respect is missing, usually first from one of the two parts involved, the connection is lost, the relationship degenerates, and there is no more recognition.
And even more profound than that: respect means reflecting - mirroring - the other. And the only way to respect our Self, pass through respecting - reflecting and mirroring - the others.
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