R-E-S-P-E-C-T – Let’s do something to improve it

My article yesterday about R-E-S-P-E-C-T hit a nerve, there is no doubt about it.  Read it here… http://www.startsatsixty.com.au/a-generation-without-respect/

Our community is clearly frustrated by the attitudes of some young people, and their lack of respect for age, experience and authority.  Our Facebook page was torn up with comments, most horrified at the disrespect they receive on a regular basis.
What many agreed on is that the early instilment of family values is the most important thing that contributes to the youth of today’s desire and ability to respect others older than them.  Many who have raised their own children feel they have done well in the cultivation of respecting young people, and I don’t doubt you have.

What I want to share is that the response we received was largely very negative and validated the problem of lack of respect as a real issue, but very few people offered any constructive ideas or positive ways we could help to change this.

One of the drivers for me writing this article is the reminder from the song by Aretha Franklin which was released 44 years ago this week.  The song created an uprising of people who wanted to fight for their civil rights, both blacks and women at different times adopted this anthem as their own… now I suggest the over 60s adopt it.

We have to become active in the reinstalment of high quality respect-worthy values in our youths of today, and the only way this will happen is if we drive for it.  If we come up with a logical solution that might change people’s opinions of our over 60s and allow them to respect the value you can offer in the world, in their world… which is how they think of it, maybe just maybe we can make a difference.

So instead of listing what irks you about the younger generation, today I ask you to come up with solutions… ways we can build respect for authority, respect for the older members of our community and respect that will last for generations to come in our little but big country.

Our little country has led the way for many in this world… maybe we can lead the way here too…

Are you willing to mentor a young person lost in their way?

Are you interested in creating an event that brings together school students all over the country and networks them with the older generation teaching them your value and helping to understand and connect with theirs?

Could we suggest a program for our national curriculum?  Or could we build a video or series that could be run in schools over a period of weeks?

Tell me your suggestions and, why don’t we “define” a list of positive values we want in our Australian youths… if we can, we work out what we want them to know about respect and then we can work out what strategies we can put in place to rebuild it…

List away… and please, stay positive … we’re an active community that can find a solution… not just complain about the problem. Or at least, I hope we are…