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RESPECTING IDEAS

by

Russell Madden

 

 

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Like modern feel-good notions of what constitutes "self-esteem," the concept of "respect" has been eroded by political correctness into a mere shell of what it once was. "Self-esteem" degenerated into a grotesque caricature when it became promoted and enforced by parents and teachers and collectivist psychologists telling us that we are all "worthy" simply because we exist. Not only must all others be held hostage to our "right" to "self-esteem" -- expected positively to reinforce each and every word and action that flows from our glorious selves -- we are told we can obtain high "self-esteem" through the narcissistic means of gazing rapturously into a mirror and repeating ad nauseum how "wonderful" and "great" we are.

No muss, no fuss. No losers, no winners. No ranking of one person above another. Everyone gets a ribbon. No one keeps score. Everyone is special. Yay!

In other words, abandon judgment, ye who enter here. Abandon rational discrimination. Abandon cause-and-effect. Abandon merit. Abandon decision-making, individuality, and equity.

What these mavens of mediocrity conveniently forget, however, is that whatever is gotten too cheaply is worth what it costs. A love -- whether of self or of other -- that requires no effort is easily discarded. Unearned self-esteem is as unstable and fragile as a house built on sand. Respect that is free for the asking enjoys as little substance as a straw man.

The wholly fallacious fantasy that we should "respect" someone's ideas merely because he believes "X" or "Y" is a natural corollary of the "self-esteem" fad that has damaged more young psyches than I care to contemplate. If those "high" in ersatz self-esteem are to be so greatly regarded for no other good reason than that they inhale oxygen and occupy space, then obviously, any part of that glorious creature must likewise be granted gold-plated virtue. Hence, any "ideas" they babble sans understanding or thought must likewise be viewed as diamonds of insight not to be questioned or denied.

Almost as bad as this intellectual dreck are the aggressive, baseless certainty and smug, self-righteous indignation these victims of mystical psychology exhibit should someone dare to hold them responsible and accountable for the meaningless drivel they spout. "You have to respect my ideas!" they proclaim, completely missing the irony of how they parrot the hollow words of whatever political or cultural tribe accepts them as members. Asserting ownership over the statist mush that has been brainwashed into their thick skulls is the epitome of the non-self-awareness, the non-introspection that guides their daily actions. Social metaphysics and second-handers, indeed.

Given the bankrupt beliefs that are promulgated far-and-wide in education, in television news and entertainment, in books and magazines, in movies and music, in politics and -- too frequently these days -- science, and even to a large extent on the Internet, I find very few ideas I can respect, in the true meaning of that concept.

Like valid self-esteem, actual respect must be earned through one's own efforts and commitment to reality. According to the New Oxford American Dictionary, "respect" requires "abilities, qualities, or achievements" to be demonstrated by the person seeking that response. It is illogical and insulting that others should expect "deep admiration" from me when they demonstrate ignorance, laziness, or more egregiously, intellectual dishonesty in their approach to ideas.

Nor should people look to me to "respect" their ideas solely because of their "feelings, wishes...or traditions." On a fundamental level, I don't care if a person is "offended" or has his feelings "hurt" because I disagree or dismiss what he pretends to be true. I don't care if he "wishes" to exude an air of erudition not evident in his mental vacuum. I don't care if he is "insulted" by my disregard for what his parents or his race or his "people" cling to as gospel. Whether an appeal to subjectivism, emotion, or tradition, logical fallacies in whatever guise sway me not in the least.

As I said, my respect for someone's ideas is not automatic. Of course, whether I respect a person who expounds such statements depends on a number of factors. Since none of us is omniscient or infallible, ignorance or error per se does not condemn a person. What is intolerable, however, is willful ignorance, i.e., evasion; refusal even to examine counter-arguments or evidence. In dealing with those folks extremely high in modern "self-esteem," this is frequently recognizable by a statement such as, "That's just what I believe," delivered thin-lipped, with a barely concealed dare to object to such an empty statement: in essence, "So there. Nyah-nyah-nyah!"

I can respect a person who disagrees with me -- even passionately so -- as long as he is actively engaged in the process of trying to discover the truth. By "engaged," I mean involved with, focused upon, or wrestling on a deeply personal level with the difficult aspects of a tricky argument or proposition. I expect no one immediately to abandon a long-held and thoughtfully derived belief just because I disagree. Such a response would be as intellectually lazy as stubbornly adhering to a position regardless of what facts or errors are brought to light.

Still, even if I refuse to respect either someone's ideas or him as a person, I will always and forever respect his right to believe whatever nonsense or idiocy he cares to embrace.

But anyone who knowingly and willfully seeks to implement ideas that violate my rights has implicitly declared himself my enemy. After all, comprehending the basics of freedom and rights is not rocket science. How much acumen must someone possess to realize that his life belongs to him? That his property is his to use as he sees fit? That it is wrong for others to force him to abandon his desire to act upon his non-coercive, free-will choices?

How many brains are required for a person to understand that if he deserves such consideration, then so do I and every other peaceful individual? That advocates of legalized slavery and robbery deserve nothing but contempt and unwavering opposition?

"Freedom" is the only political and moral idea deserving of respect. It is a respect I gladly give.

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