Respect according to wikitioinary can be define as good opinion, honor or admiration of person (s),
It can also mean an attitude of high consideration or high regard.
Jean Jacquise Rousseau once said man was born free but lived everywhere in chains, what brought
the bondage he don't know, but the explanation of how he got there was the totality of his writing.
These black stone/ undogmatic of Jean research progress can be seen in the life of human,
particularly in youthful or adolescents stage of their life, when people who can be seen as guardian,
parent or elders believe due to their knowledge and experience of life derived from the many years
spent on earth.
These elders believe they have not only the power to shape teenage future but to also enforce a
desired course of action on their younger one's.
Though these treat is vivid in every society from the
western developed economy to the developing nations in Africa.
However it is a dominate culture in Africa society, as the value of respect for elderly ones has
primacy over any other factors, which may include economic, socio-political and religious factor.
The concept of Respect is not only ideological but also the doctrinal expression used by leaders in
any society to maintain the status quo and command obedience from the totality of the population,
which can be seen according to the indirect Form of socialization that, obedience to one's parents can
translate into obedience to Government, and obedience to government according to the divine theory
is obedience to God.... i. e whatever the leader/ruler say is law is law, and disobedience to the ruler is
disobedience to God and vise versa.
However to avoid further digression from the subject matter, the rational behind this school of
thought is that, it is of the believe that these elders know the teenagers better than they do themselves,
therefore have the authority to make the young ones take a desired course of action and command
compliance either with / without the use of sanctions.
These postulation brings to light another contemporary and wide questions such as
who knows the
best action that will bring progress to one's live, A guardian or the person?
How can we define the best action?
Hence, Philosophers, Scholars in support of the elders believe this elder derived their authority from
the bases of economic and spiritual need, these can be seen when they provide economic needs for
the young people such, provision of food, clothes, shelter, security. Not only that, the elders also
provide spiritual needs by forcing such teenager to religious gathering be it church or mosque.
Thus, noting the benefits derived from the elders by the younger generation does it really suffice as a
cogent reason for the elders to impose their will on the young generation even to their own detriment.
If the younger generation however fail to take their desired course of action, these can be major
stimulant for conflict which can degenerate into escalation stage.
The issue of respect if not properly manage can lead to lack of communication and will in the long
run bring delay in socioeconomic development in any society.
In view of these literature the issue of respect should be a universal issue which is applicable in not
only a vertical direction i.e hierarchical relationship but horizontal in it applicability, i.e. Relationship
among equal, the essence of these is to checkmate and guide against abuse of the power given for
personal gain or promote personal ideology or interest.
