Exercising Respect

I truly wish I could be surprised by that fact that I just finished reading a news report detailing how a 51 year old woman was beaten to death by two teens for an X Box game system. I wish I could say that I just can’t imagine how two people one 14 years old and the other 15 could do this but I honestly am not surprised. I don’t know these young males personally, that is not why I am not surprised but I do know teen culture and having worked with teens for almost 13 years now has led me to where I am with my feelings. I see teens daily in my role as a public high school official who have no idea what it means to show respect for others. Now some may say the lack of respect for human life the two teens showed in the X Box beating is a long way from say showing disrespect by cursing out ones parents or teachers but I beg to differ, it is not that far off.
Having respect for others is a way of life, in the same way say exercising is. Some people exercise five times a week others maybe just once. We all must whether we are Christian or any other faith exercise respect for others daily. It is critical for the health of a society. More and more of our young people are just not exercising that respect. Parents, teachers, and any others who have vested interests in the young people around us must demand that respect be shown at all times. It can be a battle but one I am always ready to fight.

Just like working out once a week is not going to do very much for our bodies, showing or exercising respect just when it suits our needs is not going to do anybody any good.

Posted by Justin Aaron Foster
The Dean’s Corner