Respect

• Starting from Benito Juárez’s famous words, this reflection invites us to live respect as a value that prevents conflict and brings peace and harmony.

“Respect for the rights of others is peace.” Benito Juárez

The quotation I begin my reflection with is very well known and holds a great truth. It is an invitation to live this value, which protects us from conflict and brings peace and harmony.

Respect leads us to value others and accept their rights, as well as recognise our own obligations and those of our fellow human beings. However, we can see that today disrespect has become a way of life for many people.

Respect is a value we must nurture in a child’s early years, and one that parents and authorities must pass on and encourage. We need to see the example of our leaders and those who govern us. In a home or, more generally, in a nation lacking in respect, we will find ourselves unprotected against injustice and chaos.

It is time for us to stop and look at the many faces of disrespect. It is so common that we grow used to it and accept it as a necessary evil.

To cite just a few examples, we see how time, an extraordinarily valuable asset that can never be recovered, is wasted: just think how many hours we have kept someone waiting who had an appointment with us at work or at the doctor’s surgery.

It is an everyday occurrence for someone to run a red light, or to be robbed of our belongings or even of life itself.

As citizens, we have the right to expect those who govern us to respect the law, keep their promises and treat those with fewer resources with dignity.

• For your company to respect the agreements it made with you when you were hired.
• For your spouse to respect their marriage vows.
• For the supplier to do the work to the expected quality and on time. Even nature is groaning and expressing its discontent at so much abuse and lack of respect.

May this reality not fill us with despair, but rather move us to action. Every now and then we hear someone say we have to leave this country, the last one out should turn off the lights; so what will we leave our children?

We are part of the problem and we can equally be part of the solution. To live in peace we have to respect others and our surroundings. It is not an easy task; a misunderstood resignation can lead us to apathy and make us active participants in doing nothing.

I have complete confidence in you and in the human capacity to do good and do our best. If every man or woman is a creation of God, it must be possible, because everything God made is good.

I am counting on you to begin a process of change today, wherever you are. We can start at home, fulfil our duties and learn to claim our rights respectfully. May your voice never fall silent: teach by example and speak out against what is wrong.