The Observer
It’s simply astounding the manner in which some people can disregard even the most fundamental rules and etiquette when within a new venue. Despite black-and-white directives, they would choose disobedience over propriety—and I can only speculate at what drives such contempt. Interestingly enough, those very same people may never showcase such behavior within their own territories, but seem to go right on ahead and toss restraint to the four winds the moment they enter another individual’s territory.
Increasingly, everyone seems to respect what is theirs but disrespect other people’s institutions. Think about entering a revered building—a place reserved for respect and reflection—only to behave with no regard for its hallowed status. It makes you wonder: is this the symptom of our evolving society, or an age-old issue we’ve simply blinded ourselves to?
I went to a program the other day that made me think of this. Towards the end of the program, a group of people entered, and the instant they had entered, there was no silence with them at all. It was disquieting. No hush, no respect for the holy ground that they had just stepped onto—the home of the Most High. They were jolting in their actions, disturbing in their presence, and above all, it was an utter absence of reverence.
Maybe the issue is at home and also at school. Maybe we’ve failed to instill children with values of respect, especially for spiritual settings. If we are to see a change, we first have to teach the younger generation the importance of respecting environments that mean so much to others.
