I was just walking very calmly as I left the restaurant after having my lunch on that faithful day. Just as I have gone about a pole, all of a sudden a loud blast sounded and before I could say a word, I saw a lot of people frantically running just to take cover. To be frank, I was completely pinned on the spot because I was still in a great shock. Somehow I found myself on the ground face down and after some minutes, I became more aware of my surroundings. Instantly, I jump up because people were now crawling out of hiding, looking very confused and agitated. I just hissed a sigh of relief as I found out that the sound was a gunshot by one of the bank's security operative within that area. The truth is, the sound was able to put everyone in chaos within a short period. This incident opened a wave of reflection in my head and I began to wonder; how was it so possible for a sound of the gun to put everybody in utter chaos?
This article is not just about the gun but about the effects and impacts the sight and sound of a gun will make. As a human being, we work towards becoming better in all that we do because growth is synonymous to humans. Let us take a look at this scenario if an inanimate object could command such respect, why won’t a human being command same respect? Respect is a word I have taken my time to study not just because it is an English word but because it is a word that must be looked at with utmost carefulness in a bid to live an honourable life. The questions that come to mind each time I think about the word respect is; is respect commanded or earned? This question has helped me to model myself when it comes to my relationship with others.
For record purposes, respect is not commanded rather it is earned. I know that someone may disagree with me because of how people respect those in authority. Let me try and make a distinction between the respect those in authority have and the respect which is earned without power. If a president is still in the office, he controls a lot of respect because the office he occupies carries such respect. At first, he is not being respected because of his personality rather because of the office he occupies, but if as he continues to stay in the office, he begins to show the people that he is a man of integrity not because of the office, people will begin to respect him not just as a president but just as an ordinary man.
Now, the effect of this will be more evident when he leaves office. I am an African who resides in Nigeria and each time I look at respect in the context of most of our African leaders, one question comes to mind and that is; how many of our African leaders will be able to walk alone on the streets of their country once they leave office? The truth is, most of them can’t walk on the streets alone even as they are still in office. What does this show? It means that most of our leaders do not have integrity, they only command respect because of the power they will. You as an ordinary person, who does not occupy any political office, how have you been able to develop such a great level of integrity which will make people respect you? Let me drop this little analysis.
When a man of 40 years descends so low to have an amorous affair with a girl of 18years, how do you think such a girl will respect older people when she comes in contact with them? This is one of the major problems we have in our societies today. A child begins to know things he is not supposed to know at a very tender age just because the society sees it as flowing with the trend. A society where people no longer allow things to take its natural cause but force themselves to run faster than nature leaving nature with no other choice other than chasing after them, how will such a society attain to that level where everyone will respect each other without any usage of power?
We cry and weep whenever the mussel of a gun is pointed on our head or by our side just because we are afraid that once the trigger goes off, the rest will be history. Our society has turned into a place where power and money is the only source of respect. This is the reason why a lot of people involve themselves into one shady dealing or the other just to make excess money which will draw respect to them. What about the churches? It has become a common phenomenon that a poor will be asked to vacate his seat just because of rich man comes to church late and was unable to get a seat. I have witnessed in a church where the preacher was preaching and as a political office holder walked in even as he came very late, the preacher stopped his preaching and asked the congregation to welcome the politician meanwhile a lot of people have walked into the same church and he did not even notice them talk more of welcoming them.
This has eaten deep into the fabrics of our nation and humans at large. We have left the ways by which one can acquire genuine respect and followed the ways of getting respect either with power or money. If I continue to talk, I may not be able to finish up this article because a lot needs to be said, but I am among the school of thought that believes in a word is enough for the wise. I will allow you the opportunity to search your conscience and see if you have in one way or the other contributed to the plight of your community due to your inability to allow things to happen naturally. Remember that we do not have another world waiting for us somewhere if we end up destroying the one we are living in. Be wise.
