Culture of respect
THE Japanese are known for their discipline and cleanliness. At the World Cup recently they showed that both are really features of their culture of respect.
When the Japanese team exited the World Cup after losing to Belgium, they did a stunning act of sportsmanship (and respect for host Russia) by restoring their locker room to its original spotless condition before leaving. The Japanese fans also collected their trash and left their stadium seats spotless.
Their classy act caused Japan’s culture of respect to be featured on world-wide television. Out of respect for people’s health, Japan’s streets are free of litter and uncollected garbage. Out of respect for the safety of others, Japanese motorists stop for pedestrians and follow all traffic rules. (I have been to Japan lately and was a beneficiary of Japanese courtesy in the streets of Miyakojima).
Because they value other people’s time, they are always on time. They are also quiet while inside public transports out of respect for people who might want to read or study, sleep or just enjoy the ride in peace and quiet.
Compared to the Japanese very few of whom, by the way, are Catholics (455,000 out of 127 million) we are a vulgar lot. We disrespect people’s right to safe travel by disobeying traffic rules, especially not stopping for hapless pedestrians even on zebra lanes. We do not let the other person first as a sign of respect. We always want to be first in getting something, even communion.
We do not value other people’s time and are always late for an appointment or event. We do not respect the need of the sick, elderly or exhausted folks for sleep by blasting our karaoke’s well into the night and ringing Church bells at unholy hours in the morning.
The core tenet of Christianity is love of neighbor and a base ingredient of that love is respect. There simply cannot be any love when respect is absent. More, therefore, than the Japanese, again most of whom are not Catholics, we should have a culture of respect as this is an essential ingredient of the love for others our religion teaches us.
Until the Department of Education decided it will be taught again, I didn’t know GMRC (Good Manners and Right Conduct) has not been taught in schools. No wonder, in the words of Global Peace Foundation Philippines, “there is evident decline in morality, honesty, discipline, respect, civility in our midst, in the family, in society, in government, even in schools.”
That GMRC will be taught again is, therefore, most welcome. It is about respect for others, a quality our political, economic and even religious leaders lack towards us and that we lack towards one another. We sorely need a culture of respect.