Every person, and other types of innocent creatures, deserve respect, although if someone does not show respect, it may not be obligatory to respect them either.
Unfortunately, many societies have been unjustly despising and victimising animals and harmless human groups, such as women, LGBTQ+, outcasts, Black people and people of mixed Black ancestry, Native Americans and mestizos, Asians, Jews, and other ethnic and religious groups. Also slaves, people with albinism, red-haired women, people with disabilities, people experiencing homelessness or with low incomes, those who think differently, those who do not belong to a particular religion or decide to leave it… and the list goes on.
Let us respect a cleaning lady as much as a queen, and a prostitute as much as a judge. Let us respect a beggar as much as a notary, a porn actress as much as a surgeon, and an unattractive woman as much as a beautiful one. However, to the extent that someone causes harm that is not in legitimate self-defence, they may be losing their honourability.
Let us respect those who are different: the odd one, the overweight woman, the little person, the person with a mental disorder, and the person living with HIV. Let us respect the person with Down syndrome and the gifted eccentric, the person who dresses extravagantly and the one who dresses discreetly, the one who grooms themself ostentatiously and the one who does so cheaply or even tackily. And also the woman who dresses extremely modestly and the one who dresses very revealingly, the cleanliness-obsessed person and the one who is dirty and unkempt, the very conventional person and the one who breaks social norms, provided that they do not cause any unjustified harm.
Read LIVE WITHOUT HARMING: Let us appreciate diversity
Let us have neither reverential, servile respect nor disrespect, but rather healthy respect.
Every sentient being has dignity by birthright, at least insofar as they do not harm any innocent being. Therefore, let us not steal that honour. Let us not degrade, devalue, or demonise innocent beings, and even less trample on them and objectify them. On the contrary, let us create an environment in which no one has to be ashamed of anything other than having caused harm that was not in legitimate self-defence.
HOW TO LIVE WITHOUT HARMING: Let us not objectify
And let us instil in children a culture of respect, in families and schools, since their brains are like clay, and if we shape it beautifully, it will probably remain that way once it dries.
LET US AVOID HARM: Let us educate children in the ethics of kindness
Thank you for sharing, if you would like to leave a better world than the one you found,
Xavier Paya
Living Without Harm initiative
LET’S NOT HARM ANYONE, except in legitimate self-defense against an aggressor.
With the Living Without Harm initiative, we strive to prevent any kind of suffering or harm from being caused to you, your loved ones, and others.
1 Mission: A happier world
3 Goals:
1. Share scientific knowledge about wellbeing.
2. Encourage people not to cause harm.
3. Promote scientific research on quality of life.
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WOULD YOU LIKE TO HELP US LEAVE A BETTER WORLD THAN THE ONE YOU FOUND?
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