America
has respect deficit
In the opinion piece on Jan. 18 called “Pledge of Allegiance respectful,
necessary,” there is one statement that presents a great irony at the end. It
is when the author, Sean Cocca, wrote “Even though it is someone’s
constitutional right to refuse to stand and recite the Pledge, I still believe
it is very disrespectful to everyone who does.”
The rhetorical question that comes to my mind is, how exactly is sitting down
and quietly refusing to recite a statement disrespectful if supposedly we have
the right to do so?
To me, the freedom to make our own choices contains an unwritten rule of respect
to others, even though we do not agree with them. Respect for others is something
I see as a deficit in our society because while out of one corner of our mouth
we espouse “individuality, freedom, choice,” we bow before the letter
of conformity, ostracism and deconstructive criticism.
If one does not follow the established traditional “norms” of society,
that person is considered an outcast. The word that defines this contradiction
is hypocrisy. If one does not respect another person’s right to make
choices that do no physical or psychological harm to another, the ideals of individuality
and freedom are dead in him/her.
Finally, in regards to patriotism, it is my observance that our culture is far
more concerned with base materialism, gaining more and more and more “stuff” than
in any spiritual/civil religious ideals as discussed in the article.
Observing these ethnocentric traits as well as getting perspective from other
people from other countries has made me see that.
The fact is, I respect anyone who has the courage to not follow the crowd and
stand up for what he or she believes in. Isn’t that the bedrock of
what America supposedly stands for?
—
Andrew Brooks
senior, political science
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