Respect, Have We Lost It?

When do we cross the line between sharing our passionate feelings about something that is happening that we don't like, and showing that we've lost respect for a person, candidate, President? I think first it's important to define "respect".

According to "Encarta", it's defined as:

• Esteeming somebody or something: to feel or show admiration and deference toward somebody or something
• Not go against or violate something: to pay due attention to and refrain from violating something - ie. respect the law, respect another's privacy
• Be considerate toward somebody or something: to show consideration or thoughtfulness in relation to somebody or something.

How you take that definition and apply it to a person will be determined by whether you feel a person has to earn your respect, or whether we are just supposed to respect because we are told to. For me, this is "easy", by that I mean I know what I'm supposed to do, not that it's always easy to do it. I believe Jesus taught us we are to show respect to those who are in authority over us.

I don't believe that we should never take a stand for what is wrong, but do believe that the stand never should be downright nasty, and I'm ashamed of those who are of the same political persuasion that I am that act that way.

Here's a post I did last year on Oct. 9, 2008. I'll be reading it over along with you, and determining whether I was showing respect when I posted it, and will consider whether I'm showing respect when I do future posts to this blog:

I know I'm supposed to be writing about the debates, the polls, the negative
advertising, what I think about Barack Obama -v- John McCain, but today I just
have to comment about something I'm passionate about, and that is RESPECT!

I don't appreciate negative advertising, from either side, but that
seems to be the way it is in the game of politics. But what appals me even more
is the new movie that is out that claims to be a biography (lying is "in" too!)
about our President, called "W". How sick can you get? Not only does it mock a
man that should be respected, but it mocks the God that many of us worship and
serve. I'm angry, mad, disgusted!

As if that isn't enough we have to have a movie out that's only purpose is to put down Christianity.

Have you ever heard of the "Antichrist"? It/he was prophesied in the Bible as being a
big part of the "end times", the last days before Jesus Christ is to return to
earth, yes, the same Christ that is being mocked today. If the things we are
seeing today aren't "Antichrist", I don't know what is.

We should be ashamed of ourselves as people and Nation for letting things like this go on. No matter WHO becomes leader of our Nation, whether it be John McCain, or Barack Obama, they will receive my respect, and I will be praying for them.