Like many others, we are appalled by the behavior of Kanye West at the MTV Video Awards last Sunday. Our children are fans of Taylor Swift and were so incredibly disappointed and upset by the utter lack of respect Kanye showed for someone assuming an award; it did not matter that he felt she did not deserve the award. It made us think of the power that artists feel they have in the world - and how they can abuse that power in a simple moment like that.
Two subsequent instances further underscore the lack of respect that our society has come to display: Serena Williams yelling at the referee at the U.S. Open and House Representative Joe Williams yelling "You Lie" to President Obama. Both reflect an utter disdain for the positions that others hold, and the behaviors they justify by their fame and/or perceived honor. It points to an individualism that continues to value "me" over any others and, worse yet, to publicize that narcissistic attitude to the world.
The media that has surrounded this behavior has been helpful in that it has called us to a deeper sense of the impact that these outbursts have on all of us.
Imagine how these instances could have gone very differently had more respectful language been delivered in a spirit of "working together". We are all human beings on this planet and, while we don't always agree with one another, we are called to care for one another and care for our world.
As parents, members of the workforce and community members, we can all use these recent situations to heighten our sensitivity regarding how we communicate with one another, share our opinions and beliefs, and work together to somehow "bring up" those around us. . . or, at least, to avoid bringing others down.
Taylor Swift, as an example, is an amazing young woman doing amazing things with the talents she has been given. She had a humble heart as she began her acceptance speech - that was momentarily stopped as the mean-spirited Kanye ripped the microphone from her hand. How can we use this example to come up with a more acceptable, respectful way to share our opinions and feelings?
We live in a nation that has "Freedom of Speech" as a cornerstone of its constitution. How can we use this cornerstone in the spirit of respect, growth, and ultimately, care for one another?
Questions to Ponder:
• Look at a time in your most recent memory when you could have used the gift of respectful communication with someone you've encountered. Or, perhaps you could have used an experience as a "teachable moment" for those in your family or organization.
• How can communication go differently if we change our perception, our language, our delivery and our respect for others?
Two subsequent instances further underscore the lack of respect that our society has come to display: Serena Williams yelling at the referee at the U.S. Open and House Representative Joe Williams yelling "You Lie" to President Obama. Both reflect an utter disdain for the positions that others hold, and the behaviors they justify by their fame and/or perceived honor. It points to an individualism that continues to value "me" over any others and, worse yet, to publicize that narcissistic attitude to the world.
The media that has surrounded this behavior has been helpful in that it has called us to a deeper sense of the impact that these outbursts have on all of us.
Imagine how these instances could have gone very differently had more respectful language been delivered in a spirit of "working together". We are all human beings on this planet and, while we don't always agree with one another, we are called to care for one another and care for our world.
As parents, members of the workforce and community members, we can all use these recent situations to heighten our sensitivity regarding how we communicate with one another, share our opinions and beliefs, and work together to somehow "bring up" those around us. . . or, at least, to avoid bringing others down.
Taylor Swift, as an example, is an amazing young woman doing amazing things with the talents she has been given. She had a humble heart as she began her acceptance speech - that was momentarily stopped as the mean-spirited Kanye ripped the microphone from her hand. How can we use this example to come up with a more acceptable, respectful way to share our opinions and feelings?
We live in a nation that has "Freedom of Speech" as a cornerstone of its constitution. How can we use this cornerstone in the spirit of respect, growth, and ultimately, care for one another?
Questions to Ponder:
• Look at a time in your most recent memory when you could have used the gift of respectful communication with someone you've encountered. Or, perhaps you could have used an experience as a "teachable moment" for those in your family or organization.
• How can communication go differently if we change our perception, our language, our delivery and our respect for others?
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