I refer to the column entitled ?Poor us? published in last week?s edition of Outlook and do agree that the concept of the word ?respect? is unknown to many who consequently fail to consider the outcome of breaching it.

In fact, respect is one of the 240 English words, which comes from the Latin verb ?spectare? which means ?to look?. This highlights the importance of our eyes, our outlook on life and things. Don?t we say that things that are dear to us are like the apple of our eye? Won?t we grant renewed, almost compulsive looks to things we consider important to us? Won?t we cherish those things, nurture them and do our best to either preserve or improve them?

Respect means ?to look again?, to pay renewed consideration. How marvellously does it match with the concept of ?responsibility?, basically a combination of the words ?respond? and ?ability? !

What?s the use of giving renewed consideration to something when we do not prepare ourselves to respond to situations which could adversely affect it? Is this the way to protect the apple of our eye?

Respect and responsibility are not just words, they are important concepts that need to be taught by example from early childhood and most importantly they should not be trivialized and used in an abusive way if we want to look forward to brighter days.

<B>Alain Jeannot</B>