By: Leo Schroeder, Staff Writer

What is respect? This is a question we ask ourselves nearly every day while we watch our leaders slander each other with foul remarks, as our peers falsely superiorize themselves, and as our media taints our image of what we believe is necessary to be an American. Indeed, it seems to be that as a country, America is on a downward trend when it comes to respecting others. Is respect not the act of acknowledging another person as a fellow human whether they are of a higher authority than you or simply if they are your peer? And is this not the quality that we so highly praise as a prerequisite to being American?

Respect can be as simple as looking someone in the eye whilst they are talking to you. As a teenager, I have experienced many instances where respect was not present. There were instances where plans with friends were seamlessly ignored by the usual “Sorry I slept through my alarm”, or the classic “Oh I forgot”. Sometimes the excuse go as far as to blame others with “I couldn’t get a ride” . Just as anybody else would, I expect the respect I deserve, and that includes being  talked to with consideration. Simply put, blatant excuses show zero respect for the time I spent waiting at the library or just for some sort of update. The whole matter of respect boils down to knowing that if I am truly one’s peer, I am treated as so.

Even societies can be attributed to the principles of respect. A social class is created when a group of individuals acknowledges each other as equals. These groups eventually rank themselves in a way that demands constant respect from the inferior classes.

Another aspect of respect that people often fail to recognize is that if you give a little bit of respect, you’ll get a little bit of respect. As simple as it sounds, if you treat others with respect, they will, in turn, regard you as a respectable person. Acting in this manner will earn you credibility among others and eventually benefit you throughout life. That being said, please give respect as it is deserved. Do not carry out your life with the intention of looking good without feeling good, doing good things only for the repercussions and status boost while not having any intention to actually do good. This will not earn you the dignity that matters at the end of the day.

May this stand as a friendly reminder that respect is a crucial part of being a functioning person in our society. The level of respect you give may impact someone else in ways you could never imagine.