Everyone wants to have respect and trust. But both are earned. They don't always come easy. Respect is earned from what we DO, not from position, status or power. Because as you have noticed, some in power don't deserve our respect. Unless they do respectfull things. People who are disrespectful, don't earn respect back.
Trust happens from a series of events when people SEE that we are sincere and transparent. Some think that being sincerely wrong is the same as being sincere. No, it isn't. This is where transparency comes in. People are not ignorant of your motives when your motives are wrong, or personal as a personal agenda based on personal feelings, not fact. Truth is, spend enough time with a person and you will see who they truly are. This is demonstrated by what they say, how they treat others and how they think. Some people can be very very mean. This is why deserted islands were created. This is where mean people should live, until we get that living on other planets thing down.
We can greatly increase our chances for earning trust and respect when we choose to suspend judgment of others-and keep our minds open to considering other perspectives. Sometimes it comes down to agreeing to disagree, which is how most groups function. You can't be in total agreement with everyone all the time. Case in point, marriage. I'm sure that said it all. There are just times you aren't in sinc because you have differences of opinion. Talk it out and may decide you still dont' agree, doesn't mean one of you need to go. You realize everyone is different, raised differently, different perspectives and opinions. It is normal.
Character is a persons observable behavior. If a person is always nit picking, never problem solving, always finding wrong, but never having or wanting resolve, you can pretty much tell their character. These are people you run across time to time that think everyone is wrong because they don't agree with me. They are in denial if confronted with something they did wrong, instead of owning up to it. They justify it. We have all done this to some degree.
Character is developed over a long period of time. A strong leader is a good thing, but a strong leader with a bad character would be a gang member. Not good. You can take good character qualities such as respect, responsibility and trustworthiness, but if not combined with the other pillars of character, such as fairness, caring and citizenship, you have an incomplete package. Not good character. Some great points, but not adding up to a good big picture.
How charismatic was Jim Jones? At least this is what has been told about him, I don't know from personal experience. He must have had respect, he must have had trustworthiness and alot of responsibility, was he caring? Truth played out. He cared for himself and his agenda, only.He purposely sought out weak people he could manipulate. It is a study in human nature to see how easily people can be manipulated. Manipulators seek out these types of people. The manipulators can eventually talk them into anything. To the point the manipulated doesn't have a thought of their own. They voice the opinion of the manipulator. People who cannot be manipulated, make the manipulator mad. Probably because they saw right through them. Over time.
I'm here to tell you, DON"T DRINK the KOOLAID! Think for yourself. See that you are being manipulated by someone you probably respect and trust, but their character is off...way off. Their agenda is personal and not meant to benefit anyone but themselves. Selfish little people.
I am reminded of the old old cartoon "Milton the Monster", anyone remember this? The mad scientist wanted a monster, but realized if he didn't add a little tenderness, the monster would destroy even him. So he added some tenderness and slipped up and added too much. The monster was created with an inbalance and way too much tenderness. Instead of being threatened, the mad scientist had created a wuss. Milton was a cute monster. Most monsters arent' cute.
Mary Welch
Preferred Choice Realty-1403 Central-Harper, Ks.
Wow, life is one big human experiment. Isn't it?