---Respect can never be demanded, legislated or otherwise gained through intimidation. Respect was, is and will always be earned, if not, it carries no value and is no more than a facade of toleration, a false premise that will only lead to resentment. We cannot confuse words and insert meanings and values into words that are not there. The word becomes lost and a contortion of meanings takes place.
This is no less than Newspeak from "1984" "It is a controlled language created by the state as a tool to limit freedom of thought, and concepts that pose a threat to the regime such as freedom, self-expression, individuality, and peace. Any form of thought alternative to the party’s construct is classified as "thoughtcrime" From Wikipedia
It find it utterly amazing that we are being dominated by a political correctness, which is no less than a political mandate to redefine the English language and American culture to appease a political agenda.
The word 'mom', is a prime example. In the last 15 years this word has become the new definition of most women under most circumstances, regardless of any other achievement or identity, and it too, has become a new metered measure of ‘respect.’ The word, 'Mom' was an endearing word used by a child for their mother or the father referencing the child’s mother, not unassociated adults with reference to a women's role as a parent. It would seem that our society is being re-engineered around words, fluff and puff and meaningless words that are being used out of context. http://www.newspeakdictionary.com/ns-prin.html
It is very disheartening to see a headline that says that a, 'mom killed her children by strangulation.' Moms don't do that, but a deranged or drug addict mother might. Women are no longer identified, as wives, as to give indication that such and marriage are no longer integral to having a child or to the proper assemblage of a family.
The word, ‘respect’ is also to mean tolerance and to disrespect is to be intolerant. Intolerance, of course, is to shun and or question all that, which may or may not be conducive or complimentary to your life style, heritage, culture and beliefs.
Respect must never be given unless it is earned. If it is, the word becomes meaningless and ambiguous, as so many words are today. Words are being redefined. Phrases, such a 'going forward', have become a cliché used by all to mean nothing, as there is no going forward to a specific or defined goal, but that all are going forward.
The promoted ambiguity of words is a reductionist philosophy used to remove meaning and value of a language leaving definition to the State.
“The aim of Newspeak is to remove all shades of meaning from language, leaving simple concepts (pleasure and pain, happiness and sadness, goodthink and crimethink) that reinforce the total dominance of the State. Newspeak root words serve as both nouns and verbs, further reducing the total number of words; for example, "think" is both a noun and verb, so the word thought is not required and can be abolished. The party also intends that Newspeak be spoken in staccato rhythms with syllables that are easy to pronounce. This will make speech more automatic and unconscious and reduce the likelihood of thought. (Seeduckspeak.)
In addition, words with negative meanings are removed as redundant, so "bad" becomes "ungood". Words with comparative and superlative meanings are also simplified, so "better" becomes "gooder", and "best" becomes "goodest". Intensifiers can be added, so "great" became "plusgood", and "excellent" and "splendid" become "doubleplusgood". This ambiguity between comparative/superlative forms and intensified forms is one of the few examples of ambiguity in Newspeak.” From Wikipedia
I hope I did not go too, far afield in my response.
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