Respect

I hear it all the time. I hear how the youth of today has no respect. No respect for their older generation. No respect for their authority figures. No respect for the rules. And yes…we ALL have more liberties these days and are able to speak up about things we don’t agree with. But does that equal disrespect? That showing respect, means keeping your mouth shut while being humiliated? Are we to remain silent and allow someone to be demeaning and abusive?

Let me tell you something about the youth of today. I serve the 40 plus, mostly men during the afternoon at the small-town bar that I manage. And I don’t hear “respect” in their recommendations on how I could make more tips if I wore tighter clothes. I don’t hear “respect” in their lack of “thank-you” or the word “Please”. I don’t hear “respect” in their discussing people of color or political choices. I don’t hear “respect” in their disgusting dirty jokes that they like to tell.  I don’t hear “respect” in their pro or anti-vax opinions. I don’t hear “respect” when they talk of their spouses and mother of their children.

Maybe…just maybe. The reason there is so little “respect” is because it wasn’t shown by you. Children learn from watching.

I deal with the young and older generations. And I can honestly say that I have been shown nothing but respect, in reference to the above examples, by the younger customers. I hear them talk. I see them gather together. And I hear no hate or discrimination of any kind. They play their pool. They play their darts. They laugh and listen to their music. They aren’t loudly discussing what is wrong with the world today. They aren’t fighting over who they voted for or whether or not they are vaccinated. They aren’t belittling others for the color of their skin or their sexual preferences.

Maybe I’m lucky and just picked a good place to live. But whatever the case, I am proud of all the youth that have to swim through all the opinionated hatred and bullshit of what is right and what is wrong with the world today and be decent human beings. Because that is really all that is required of us. Just to be good humans to each other and ourselves. To stick up for what you believe in without shoving your morals down someone else’s throat. To listen to the opinions of others without spewing hatred toward them for not thinking like you do. To tip appropriately, even with no retirement fund or 401K. (I had to sneak that one in).

You keep being you. I see you and I’m proud of who you are. Who you are not afraid to be.