Why doesn’t society seem to be interested in Morals and Ethics? Standards of behaviour, and rights and wrongs no longer seem to be thought about, and Empathy where people consider other people’s emotions are no longer part of their life. Manners have gone out the window, moral standards are not taken seriously unless it is breaking the law, and no one seems to care how many people’s feelings are hurt with what they say. I will admit that Political Correctness has gone a bit too far, but there are benefits from thinking about what you do and how you say things.
Many adults and children think nothing about causing harm to others. It is as if they believe everyone owes them something. They didn’t ask to be born, so why can’t I do what I want, when I want? Also, they don’t care how their actions affect others. Discriminating against people, and calling them appalling names doesn’t help anyone, and many people think they are better than others.
I realise that most people do not behave this way, but it is becoming a common trend among the leaders of society who should know better, especially as they are constantly being promoted by the media. Demonstrating that kind of behaviour shouldn’t be acceptable. Children learn by what adults do. If no one tells them what they are seeing is wrong, they will try to do the same.
There are many countries where women are treated as second class citizens. The men have been taught while young that this behaviour is normal. Unfortunately, because they believe this, the boys in the family think it is OK to tell their mother’s off and make demands of them. I was appalled at a party one day, when a young boy of around six abused his mother and told her she was an idiot. It wasn’t my position to say anything, but I couldn’t help myself. I told this little boy not to speak to his mother like that. The look he gave me was of amazement that anyone could speak to him that way, especially a woman. The mother smiled at me with embarrassment. Obviously, Daddy, or even a grand-father spoke to her that way. The child just copied them.
It has taken me a long time to realise that one should think before one opens their mouth to say something. It wasn’t my right to chastise that little boy, but as an adult in someone’s home where the child was being rude, and no one else was saying anything, someone had to. Shortly after that they left. Hopefully my remarks had some effect on the boy. But I don’t think so.
Learning to treat others badly while young presents difficulties as you grow older. Since the end of the 20th century, more and more companies are run by women. Lots of businesses have been started by women and become extremely successful. How would a male who considers all women to be second class citizens behave if working in one of those companies? I definitely don’t think he would be considered as Managerial Quality, although he personally would think so.
For many years I have worked with volunteers. I learnt a lot. The main thing I discovered is that Volunteers, because they are not being paid, can up and leave anytime they are unhappy with how they are treated. As head of these societies, I was obliged to treat the people correctly. Make them feel welcome and one of the family. I am not saying it was easy. I didn’t get on with everyone, but volunteers in charitable organisations are necessary. One learns to be diplomatic, friendly and generous. That meant accepting everyone for what they could give to the organisation.
Living in a world where we all have different values and backgrounds, can lend itself to people trying to impose their ideals on to others. In most cases this is not successful. Trying to understand other people’s feelings and beliefs would go a long way to helping people to get on with each other. The point is, you don’t have be friends with everyone, but you do have to live and work alongside them. This shows respect. Respecting and helping them to understand you, and you them, makes for a much more peaceful life.
The sooner we all learn to respect everyone, the better the world will be. My hope is that if we teach our children to believe in standards and try to be respectful, we will have a world of better adults showing how we should live.
Julie Finch-Scally ©
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