Respect

I was in a commuter omnibus the other day (gee that’s a long word, I should have just said kombi), and a certain young man was sitting behind me. I couldn't help but be awed by the way he was interacting with fellow passengers, he was so polite, genuinely polite. Courteous words slid of his tongue like...um... like what?... like a car sliding off the highway in Bulawayo Road on a rainy night. Not that air-brushed, slightly-overdone, Christian, munhuwamwari politeness, I’m talking about real politeness here, natural and effortless. Real respect, the real deal. I mean, he was making the hwindi feel like the Senior Partner at Ernst & Young!

In today’s society that, right there, is the stuff of legends, there should be a museum for people like that. When that guy dies, I’m gonna have his statue in my front yard, or better yet, in First Street for all to see. People who can still recognise the value of everyone they meet despite whatever station they hold in life are real heroes. Superheroes who can appreciate that divine value the Ever-present Almighty sealed in every one of us, that’s priceless.

“Respect is a positive feeling of esteem or reverence for a person or other entity.” That is how the greatest Know-it-all, Wikipedia, defines respect. Er…um, that was disrespectful, I take that back, that is how Wikipedia, the site with the richest alluvial deposits of information, defines respect. The Shona say “munhu anebasa rake anebasa rake,” which means, “a person who’s got their job, has got their job,”  which means, respect whoever is playing a role in society no matter how small it may seem to you. Respect security guards, cleaners, maids, garden boys, kombi crews and the guys who shout “Tooown-Copacabanaaaa!”, politicians, debt collectors, even the police! Respect every one because everyone was strategically placed on this planet for a reason.

Guys you are not getting me, I’m talking about respect from the heart, not that kind of respect you give to a long forgotten relative you are suddenly pretending to care about because they showed up. I’m talking about the respect that leaves a warm fuzzy feeling in your heart after you give it, like just after having a normal conversation with a street-kid, well a street-father to be more precise. I’m not talking about tolerating their chatter, I mean a hearty exchange, because for some unknown reason, you see something good, valuable and important in them.

Let’s not look down upon other people, there is really no reason why you should feel you are mightier than thou, we are all small pieces of a bigger picture. Respect the bigger picture and you will be amazed by how completely unexpected people will contribute to your life.

Each and every one of you reading this, I’m inviting you to actively take part in restoring respect in our society. Try to show respect to at least one person every day. Respect other cars while you are driving, respect pedestrians, don’t straddle too far the stop lines at the stop lights; give them their due space to cross the road. Respect the elderly at queues, you will be thankful for this seed you are planting when you get old.

Why show respect? Because it breeds community, friendship and peace; because it increases productivity and sparks creativity. Increased productivity and creativity will improve the economy and better our livelihood. Respect because you also want to be respected. Respect because you need every help you can get, for you to live your purpose and achieve your life goals.

That is why I will conclude my unborn child’s bedtime story by saying, “After almost begging the conductor to drop him by his bus stop, the young man neatly folded the kombi seat blocking his way, and gently alighted. He turned his head and looked at the conductor, eyes beaming like the crack of dawn. From the deepest, utmost, darkest, warmest pits of his heart, he said. ‘Thank you, my brother…’”.

Together we can make this work.

I wish you success.