Today's topic of conversation is respect. R E S P E C T work out what it means to me, sock it to me baby yeah and so on.
Aretha Franklin had it sussed, but what I'm talking about is that respect that our 'elders' expect to be there automatically just because they are older than us.
Stuff that! I was always taught that respect is something to be earned through actions, words and the way we treat people. And mutual respect, whereby both parties respect each other because they have earned it. This leads to happiness and feeling generally alright.
I moan about this because today, as I stood in the line to get on the bus with Helen I was abruptly pushed aside as two old ladies climbed on in front of me but behind Helen. I had stood back to let them on but they still pushed through like they were determined to get on before me. However, they let Helen on without any problem.
So what's wrong with this picture? This: I was in school uniform, Helen was not. But consider. Helen was clutching her school bag, as was I. Helen is still in full time education, as am I. Helen does not wear uniform, but I do. I guess this is also about prejudice - they pushed past me like I was scum, yet let a non-uniform wearing pupil go without any fuss.
Our school tries to be traditional and prim, and they do this with rules like 'standing up at the start of assembly', 'standing up when a teacher enters the room' and 'standing up when a teacher leaves the room'. This is supposedly in the name of respect... balls! It seems a bit of a power trip to me. But that doesn't mean we disrespect all our teachers. For example, we had this excellent maths teacher for three years running. She taught us well, gave us practical examples and explained things on our level. When she said 'shut up', we shut up. When she said 'do this', we did it. It was mutual respect. If we said 'give us an example', she gave us an example, if we said 'we don't understand', she would make us understand even if it meant her lesson plan went out the window. It was great! Mathematical bliss preveiled and we all did well in our year 9 SATS.
Then we got a new teacher who expected us to automatically respect him and be good. I'm sure you can guess how that turned out. We are still in a bitter struggle with him to be taught properly. No one bats an eyelid when he screams for silence, because none of us respect him. Respect should be earned, it cannot be dealt out like school dinners.
Which brings me back to those two little old ladies. They were there first and I was happy to let them on, but they did not seem happy that I was waiting to get on the bus. I've never seen either of them before, yet they thought I should respect them as they disrespected me while they had no problem with my sister. When we were safely up the stairs, I pointed it out and Helen said she had seen it. She said she had pushed in front of them to get back at all the times that she was metorphorically spat at by nasty old ladies, and I don't know if I can condemn that. But, as someone once said, the young
do know everything, the old just won't admit it.
I want to end on a light note... I can think of one thing that's had me smiling since Friday, maybe I'll save that right to the end because it isn't topical or anything. Hmmmm...
Nope, nothing.
And finally, following on from my mad use of capitalisation last week, HE LIKES ME! HE LIKES ME HE LIKES ME HE LIKES ME! Might see him briefly on Friday, I don't know because it all depends on many factors. But I've been boring various people with my starry-eyed happy thoughts since Friday. Maybe next time I'll tell you about the gig, that was really good too... apart from all the sweat. Tatty b-b for now!
