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

The goal of Magna Sententia is to unify our country with the common values of responsibility, respect, and realistic expectations, values that every citizen can get behind despite our differing backgrounds, religious beliefs, and political affiliations. Hulk Hogan's comments in the latest edition of Rolling Stone present the perfect opportunity for us to examine one of the key elements of Magna Sententia's Axiom of Respect, respect only those who earn it.

Using his status as a professional wrestling star, Hulk Hogan has leveraged his vivacious personality into numerous television and film roles, product endorsements, restaurants, as well as a variety of other business ventures. He has been so successful that many consider him an American icon, and it would be almost impossible to find someone in this country who does not at least recognize his face.

Undoubtedly, it is easy to think that we all know him, even though we really don't. Just like many celebrities today, Hogan is "respected" by the American public for superficial qualities that have nothing to do with his real character (what we refer to as "surface attributes and public actions").

In the Rolling Stone interview, Hogan said this about his nasty divorce from his wife, Linda:

"I could have turned everything into a crime scene like O.J., cutting everybody's throat," [. . .] "You live half a mile from the 20,000-square-foot home you can't go to anymore, you're driving through downtown Clearwater [Florida] and see a 19-year-old boy driving your Escalade, and you know that a 19-year-old boy is sleeping in your bed, with your wife . . . I totally understand O.J. I get it." ("'I Totally Understand O.J.,' Hulk Hogan Tells Rolling Stone")

Does that sound like the "family man" Hogan has presented to the public for the last twenty years? Not to us!

All too often, we respect public personalities in every area of their lives simply because of their surface attributes and public actions. Following Magna Sententia, on the other hand, individuals respect only those who earn it. It is perfectly acceptable to admire people's surface attributes and public actions, but please do not confuse your admiration with respect unless your personal experience with them has shown you that they are worthy of your respect. Just because someone can play football well, act in a box office hit, sell millions of albums, or get enough votes to become President of the United States, it does not mean that we know them well enough to truly respect them.

Let's all take a step back, stop blindly giving our respect away, and start making people earn it!

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