Children must learn respect in all situations

Perhaps the word respect has a different meaning for some than others. If as adults, coaches, teachers or even spectators, no one takes the initiative to let our children know the meaning of our national anthem and why it deserves respect than we have lost a valuable moment. All of the rights we hold dear in this country go hand in hand with respect, especially for those whose sacrifices made them possible. Perhaps the gentleman who was “uptight” about swinging arms was a veteran or a soldier currently serving our country. If you are unsure of the meaning our anthem holds and the respect it deserves ask one of them.

Our educational systems fight an uphill battle every day to instill the meaning of respect in their students. If we ignore the smaller ways respect can be taught, how do we expect its meaning to translate to the larger situations our children encounter? The meaning of respect doesn't fall from heaven on our children's heads, it is subtly taught in many ways every day of their lives by all of us on every level of society.

Children must learn gaining respect means showing respect in all situations. Their education begins with all of us being aware of the every day ways respect is being eroded in each of our lives and in our country as a whole, and what we must do to reclaim it for our children, ourselves and for our country in general, we all deserve it, especially our children.

Susan Denison

Iowa City