The Axiom Of Responsibility
Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior
By Taking Responsibility
For Themselves And Their Children

Tomorrow is the Fourth of July, and we want to encourage all Americans to take a moment and truly appreciate America. With all of our political, religious, and social differences, it is important for us to acknowledge how fortunate we are to be citizens of this great nation.

We must never forget the freedoms we enjoy here, freedoms some in other countries will never experience: We all have a voice in our elections. It is our right to speak and write freely, standing up for causes we believe in. We can worship as we choose (or not at all), without fear of government persecution. And most importantly, our government is founded on the belief that all people are created equal, allowing us to make the most of ourselves and our lives, as well as make significant strides against all forms of discrimination.

With all that America has given to us, it is our duty to stay involved in her future. This includes understanding the issues before our government and staying informed regarding decisions our elected officials are making each day. Magna Sententia states that each one of us is responsible for ourselves, and it is impossible to fulfill this responsibility completely if we do not know what is going on in our country and how these concerns are being addressed.

As we think about our lives here in America on this Independence Day, please don't forget to remember the men and women in our armed forces who have sacrificed so much throughout our nation's history for our freedoms and way of life. If you know people who have served our country, tell them how much you appreciate them and their service. Some of them have never heard a much deserved "thank you" from any of us.

Have a fun, safe day as you celebrate this Fourth of July and all that it means to be an American.

Anna and Ellie Sherise
Creators of Magna Sententia
Authors of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society

The Axiom Of Respect
Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior
By Treating Themselves And Others Respectfully
And Respecting Only Those Who Earn It

"Hundreds of leaders from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community gathered in the East Room of the White House Monday to commemorate the 40^th anniversary of the launch of the gay rights movement." ("Obama Works To Address Concerns Among Gay Supporters") In his remarks, President Obama assured the LGBT Community that he and his administration fully understand their position and will continue to champion their rights:

Now this struggle, I don't need to tell you, is incredibly difficult, although I think it's important to consider the extraordinary progress that we have made. There are unjust laws to overturn and unfair practices to stop. And though we've made progress, there are still fellow citizens, perhaps neighbors or even family members and loved ones, who still hold fast to worn arguments and old attitudes; who fail to see your families like their families; and who would deny you the rights that most Americans take for granted. And I know this is painful and I know it can be heartbreaking.

And yet all of you continue, leading by the force of the arguments you make but also by the power of the example that you set in your own lives -- as parents and friends, as PTA members and leaders in the community. And that's important, and I'm glad that so many LGBT families could join us today. For we know that progress depends not only on changing laws but also changing hearts. And that real, transformative change never begins in Washington.

Every American must realize that the people of the LGBT Community are important members of all of our neighborhoods and schools, local governments and volunteer services, churches and synagogues; they, like all Americans, deserve equal rights and treatment. Magna Sententia specifies that we treat all people respectfully, and on this special anniversary, please take the time to remember and reach out to those you love who are in part of the LGBT Community. Let them know how much you appreciate their struggle, and ask how you can be of support.

If you do not know anyone in this Community, visit your local LGBT advocate center and offer to volunteer wherever they need help. When you do, you will meet some of the most kind, compassionate individuals you have ever met, and you will have an increased understanding of the difficulties and discrimination they face. Knowing them personally will help you put yourself in their place, and you will see that they are just people asking to be treated with the same respect afforded to every other member of our society.

We applaud President Obama for his words of support, and it is our hope that all citizens of our country will open their hearts to the LBGT Community.

Anna and Ellie Sherise
Creators of Magna Sententia
Authors of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society

Dear Anna and Ellie:

My wife did something the other day that really made me mad, but she thinks I'm overreacting. What do you think?

A few weeks ago, I was mowing the lawn when my wife came out and told me that the clothes I was wearing were too "ratty" for the neighbors to see. I told her they are my work clothes, they are supposed to be ratty. I thought it was the end of it, but yesterday I came home from work and all of my work clothes were missing. I asked her about it, and she said she threw them out. I tried to recover them, but they were already gone.

This made me really angry, but my wife just doesn't understand why. It turned into a huge fight. I said that taking my stuff without asking was disrespectful, and she said that I was lucky she actually cared about what I look like.

What do I do? I could end the fight by apologizing for what I said, but I don't want to. Shouldn't she have asked me first? Wasn't that disrespectful?

--Missing My Old Shirts

Dear Missing My Old Shirts:

It is completely reasonable for you to be upset with your wife over this incident, but maybe instead of fighting about it, the two of you can learn how to communicate more effectively and relate to one another in a more positive way because of it.

We agree with you: Your wife throwing away your clothes without your permission is disrespectful (no matter what they looked like!). It is always disrespectful to assume that we can take another person's belongings and do with them what we wish. (This applies to partners, parents, co-workers, neighbors, and everyone else!) However, your wife may not realize this, so this will hopefully be an opportunity for her to grow.

Given her response that you are "lucky she actually care[s] about what [you] look like," she most likely never intended to be disrespectful at all. In fact, she may have had good intentions: She thought you needed new clothes, and the first step was getting rid of the old ones. Please understand, even if this is the case, we still disagree with your wife's actions; we are merely throwing this out as a reason for her behavior, (even though this reason does not justify her poor judgment.)

To mend your relationship now, sit down with your wife and calmly explain to her that while you appreciate the fact that she cares about your appearance, you do not want her to just take your things (clothes or anything else!) and throw them away without your knowledge. Explain that by doing this, she makes you feel like she has no consideration for your desires, thus damaging the bond between the two of you. Remind her of a time in her own life when someone treated her in a similar manner, and how hurt she felt. If you can't think of such a time, describe an experience of someone with whom you are both close. By doing this, she will be able to better understand how her actions made you feel.

--Anna & Ellie

Do you have a life or relationship question for Anna and Ellie? Do you want to know how Magna Sententia applies to your situation? Submit your question here!

Disclaimer
Anna Sherise and Ellie Sherise are not licensed or trained healthcare professionals, counselors, or financial advisors. "Ask Anna & Ellie" is provided for informational purposes only, and is not intended to take the place of the care and advice given to you by your physician, counselor, other healthcare professional, or financial advisor. Sherise Media LLC, its members and representatives, specifically disclaim all responsibility for any liability, loss, or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents of this article and/or website.

Every Monday, we explore a concept of Magna Sententia.

Today's Axiom:

The Axiom Of Respect
Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior
By Treating Themselves And Others Respectfully
And Respecting Only Those Who Earn It

The following is an excerpt from Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society by Anna and Ellie Sherise:

Have A Healthy Sense Of Shame

Currently in society, there is no shame, and in fact, shame has become a dirty word. Experts advise adults not to shame children for fear of hurting their self-esteem, but the truth is, all children need their self-esteem hurt once in a while. Of course, it is irresponsible, reprehensible, and contrary to Magna Sententia to physically beat or mentally scar children; still, it is actually healthy for them to be constructively punished and shamed for behaving selfishly or disrespectfully.

All people need to be ashamed of themselves when they mistreat others or act inappropriately, yet there are many individuals who never feel badly about themselves or their behavior, even though they are mean, rude, self-centered, or insulting. It is really no wonder that children and adults are shooting up schools and places of business, as no one has been taught shame.

Self-respect is illogical unless it is warranted. Part of the Axiom of Respect is respecting only those who earn it. This applies to you as well: Only respect you if you earn it.

Real friends are honest with one another and do not permit destructive or inappropriate behavior. Do the same for yourself: If you hurt others, feel badly. If you lose your temper and speak cruelly, be ashamed. In our society, almost everyone has an excuse for his or her poor behavior. They neglect their parental responsibilities because their first husband left them with three children. They murder fellow students and teachers because they were teased in high school. They commit crimes because they had bad parents.

Moreover, certain individuals blame everything and everybody else for their own lack of success instead of putting one foot in front of the other and making a better life for themselves. In general, success is directly correlated to hard work, and people who spew jealousy over someone else's success would be better off being quiet and trying harder. Individuals, self-help books, counselors, and other resources that attribute poor behavior to someone or something else make self-respect an illusion. People cannot truly respect themselves if they do not have a healthy sense of shame about their shortcomings and learn from their failures.

11:12 minutes (10.26 MB) Listen to the audio version of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society.

Part One: Preliminaries,
Section: Introduction;

Pages 1 - 8