Without it, Expect War

This is a long due challenge accepted from my fellow writer here, @noisytoothie. Hey there, I hope I am still not too late.

Respect is such a vast word that can be interpreted in endless ways. I know I will take forever if I try to discuss all possible meanings of it. Let's just do this: How do you define respect? What words come to your mind when you see or hear this word? Feel free to share it in the comment section.

They say every single one of us deserves respect. No one should be left out, it is an innate right we have. It is like acknowledging the worth of a person no matter how different your beliefs are. Respect is like that.

I just had some thinking, though. Does everyone really deserve respect? I guess it depends. This is where I insert additional words here. It is not 'Everyone deserves respect', then period. No. It's better this way:

"Everyone deserves respect, as long as they earn it."

I do not intend to sound cruel or savage here, but let me make it clear to you. What sense it is to respect someone who does not even respect you? Don't expect to be respected when you don't do it to others. As much as we deserve respect, we are also supposed to earn it, by giving it to others.

I am open to your disagreement, and I am willing to hear your side on this. Personally, respect is such a precious thing to me. It's not supposed to be given away thoughtlessly. That does not mean though that I am a disrespectful rascal, or something like that. I can still be courteous and nice to everyone without actually giving them high regards, well, unless they deserve it.

Since it is such a broad topic, I will just focus on one side I always experience people's lack of respect. I am talking about my music taste.

It is not a secret that I am a fan of Kpop music. Mostly songs by BTS and Tomorrow X Together, I also love to listen to K-Drama OSTs because those tracks are just so good and relaxing to listen to.

I am glad most people around me accept my preferences in music. However, I can't deny there are still people out there that are so quick to judge, have set many stigmatizing opinions about my music taste, which is, to me, just plain disrespectful.

Below are only three of the commons disrespectful remarks I always encounter as a Kpop fan.

• You don't understand the lyrics, anyway. Why do you keep listening to those songs?

First of all, it's 2021 and we're still in this argument. There is internet accessible to me, I can always look for the translations online. To me, understanding a song is not just about literally knowing it word for word, but having it relate to my own experiences, learning from what it wants to express, and of course, one that would comfort me like how a real friend understands.

There are a lot of remarkable lyrics with amazing meanings I only got to hear through Korean lyrics. This makes me so proud. Let me show you some.

“Adults tell me that hardships are only momentary
To endure a little more, to do it later
Everybody say NO!
It can’t be any later
Don’t be trapped in someone else’s dream.”

These are lyrics from BTS' song, N.O. which strongly emphasizes how students are nothing different from robots that should just work hard, and achieve a lot, even at the expense of the essence of enjoying life, and following one's own dreams.

People nowadays have been living their lives they did not want to live, because of how the society defined success. Only those high-paying jobs can sustain you and give you ultimate happiness, which, in reality, is a pretentious thread of fallacies.

“I believe in myself;
My back hurts in order to let my wings sprout.”

These are from BTS' outro song: Wings. This track is a beautiful depiction of a hard path one has to endure to finally enjoy that beautiful future that waits ahead. Organic success roots from blood, sweat, and tears, along with passion and trust in one's self.

“If you can’t fly, then run.
Today we will survive.
If you can’t run, then walk.
Today we will survive.
If you can’t walk, then crawl.”

Success does not require us to have wings, nor have swift, able legs. Even we are weak, or even limping, there is no excuse to pursuing that dream we want to achieve. Even if it means crawling to the top of that mountain, victory does not reduce its value. What beautiful lyrics, again, from BTS' song, "Not Today."

“I still believe, even though it’s unbelievable:
To lose your path
Is the way to find that path.”

What sensible and interesting way to put things off. There are times we feel lost and like we don't know where we are headed. Those times of confusions, and self-doubts are meant to develop us the desire to be our own compass, being eager to find that flowery path meant for us. This song is a personal favorite of mine. Title is "Lost" by BTS.

Actually, there are a lot more memorable lyrics I could look for, but I might just make it a comprehensive compilation in a future article. (Not sure when. Haha.)

Just because Korean language isn't my first language does not mean I could not enjoy the beauty of the message Korean songs shares. English is not my first language, as well, and others maybe like me. But we manage to communicate today because we learn it gradually. This applies to all languages, not just English.

• You support it more than your own.

This has to be the greatest joke I've seen today. That I prioritize foreign songs than the songs in my country. Do you think I only listen to Korean songs ever since I was born? No, I am not mad. I am actually laughing right now.

I know I am still a Filipino, and my country will still be my number 1. I just prefer listening more to KPop music. I mean, my ears, my choice. Use this argument card to me if you don't have any western songs in your playlist, okay?

The disrespectful part here is when we are deemed not patriotic and we support other country than our own. This is nothing but a one-sided judgment that has no proof. You don't own our minds to judge that easily. It's better to keep those conspiracy theories on your head.

• You only like their music, because they are good-looking.

Hold up, it's not about music anymore?

I have been supporting BTS, for example, for almost eight years now. So you think, I've been with them just to listen to their faces?

Like any other music out there, Kpop music has amazing range of genres that caters my taste. For the long period I have been listening to Korean popular music, I have never been disappointed with how it developed to what it is now. We can't deny, it is slowly taking the world by storm, because it defines the word trend.

I just had to speak out on this one. This stereotypical view of us Kpop fans is so insulting and disrespectful. This seems like the music we don't listen to are owned by not good-looking artists you mean?

Everyone is entitled to have his own opinion. We are all different humans, with our own beliefs and preferences in all areas of our lives. No one should really be restricted from expressing his or her thoughts and ideas.

But there are specific times we should know to not speak. We should know better, we are humans. We have feelings that can be hurt or impacted by words alone. There are opinions that are not meant for announcing in the world, especially if it would just ignite fights and unnecessary drama.

Knowing when to share one opinions, and when to keep silent is a sign of being respectful to me. Like what I've mentioned, if you know your opinion may come out as insulting or does not help the situation, don't start trouble by keeping it to yourself.

You don't like Korean popular music? Okay, I respect you. I won't force you to like it. It's beautiful if it just ends like that. No need for additional commentaries that purposely attracts debates.

People that say the mentioned things above are examples of those that I have in my blacklist. If they don't accept me with just my music preferences alone, the tendency is he/she may disrespect my principles in other things.

There are billions of people in the world, built differently, with similar but not identical preferences and likes, but how do we manage to live each day without a war? It's because of respect. We respect one's privacy, one's gender, one's religious beliefs, one's customary food, one's traditions, and of course, one's music taste.

Respect is what made co-existence possible. Without respect, expect war.

Come start writing and earning here, if you haven't yet!

https://read.cash/r/Ellehcim

I am also active on noise.cash. Same username, let me know and let's talk there!

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To God be all the glory.

• Lead image Source

• Please click pictures for sources

• Lyrics by BTS Source: 17 Of BTS’s Most Inspirational Lyrics That Will Resonate With Everyone