R-E-S-P-E-C-T
For a while there the phrase "ok Boomer" became a way for younger generations to call out the ideals and practices of older generations. "OK boomer" or "okay boomer" is a catchphrase and internet meme often used by Millennials and Gen Z to dismiss or mock attitudes typically associated with baby boomers – people born in the two decades following World War II. The phrase really took off in 2020, but had been used before that.
Not too long after "Ok Boomer" came "Ok Karen/Kyle." Our youngest aren't being taught or held accountable for the disrespect they show towards anyone older to them or even to each other. Name calling, bullying, violence has increased in our younger generations. Instead of there being a healthy fear of repercussions in disrespecting others, it has become common to show contempt towards peers and especially their elders. It is normal and easy for a child to talk back, to rebel, to scream, to use inappropriate language. What makes it worse, the people who care, the people who don’t want this type of behavior to continue, are the ones being labeled Karens, Kyles, or Boomers.
It is too old school to teach respect and to have strict rules and consequences. It is too old school to not let a child express themselves and have freedom to grow. It is too old school to demand manners and morals in how someone acts both in public and how they act for themselves. I was reading a blog by JoLynn Homin. She said, “ Adults have been personally victimized with the heinous words and physical abuse of children and adolescents. Respect has not been properly taught or enforced in a considerable amount of today’s youth and it is consequently shaping today’s society in detrimental ways.” I will add to this that children learn it somewhere. This isn’t something they are born with. No one is born with disrespect, hate, contempt to others (prejudice). This is something that is taught. The horror of our reality is this has been taught for more than just a generation or two.
Children see how adults interact with one another. Especially in today’s world of technology and social media, children are more influenced now than ever by family, friends, and internet celebrities. Influencers play a huge role in shaping our society and what is allowed and not allowed. Adults aren’t monitoring what children have access to and what they are exposed to. Cursing and foul language is common and encouraged in media and social media. I am not saying I have never used inappropriate language, that would be a lie. I have worked to curb that because I realized that it not only was a disrespect to others, it is a disrespect to myself and how I am choosing to present myself to others. I have watched movie trailers, and the amount of movies that have the “F” word in every other sentence in astounding. Many television programs are not healthy for children or adults as they demonstrate toxic behaviors. Advertisements have also become so abundant it has created this negative atmosphere teaching coveting along with a mentality that having things=happiness.
I decided a week ago to do a social experiment on a local Facebook page. I learned along time ago that airing every aspect of ones life or feelings on social media isn't healthy, which is why I tend to keep my opinions to myself and not put them on social media. I have also learned that many people will comment on anything and everything because it can be done behind a keyboard and the risk of actually facing someone is practically zero.
Monday of last week was when this situation happened. An obnoxiously loud car drove by my house more than once after 10 PM. Now, I will admit I have a heightened distaste for loud noises late at night due to my anxiety and my anxiety being triggered by loud noises. I thought about how to voice my opinion. Because I was wanted to do a social experiment i thought this was the perfect opportunity to do so. I am a sarcastic person and unapologetically so. I decided to take to the Eye on Keyser page, where I live, and put up a rather sarcastic public service announcement to see how people would react. I was pleasantly surprised at the fact a couple people came to my defense, after all I was legitimately irritated. I was adamant that respect for people should be shown, especially for those that work in the morning hours and are trying to sleep.
I was met with some of the following statements (by people who do not know me):
“Okay Karen. No one cares”
“Yeah, there is a water problem in Piedmont and this is what is being complained about.”
“Venting on Facebook is a waste. No one cares what you think.”
There were many more I could have put, I think I will leave it to these three. Within these comments, other people came to support the commenter with name calling and vulgar language towards myself. They don’t know me. They are empowered at the ability to be vocal to someone while hiding behind a keyboard because it is easy to treat others with disrespect when you aren’t looking them in the eye.
The comment that really got me, and I knew it was going to happen was the “Okay Karen” comment. This comment irritates me as much as the “OK Boomer” comment does. Because of the screaming of free speech in this country, free speech has now been associated with the freedom to disrespect people and diminish the thoughts of others. In my observations I have noticed anytime someone disagrees with someone else, they are immediately labeled a “Karen or Kyle” which is associated with an older meme about someone who has a particular haircut and feels entitled to ask for a manager when something doesn’t go exactly as they wish. In my post, I stated along the lines that it was absolutely their choice to own this obnoxious sounding vehicle. It would also be nice to be respectful when thinking about when and where they are driving since not everyone would want to hear this at all hours of the night.
I was called a Karen. In no way did I demand that this person change their car. In no way did I demean the driver for owning this car. I stated my distaste for the noise of this car, especially considering the hour it was happening. I was called a Karen. I wish I was surprised…alas I am not. There is no respect anymore. I really wish I could put my finger on the exact problem. This country (broadly speaking) has allowed for disrespect to be the driving force behind social normality. As someone who interacts with all ages, from our youngest to our oldest, I can tell you I have seen the disrespect everywhere.
What makes this worse, I see this coming from folks who claim to be part of the Christ-following tradition. Hypocrisy at its finest. When I work with youth, I am constantly reminding them that they way they choose to talk to each other, especially siblings and family members, will end up being the way to talk to everyone they come into contact with. It has been come easy and has become normal to talk to someone as if they are a piece of gum on the bottom of one's shoe. I am not saying I am guiltless in doing so. I catch myself in my words and tones frequently and admit it to the person(s) I am speaking to. The problem is that accountability doesn't exist. The logic of today's society: It is okay to get angry at someone or to be hurt because someone spoke to me that way YET it is completely okay for me to do it to someone else.
If only ethics were taught more in today's world. If only universal law could be practiced. Do you know what I mean by Universal Law? It is an Ethical Theory by Immanuel Kant. Kantianism emphasizes the principles behind actions rather than an action’s results. Acting rightly requires being motivated by proper universal principles that treat everyone with respect. When you’re motivated by the right principles, you overcome your animal instincts and act ethically
Kant’s Formulation: (The Formula of Universal Law): "Act only on that maxim through which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law [of nature]."
What is a maxim? A maxim is the rule or principle on which you act. For example, I might make a maxim to stop and talk to every family member waiting in a hallway when I am walking through the hospital as a way to do good.
Basic idea: Whatever standard you hold for others you must also hold to yourself. More accurately, it commands that every maxim you act on must be such that you are willing to make it the case that everyone always act on that maxim when in a similar situation. I.e. If I am okay with throwing trash on the side of the road, then everyone would be allowed to do so.
There is a catch-22 to this. Lying throws a wrench in this and makes impermissibility come into play. If I were to be okay with lying making it universally acceptable to lie, then everyone would stop believing each other, making the rule self-defeating and no longer of use.
Kant argues that the moral worth of a person coincides with motivation behind the actions he or she demonstrates. His main idea is that an individual only has moral worth if their actions are motivated by morality. If emotions or desires are the driving force, then the individual cannot have moral worth. Moral worth only comes when you know you are doing something that you know is your duty and would do it regardless of whether you like it or not.
In many ways, I connect my understanding of Kant's theory to the examples of Jesus Christ. Jesus spent his time of ministry doing what He knew was morally correct. Whether the human side of him wanted to or not never played a factor. He was willing to go against the Pharisees and Sadducees in his practices, knowing they were trying to find a way to have him killed since his actions threatened their ego, pride and standing. When the Pharisees came around him and tried to trick him with questions or situations, he didn't respond to them with "Ok Kyle," instead he responding with a teaching moment to demonstrate their actions were not going to change how Jesus would live his life.
What would happen if we were to take a play from Jesus' play book. I know there may be people that read this blog that may not be part of the Christ-following movement. That isn't the big idea here. The big idea in this post is respect. What if we started to really ask ourselves what is important to each one of us in how we feel we should be treated. If we know how we feel we should be treated, universally speaking, we will then be able to demonstrate that to everyone we meet. If we don't, we need to get right within our own person. Only we can make the change needed to make the world better. I can't wait for everyone else to do it. One small change can have a major impact.
Komentarze