I recently noticed that I had misspelled the word “despise.” I love spell check. It saves me from a lot of embarrassment. I think I spelled it wrong because I have been getting used to the ghetto word “dis” that is lowering the level of our national vocabulary. To dis means to show disrespect. The ghetto culture is concerned about being “dissed.” More and more we are hearing it used by people who should know better.
I keep telling kids it is impossible to disrespect something I never respected in the first place. I tell them that they may deserve courtesy but they do not deserve respect. They do not need to respect me but I expect courtesy. Respect is earned. I have seen little in the ghetto culture that deserves respect. Let me make that stronger. I am aware of nothing in the ghetto culture that deserves respect.
Maybe they should be more concerned about being “dessed.” Civilized people of good will tend to fight the tendency to despise rather than disrespect.
Or perhaps we could understand dissing to be based on disgust.
You want courtesy, I am willing to give. When I read the Biblical definition of love it is full of things like patience and kindness. It does not say I must look up to sinners. If you want respect, earn it.
homo unius libri
One of my pet peeves is the frequency that I see folks using the phrase "he be like..." on Facebook when they're neither black nor living in the ghetto.
ReplyDeleteOur nation is adopting the culture of the ghetto which is based on the culture of prison. How low will we go? I think it is just the beginning.
DeleteGrace and peace.