Rant on...Respect of elders

Ok. From the title you know this post is going to be very long...if you can't read long posts then I suggest you stop.

Too many times have we heard parents tell children, "Respect your elders." When they say this,they mean every single word, especially RESPECT. This means that you should and MUST be polite,obedient,and kind to your elders,whether they are your parents,grandparents or just some guy who you don't know and is heading to a retirement home.

Normally,this is something to follow. After all,your parents are the ones who raised you. But in the little red dot we call Singapore,that sentence is abused many,many,many times.

For example,you (I'm assuming you're a student) board a bus. You are carrying one schoolbag,your CCA equipment and your wallet. Plus another stack of books. After tapping your EZ-link card,you proceed to look for a seat. Finally, you find one and gratefully collapse on it.

Then,an old lady who looks fit for her age boards the bus. After finding out that everyone else has "mysteriously" fallen asleep,she looks at you. You feel a twinge of guilt,but shake your head as you do not wish to die under all the weight you are carrying.

The old lady then starts to complain about you being disrespectful and starts to tell the whole bus. Suddenly everyone wakes up and glares at you. With a sigh, you give your seat to the haughty old hag and proceed to crumble under your stuff.

In this case,it's clear that the old lady is at fault. Not only did she not notice your state,but she also acted as if it was her right to have a seat in the damn bus. This is a common incident in Singapore.

In Asia,we have this tendency to "worship" the elderly,which includes parents. Not doing this will result in punishment. This is very worrying. Does this mean that the elders are always right? What if one of your great-grandparents told you that foot binding for girls was recommended? If you were a girl would you listen to them? Of course not. What if your parents ordered you to take up a course that you hated just because they think that it's "for your own good"? Will it do any good to you?

Respect is a must. But there is a fine line between respect and total obedience. That is one line elders must NEVER cross.