Respect is: “ to consider worthy of high regard: ESTEEM….to refrain from interfering with their privacy….to have reference to” ( Merriam Webster Collegiate dictionary)
I have once asked a 100-year-old Lozi man (Morotsi) in Johannesburg to tell me the Secret of Longevity. I asked him: What accounts for one man living 100 years and another only 40? Two men go to war. One overcomes the worst challenges of war whilst the other dies within one month of deployment? One woman is overly conscious of her health: eating well, going to the gym, taking all the necessary supplements, attending church; yet she dies at 50 when another endures to 90 ÔÇô smoking and drinking since 15? What accounts for these strange differences, I asked? “Respect”, he said.
“When you have (genuine) respect for other people; nature’s creations, and the collective good of society, you will surely live a long pleasurable life”; he said. “You will live long (because) the power of NATURE that keeps us alive shall retain you for so long as you have work to do here on Earth and you give it your best. If you know these things, you will live as long as you want and die on your terms. At 100, (like I am today) most of the people you see around will be dead, and you shall tell history over their graves. This is the secret of longevity”, he said: ‘Tlhompo’ (Respect).
Disrespect (Lenyatso) is where one fails to: ‘ consider worthy of high regard: ESTEEM…’ (When it is provably worthy); or interferes in the affairs of others without a legitimate right to do so; or fails to have reference to something or someone he should. Most human conflicts have lenyatso at the centre, especially when aggravated by ignorance, arrogance and hubris.
The attitude of Lenyatso destroys society worse than wars, because even the wars themselves are often precipitated by lenyatso in society; whilst battles are lost on account of disrespect for the leadership, which brings about a breakdown in the chain of command. This is the paramount reason why lenyatso should never be tolerated. Chinese Philosopher Han Feizi, once said:
“There are five obstructions for the ruler of men: when ministers shut out their ruler, when ministers regulate resources and profit, when ministers independently put commands into effect, when ministers put their own ideas into effect, and when ministers plant their own men. “(Chinese Wisdom- by Edward L Shaughnessy, p 123)