Rodney Dangerfield was an American stand-up comedian and actor known for his catchphrase: “I tell you, I don’t get no respect!” His monologues would go on and on about how no one respected him. He was also famous for one-liners that talked about mistreatment and lack of respect. Here’s one: “When I was a kid my parents moved a lot, but I always found them!” He was a funny guy, but he wasn’t the only one talking about the need for respect.
Aretha Franklin rocked the R&B world with a redo of a song originally released by Otis Redding in 1965. According to Wikipedia, Franklin’s cover of Respect was a landmark for the feminist movement, and is often considered as one of the best songs of the R&B era, earning her two Grammy Awards in 1968 for “Best Rhythm & Blues Recording” and “Best Rhythm & Blues Solo Vocal Performance” by a female, and was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1987.
Both Rodney and Aretha gave us a peek into the thinking and the need for respect of most adults from decades ago. Back in the day, most parents spent a great deal of time teaching children about respect. We were taught to ALWAYS respect adults no matter what, and we were taught how to give and receive respect from our peers.
In today’s world where it feels like some of our adults have disappeared or are MIA. But young people need to hear our voices more than ever. Yes, would be nice if young people were a bit more respectful. Maybe. Maybe kids need to see more adults model respect. Kids have taught me that they don’t mind being taught about respect or anything else, they just want us to care enough to act.
hamsight: R.E.S.P.E.C.T.
Hamsights 