Everyone deserves respect

EFF LEADER Julius Malema’s comments against Indians, while on his KwaZulu-Natal campaign trail, were unfortunate and warrant a response.

Let me try to lay out the main path of argument, which was lost amid his digressions and verbiage.

A common feature of post-apartheid South Africa is that all race groups display racial arrogance. We have, in the process, forgotten the virtues of respect.

English historian Lawrence Stone said: “Respect for ourselves guides our morals, respect for others guides our manners.”

If we could look into one another’s hearts and understand the individual challenges each of us face, we would treat one another gently, with love, patience, tolerance and care. Respect is a universal language.

It is a human right. Every human being deserves respect and also deserves to be treated with dignity.

Every human being has value and this is why respect is to be extended to everyone. Our human worth is not defined by money or status; it is something within us – it is what makes us human. In a rainbow democracy, like ours, the most highly prized qualities are honesty, respect and tolerance.

Respect is a basic moral value, a need that makes us aware that we are human beings, not modern-day slaves to be pulverised into submission.

Respect is a two-way communication which builds unshakeable bonds between people respecting one another’s dignity.

Our hard-won democracy has respect as the cornerstone of our daily interaction with our fellow beings. Disrespect is moral degradation. Benoni