Treating others respectfully is vital to harmonious interactions between all members of society, and it is a separate concept from having respect for others. Magna Sententia advocates treating others respectfully even when you do not respect them.
Treat others respectfully by acting with cordiality, appreciation, and conscientiousness. By doing so, you not only enrich your interactions with others, but you also make a valuable contribution to society: You become one more person restoring respectfulness to everyday life.
The Axiom Of Respect Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior By Treating Themselves And Others Respectfully And Respecting Only Those Who Earn It
Today, President Obama "relieved embattled Gen. Stanley McChrystal from his position as the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan" after Rolling Stone Magazine published an article in which McChrystal and some of his aides were quoted criticizing "several top U.S. officials, including U.S. special envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrook." ("Gen. David Petraeus Will Replace Embattled Gen. Stanley McChrystal In Afghanistan") According to Obama, "McChrystal's conduct, as detailed in the Rolling Stone article, 'does not meet the standards that should be set by a commanding general.'" He is correct.
When we are in positions of authority, it is our duty to act with the utmost respect to all people, and our behavior must always be worthy of our position.
In Rolling Stone's "The Runaway General," McChrystal and his aides share many unflattering opinions of high ranking U.S. officials, even the President. Their opinions, in and of themselves, are neither good nor bad, right or wrong. In fact, we are all entitled to our own opinions, and judging others is not wrong. To be sure, some people and their behavior deserve to be judged unfavorably. The issue, however, is what we do with our opinions.
Where McChrystal and his aides erred was in exposing their opinions outside their inner circle. For instance, if "McChrystal thought Obama looked 'uncomfortable and intimidated' by the roomful of military brass" when the President met him for the first time (just a week after Obama's inauguration), that is McChrystal's opinion, and he is entitled to it. Nevertheless, McChrystal should have known that he was treating Obama, as our nation's President, disrespectfully when he shared his opinion. Simply having an opinion does not give someone the right to share it with others. We must treat others respectfully, and making disparaging remarks about them is not respectful.
We can all learn from McChrystal and his aides. We must always treat those in authority respectfully, and when we are in positions of authority ourselves, we must always act in a manner that is respectful of our position. This is true whether we are a general, teacher, police officer, or parent. We must honor our positions.
Some believe that McChrystal's actions, and his subsequent removal from his position, may endanger our country's mission in Afghanistan. If this is so, McChrystal has not only hurt himself, but he has quite possibly hurt this entire country and our allies fighting with us. How unfortunate that a man, who has worked his entire career to serve our country, rising to one of the top positions in our military, must leave his position in disgrace because he did not know better than to keep his opinions to himself.
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
Ellie and I are always pleased when we receive comments on our website. For the most part, we have never received anything too obnoxious or rude because (most of) our readers are thoughtful and sincere, and we appreciate their interest in what we are trying to do for our society. So we were saddened a few days ago, when we read the comment posted by "Yolanda," regarding pro-anorexia-bulimia (pro-ana-mia) websites. We felt that, unfortunately, we have been terribly misunderstood, so we want to take this opportunity to clear a few things up about our position and what motivates us to try to help our society.
Apparently, Yolanda believes that we "have no idea" about being treated poorly by people who were supposed to love us and that we "need to take a serious look at society" because when we tell people that we all need to learn to love who we are, Ellie and I don't have a clue as to how hard that can be. We have no right to give such advice to "a young child suffering from obesity [ . . . ] who has been molested, raped, [and] belittled their entire life."
Yolanda also is of the opinion that pro-anorexia-bulimia websites are just "sick people trying to help each other get better," providing a place to learn about a "variety of foods to eat and people to talk to and share pieces of mind."
Obviously, Yolanda does not have an accurate picture of who we are, and we hope to correct this through this article:
For legal reasons, Ellie and I cannot share the details of every aspect of our lives. However, please know that the reason we decided to write our book and create our website is because we want to reach out to those who have been hurt like us. We want to help our readers so that they do not have to learn life's lessons the hard way (like we did), and maybe our advice could even prevent them from allowing individuals who have hurt them to completely ruin their lives. Both of us have had to battle many different issues (abuse being one of them), and we feel that our life experiences qualify us to give advice and guidance to others.
It is important to understand that just because someone has not experienced the exact struggle you have, that does not disqualify them from helping you or you learning from their mistakes and experiences. We may not have been raped, but we still have known pain.
It is also important not to assume that someone else has not suffered. As Ellie's mom, Yolanda's comments bring forth a flood of (not so pleasant) emotions because she has no idea how much Ellie has had to deal with in her life battling anorexia, how hard she has worked to grow and recover from associated eating disorders, only to be faced now with an equally serious diagnosis of Celiac Disease, Dermatitis Herpetiformis, and the numerous and varied problems related to them. Yolanda believes that we "need to open our eyes and realize [life] is not perfect." Really? You think so?
Our lives have been anything but easy, but our goal is not to wallow in our pain, but instead to work hard to do as Oprah has suggested, "Turn your pain into power!"
So, to Yolanda: Please do not assume that we cannot understand your pain. We are sincerely sorry for what you have endured. We know that if you find the proper guidance, get to know your true self, and learn to treat yourself respectfully, and yes, love who you are, you will have a good life. However, searching for this help on a pro-anorexia-bulimia website is not the answer. While these sites may help to ease your pain temporarily, you need something much more to improve your health and well-being.
Anorexia is an extremely serious condition. In the majority of cases, it requires professional guidance. A number of eating disorders are associated with anorexia, including binging (which seems to be your greatest concern), and you need specialized help to conquer them. In addition, you require professional care to overcome the deep wounds you have from being molested, raped, and belittled your entire life. You did not deserve any of that - and you must never define yourself by what others have done to you. I leave you with a quote from our book, and I hope you study it and meditate on it. Your challenge is to learn to know your true self and come to accept and love who you are inside, despite all your pain. If we can help you in any way, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Your true self is not where you started, where you have been, or where you are going. You are not what people have done to you or what they have neglected to do. You are not who was in, or absent from, your life in the past or who is in, or absent from, your life now. Your true self is deeper and more fundamental than who and what surrounds you: It is your core.
Anna Sherise
Co-Creator of Magna Sententia
Co-Author 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
Across the country, town hall meetings on health care reform are turning ugly. With understandably strong emotions on both sides of the debate, many attendees are shouting, pushing, and losing their tempers as they voice their concerns or support regarding Congress's proposed changes to our current health care system. ("Specter Faces Hostile Audience At Health Care Forum")
As a logic system for guiding behavior, Magna Sententia directly relates to every aspect of interpersonal relationships and social interactions, and if you are planning to attend a town hall meeting on health care reform in your community (and we strongly suggest you do), before you go, please consider the following standards for behavior:
Remain calm. Losing your temper does nothing to further your cause. While it is advantageous to express your views passionately because of the importance of the topic, yelling and screaming takes the focus away from the content of your message.
Clearly articulate your argument, and stick to the facts. Nothing ruins credibility more than wild accusations and exaggeration. For example, in the health care debate, calling your opposition "evil" or telling them they will be "judged by God" is completely inappropriate and calls into question the reliability of anything else you say.
Do not push, shove, or be destructive in any way. It is paramount that we treat others respectfully even when we strongly disagree with their position. Health care reform is an extremely emotional issue, and we must take extra care not to escalate the situation. Remember that there are honorable people on both sides of this debate, and we have absolutely no right to physically harm our fellow citizens or their property.
Treating others respectfully does not mean that we can't fervently share our views. As Americans, it is our right to use our voices in a clear, confident manner to question and influence the decisions of our elected officials. In fact, it is our duty.
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
Racial profiling and discrimination are inexcusable and continue to be serious issues in America, and we know that as whites we can never fully understand how it feels to be African American. However, after reviewing the facts of the case, it appears to us that (unlike the case of Dallas Police Officer Robert Powell and Ryan Moats) race did not influence Cambridge Police Sgt. James Crowley's actions in the incident with Professor Henry Louis "Skip" Gates Jr., and while there are many things to be learned from this incident, one that is not receiving the attention it deserves is the value of loyalty and the importance of standing up for what is right in the midst of opposition.
In today's world, we don't often have the opportunity to see loyalty in action. In fact, many of us would find it challenging to remember a time when numbers of individuals stood up for someone they believed in to those more powerful and popular. Magna Sententia defines loyalty as the quality of faithfulness and steadfast allegiance, and fortunately for all of us, Cambridge law enforcement officers have provided a magnificent example in their support for Sgt. Crowley:
Far too often, when we see injustice, we find it easier to keep silent for fear of negative repercussions. Listening to these officers stand up for their friend and fellow officer during a time when he is being falsely accused and disparaged in many national media outlets is a wonderful model for us to follow when we witness injustice in our own lives: Let's not be afraid to express our allegiance when we know someone else is on the receiving end of unfairness.
We commend the brave, loyal officers who came to Sgt. Crowley's defense, and thank them for their service to their community and especially for their character.
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 40th 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
