When people demand "respect" what they want is obedience. As a kid whenever someone said "you need to show me respect" what they meant was "shut up and do what I say," or "stop making me uncomfortable." It's confusing because nobody actually uses the words that mean what they say.
Thnx for this piece. It’s super disturbing to realize this type of hate is happening in your community. It’s horrifying to hear that “adults” would take out their vicious ignorance on children. It takes conviction to stand up in a public forum and question the community’s “values.” It clearly needs to be done and I hope you can attract some local allies to your point of view.
It's the whole country. The second Gus Walz appeared on the television, I knew conservatives would spend the next month attacking him. Conservatives are just horrible human beings. Every time I predict they're going to do something awful, they do something worse.
Unfortunately true. I grew up in the South where I was taught it was respectful to say "yes ma'am" and "yes sir" when speaking to adults. But those same adults just called Black people of any age by their first names and never used those "respectful" terms for them. I noticed the difference. Children learn those things without ever being taught them.
It should be clear that the First Amendment allows us to speak any language we wish: those Founders were often multi lingual, and would hardly support suppressing other languages.
The people who think other languages are disrespectful don't respect the rights of others...
This is one of those things the media and public schools can and should emphasize. But they don't. I don't know why we have to tiptoe around conservative hate ideology all the time. We should be allowed to tell the truth.
I was in the supermarket with my nieces today, when a very bitter old white woman said horrible things to my eleven year old niece. She ended up in tears because she said the lady called her niglet, and she needed to get out of her way with her stupid self. I was at the register and sent her to get bread rolls. She was very upset and wouldn’t tell me what was wrong. Another lady told me what happened and she had told a manager. I didn’t know what was going on, but a big black man escorted us to my car. He said he didn’t want no trouble from that disgusting woman. I asked my niece why she didn’t tell me. You will love her answer: “I don’t want you to go to jail “ 😮 wow.
What a heartbreaking story. Poor little girl. Our children do so much to protect us. I'm some allies appeared in that moment. The US needs an anti racism initiative. Best to you!
"There is no respect in the United States of America". Rodney Dangerfield told us that a long time ago, at least when it applied to him...
And thus, like Otis Redding and Aretha Franklin did in the 1960s, we have to request (re: demand) others give it to us if it is deserved ("Find out what it means to me...") and call out those who demand it when it is NOT deserved.
Yeah, the difference is that back then disrespect was reserved for people who deserved it. Now it's dumped onto kids. So tired of it! Thanks for the smile!
The only thing the Republican party has had anything to offer Americans (other than the wealthy) since at least 1929 is hatred. The targets change with the times. Communists (first real, now imaginary), Jews, Blacks, LGBTQ, immigrants, the poor. All a desperate struggle to get votes so they can cut taxes for the rich.
Very perceptive, Walter. Too bad that so many people have no empathy. I believe that a hallmark of a conservative is the inability to see anyone else's point of view. So when you explain how your wife and children are verbally assaulted, it has never occurred to them. Good for you. I don't know when and if America will ever get beyond such sad behavior. I hope your family knows that most of us feel for them.
Great writing, Walter. This is one of your best, and that’s saying a lot! You read them the riot act. They hate ‘hypocrites’ and you just showed them the mirror.
Brilliant. I love your description of the confusion. When I corner people like that I often hear the gears clank against each other out of alignment. The machinery of their brains wants to move forward but a cog is stuck, you can almost hear the gears grinding and see the brain overheating.
yeah, they give you a look that shows they’ve been conditioned to agree to certain key words, but they’re confused by the way you’re using them… it’s pitiful. Unfortunately that confusion often turns to rage.
Wow! So well said! I have personally turned off my silent mode and only recently! Enough is enough! No more bullying by MAGA Adults who treat anyone who disagrees with them like disobedient children who they just can't wait to punish!
Boy, do you ever have this right. It's like those bigoted people trashing The Acolyte TV show because the creators and actors aren't a bunch of straight white males.
When people demand "respect" what they want is obedience. As a kid whenever someone said "you need to show me respect" what they meant was "shut up and do what I say," or "stop making me uncomfortable." It's confusing because nobody actually uses the words that mean what they say.
Well said. It's so frustrating.
Thnx for this piece. It’s super disturbing to realize this type of hate is happening in your community. It’s horrifying to hear that “adults” would take out their vicious ignorance on children. It takes conviction to stand up in a public forum and question the community’s “values.” It clearly needs to be done and I hope you can attract some local allies to your point of view.
It's the whole country. The second Gus Walz appeared on the television, I knew conservatives would spend the next month attacking him. Conservatives are just horrible human beings. Every time I predict they're going to do something awful, they do something worse.
Unfortunately true. I grew up in the South where I was taught it was respectful to say "yes ma'am" and "yes sir" when speaking to adults. But those same adults just called Black people of any age by their first names and never used those "respectful" terms for them. I noticed the difference. Children learn those things without ever being taught them.
yeah, and when you call it out, the entitled people in power become violent. I'm so tired of it.
It should be clear that the First Amendment allows us to speak any language we wish: those Founders were often multi lingual, and would hardly support suppressing other languages.
The people who think other languages are disrespectful don't respect the rights of others...
This is one of those things the media and public schools can and should emphasize. But they don't. I don't know why we have to tiptoe around conservative hate ideology all the time. We should be allowed to tell the truth.
I was in the supermarket with my nieces today, when a very bitter old white woman said horrible things to my eleven year old niece. She ended up in tears because she said the lady called her niglet, and she needed to get out of her way with her stupid self. I was at the register and sent her to get bread rolls. She was very upset and wouldn’t tell me what was wrong. Another lady told me what happened and she had told a manager. I didn’t know what was going on, but a big black man escorted us to my car. He said he didn’t want no trouble from that disgusting woman. I asked my niece why she didn’t tell me. You will love her answer: “I don’t want you to go to jail “ 😮 wow.
What a heartbreaking story. Poor little girl. Our children do so much to protect us. I'm some allies appeared in that moment. The US needs an anti racism initiative. Best to you!
The greatest failure of our immigration system is granting citizenship to Rupert Murdoch
They always give it to rich people
Amen! He has done so much damage!
"There is no respect in the United States of America". Rodney Dangerfield told us that a long time ago, at least when it applied to him...
And thus, like Otis Redding and Aretha Franklin did in the 1960s, we have to request (re: demand) others give it to us if it is deserved ("Find out what it means to me...") and call out those who demand it when it is NOT deserved.
Yeah, the difference is that back then disrespect was reserved for people who deserved it. Now it's dumped onto kids. So tired of it! Thanks for the smile!
The only thing the Republican party has had anything to offer Americans (other than the wealthy) since at least 1929 is hatred. The targets change with the times. Communists (first real, now imaginary), Jews, Blacks, LGBTQ, immigrants, the poor. All a desperate struggle to get votes so they can cut taxes for the rich.
Agree
Very perceptive, Walter. Too bad that so many people have no empathy. I believe that a hallmark of a conservative is the inability to see anyone else's point of view. So when you explain how your wife and children are verbally assaulted, it has never occurred to them. Good for you. I don't know when and if America will ever get beyond such sad behavior. I hope your family knows that most of us feel for them.
Thank you!
Great writing, Walter. This is one of your best, and that’s saying a lot! You read them the riot act. They hate ‘hypocrites’ and you just showed them the mirror.
Thank you!
Brilliant. I love your description of the confusion. When I corner people like that I often hear the gears clank against each other out of alignment. The machinery of their brains wants to move forward but a cog is stuck, you can almost hear the gears grinding and see the brain overheating.
Well done.
yeah, they give you a look that shows they’ve been conditioned to agree to certain key words, but they’re confused by the way you’re using them… it’s pitiful. Unfortunately that confusion often turns to rage.
Wow! So well said! I have personally turned off my silent mode and only recently! Enough is enough! No more bullying by MAGA Adults who treat anyone who disagrees with them like disobedient children who they just can't wait to punish!
Thank you so much!
Thank you!
Boy, do you ever have this right. It's like those bigoted people trashing The Acolyte TV show because the creators and actors aren't a bunch of straight white males.
Racism leads to hostility and division in every part of our society.
GRACIAS
FELICES
WALTER RHEINWATER RHEIN FELICES