Can't Get No Respect
Back in the 50's, and maybe even into the 60's, people never referred their boss by their first name. It was always, "Yes sir, Mr. Johnson." "I'll have that report on your desk by Monday, Mr. Jones." People had lived and grown up through the great depression and two World Wars. They understood the need to manners and decorum in the work place. They understood the need to respect those in charge and execute their orders without debate and questions. They were simpler times.
In the 1970's the Baby Boomers came of age and started to dominate the workplace. These kids grew up in the age of the civil rights movement. They were raised to think everyone was equal. Mr. Johnson started going by "Larry." Mr. Jones now wanted to be called "Tom". Bob Dylan sang, "Even the President of the United States must sometimes have to stand naked." It was supposed to be a refreshing new age where nobody was any better than anyone else and everyone's point of view was valid and equal. We see today it has turned out to be a disaster.
In our society today, nobody pays respect anymore. People call our leaders idiots and baffoons. Business leaders are seen as greedy and uncaring even though they create jobs for the rest of us. We are programmed to think any law you feel is unjust may be ignored. Turning society upside down is allowable as long as you are protesting a social injustice.
Look around you. It's everywhere. The recent illegal immigration marches are a protest against society. These people do not like the law, so they feel justified in gridlocking entire city blocks to make their point. They disregard the laws of society because they feel society is unjust. And indeed, society lets them get away with it. There have been times in our country when these types of protests have been properly used. A few examples that come to mind are the Boston Tea Party and Rosa Parks. But now it is being overdone. Illegal aliens protesting OUR laws. Retired generals speaking out against the Pentagon and Rumsfeld.
Indeed, nobody cares about showing respect anymore. Now all we care about is getting respect. This is dangerous ground we are treading on. Without respect for our leaders and our laws, we are only a few steps away from anarchy.
In the 1970's the Baby Boomers came of age and started to dominate the workplace. These kids grew up in the age of the civil rights movement. They were raised to think everyone was equal. Mr. Johnson started going by "Larry." Mr. Jones now wanted to be called "Tom". Bob Dylan sang, "Even the President of the United States must sometimes have to stand naked." It was supposed to be a refreshing new age where nobody was any better than anyone else and everyone's point of view was valid and equal. We see today it has turned out to be a disaster.
In our society today, nobody pays respect anymore. People call our leaders idiots and baffoons. Business leaders are seen as greedy and uncaring even though they create jobs for the rest of us. We are programmed to think any law you feel is unjust may be ignored. Turning society upside down is allowable as long as you are protesting a social injustice.
Look around you. It's everywhere. The recent illegal immigration marches are a protest against society. These people do not like the law, so they feel justified in gridlocking entire city blocks to make their point. They disregard the laws of society because they feel society is unjust. And indeed, society lets them get away with it. There have been times in our country when these types of protests have been properly used. A few examples that come to mind are the Boston Tea Party and Rosa Parks. But now it is being overdone. Illegal aliens protesting OUR laws. Retired generals speaking out against the Pentagon and Rumsfeld.
Indeed, nobody cares about showing respect anymore. Now all we care about is getting respect. This is dangerous ground we are treading on. Without respect for our leaders and our laws, we are only a few steps away from anarchy.
posted by Mike at 10:21 AM
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