We are prone to judge success by the index of our salaries or the size of
our automobiles,
rather than by the quality of our service to humanity.
(Martin Luther King)
Respectable
The notion of 'respectability' has a whole range of ideas associated with
it.
For many people it represents conduct.
A respectable person demonstrates behavioural traits that other people
consider admirable.
They are clean,
decent,
well-mannered and
honourable.
Worth
There is also the association of 'worth' attached to respectability; the
idea of
correctness,
civility,
dignity and righteousness.
A respectable person might be expected to have good character; be ethically
upright and unsullied by petty concerns or criminality.
They may be seen to be making a positive contribution to society.
Some people associate respectability with
wealth.
Blame
People speak of vandalism, graffiti, urban decay and blame these occurrences
upon poor people, upon social groups that they see as being lower than their
own.
This stems from a warped sense of
self-esteem.
When you drive a car, you frequently see incidents of dangerous and illegal
driving perpetrated by 'upright' citizens who are in a hurry to get
somewhere.
Whilst your average 4 x 4 vehicle owner may not vandalise other peoples
property, they will often commit acts of petty criminality without remorse.
Crime is crime; whether you steal cars or run red lights.
Stealing cars causes other people inconvenience, unhappiness and unnecessary
hassle.
Running a red light may kill someone.
Conduct
Respectability has nothing to do with wealth.
It is about the
quality of your interaction with those
around you.
Treating other people with courtesy and
consideration;
being well-mannered and even-tempered
are all indications of respectability - providing you are
genuine.
Integrity and fairness, generosity and modesty; these are more respectable
than having a well-paid job and a
large car.
Corruption
'Respectability' once had these connotations:
faultless
innocence
seemliness
sinless
virginity
In modern culture these
concepts seem outmoded when applied to an
adult.
Nobody is morally perfect or unsullied by life.
We are all corrupted by its
delights
and its compromises. Respectability is not to be found in
concepts but in deeds.
Balance
Beyond the high-minded values of bygone days there is a simplicity at the
root of respectability.
It is called the 'golden mean'.
The Greeks are
credited with the articulation of the golden mean; although
taoism,
Buddhism and Christianity
teach this too.
It was the middle way between the extremes of deficiency and excess.
The rule is simple: if you want to be respectable, treat others with respect.
Page created 6 July 2000