Respectism and The Endeavour for a Respectful Society
Respectism is the belief that a respectful society is a pragmatic necessity for survival.
When we talk about containing pollution
or genocide or nuclear weapons, it is surprising that we have not
recognized the central truth: We are the problem.
At this late date, too few have
recognized the most basic political issue: Our human family, living in the thin strip of life painted on this planet, must get along
better, or we will kill ourselves off.
Until the truth about the universal
need for a respectful society is recognized and addressed by enough
of us, we will never be able to solve the perilous riddle of how to
survive our weapons and our waste.
Respectism defines a respectful society
as one in which enough of us are cooperating to help each other
balance the three everyday, instinctual elements of respect: respect
for self, others and place.
Respect for self honors the individual
will to survive and thrive, respect for others honors the humanity of all human
beings and honors the life that surrounds us, respect for place honors
everything from a shared table to shared earth, water and air.
The respectism tri-model presents
respect as a centering of three values that usually overlap, but
which are not the same, honestly admitting that true respect is a
skill to be developed over a lifetime.
Not everyone is ready to believe that a
more respectful society is essential to our survival.
Throughout history, there have been
selfish and mean leaders, those who have willingly followed them, and
those who have said we will never change.
Those of us who believe that a more
respectful society is essential and possible will want to do the
following.
Second, the abusive must be respectfully kept from power, and the behavior patterns of those who rule through fear, abuse, exploitation of prejudice and distortion of principles must be commonly recognized in order to assist with that endeavour.
Third, fair dealing, based on listening dialogue, honest negotiation, and equality must be promoted as the mechanism for creating a respectful society in public and private settings including justice for all, representative leadership and governance, economic exchange, the meeting of basic human needs, friendship, family and love.
Fourth, the success of a respectful society must be measured by the decrease of all acts and threats of violence and involuntary detention, including those needed for true self-defense of the individual or society, as well as by the decrease of hunger and homelessness, and in the quality of our air, land and water.
Fifth, the principles of a respectful society must be kept simple and clear enough for young children to learn, adults to believe and the weak to own as well as the powerful, so that respectism is never confused with an illusion of respectability, or authoritarianism, or made the enemy of liberty.
If a respectful society seems like an idealistic fantasy, please answer this question: "How will we survive without changing our behavior towards one another?"
No one knows exactly how we will create a respectful society anymore than the inventors of the first flying machine could have imagined a space shuttle.
We must start performing countless experiments in respect, if we are to survive.
We should start now.
Love is the soul of respect, and respect is the language of love.
Labels: earthfamily, Respectism
posted by respectisthehub @ 12:05 PM
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