The BIG question that I often ask myself lately is this:

“What happened to the standards that our fathers lived by?”(That is the standards that we as older, or senior people, grow up with and lived by.)

About fifteen to twenty years ago, the young parents with their first child, have forgotten the lessons learned from mother’s knee at the early age, even before we could walk. The backbone of life, we used to call it: Self-respect, respect, discipline, responsibility and trustworthy.

None of our young South Africans through the whole colour line in South Africa, up to the age of eighteen, even twenty, know or understand it. Some have not even heard of it!

Let me put it this way. I once ask a young lady the following questions: “Are you proud of who and what you are?” She could not answer me. (The answer should be something like this: - “Yes. I believe in, and respect myself. I am proud to be whom and what I am. I am not ashamed of my actions and words. I am willing to, and CAN, put my name on any of my actions and words.”)

Allow me to break this whole concept down to the bone a bit more. Maybe then it can be understood.

1.Self respect. Are you proud of who and what you are, as a person, a human?

Who and what are you? What did you stand for in life? What did you believe in?

What are your standards in life and the community?

2.Respect. How can you ask to be respected if you did not have self respect? If you did not respect someone or something? Even your pet at home must be respected! Respect cannot be bought, borrowed or steel. It must be earned!

Can you be respected if your clothes are dirty, did not fit properly, even torn? Can you be respected if you are drunk, drugged or swearing all the time? Can you be respected if you hate everyone that is not your type or kind?

3.Disciplined. How can you say that you are disciplined if you lie, cheat, steel?

Are you disciplined in for your actions or words? Did you have the discipline to control your anger, needs, or even greed? Are you disciplined in the classroom, the sport field or office, workplace?

4.Responsibility. How can you be responsible if you have no self-respect, did not respect anyone or anything, the people you work with, or their property?

Are you responsible if you are a criminal, a thief, a fraudster or a lair? Are you responsible if you neglect your family, your work, or yourself? Are you responsible if you did not care for the chores that you have to do?

5.Trustworthy. How can you be trusted if you are not responsible? Can you take charge of your actions and the words you speak?

Can you be trusted if you did not look after yourself? Can you be trusted if you are a thief, a criminal or a liar?

Where in our lives did we lose these properties? The five stone pillars of humanity? The proud of be a human?

We did not care how the children talks to their parents, teacher or other people. Because we as parents did not care how we talk to one another, or what we do in harming them, with words or actions. There is no love, respect or discipline in that house!!!!

Why are we not the example for our children or for others? That is something our Creator wants us to do, to live by!!!

These are questions that can be asked to ALL humans, as high up in the society as the leaders of our country. Even throughout all the races of continent, even in the world!

I think that I am man enough to stand tall on this believes. I am even willing to put my name on this thought that I put on paper!

IS THERE ANYONE TO STAND BESIDE ME, WHO THINKS AND FEEL ABOUT THIS SUBJECT AS I AM?

Francois A Booyse

Email: shalaco@telkomsa.net

Note.

“Respect cannot be bought, borrowed, or even stolen. It can only be earned! This can only happen if you respect others as you would like to be respected.”