Respect: An Open Letter - A Teenager's Worldview …

We often look to heroes - such as Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, and Mother Teresa for strength and direction in times of turbulence and need for change. Where ornamental fish have a ministry devoted to them, the Ministry for Women and Children’s Affairs has been absorbed into a State Ministry - a significant demotion - run by a man!

- Serika Siriwardhana

I was brought up being told by my parents that respect is never obligatory, but must be earned everyday - even by them as too must I - and it is a principle I live by, and will continue unapologetically to do so. Respect, as I have learned, is only earned through being accountable, moral, and being a respectable person. I realise that this, in a society which values and makes unquestioning respect for elders compulsory above all else, may not be received too well. However, as radical as it may sound, this deeply ingrained social construct and culture of compliance has been the cause of much of our troubles in Sri Lanka. Voicing an opinion that even mildly contradicts that of an adult or person in authority is wrongly and unfairly perceived to reflect utter disrespect and poor upbringing - rather than an expression of personal belief. Friction is shied away from in this largely genial and “homely” country, with many people preferring to remain silent than “make a scene” or “cause a fuss”. This cultural norm has allowed many atrocities and wrongdoings committed by those in authority to continue unabated and unquestioned, and has given rise to an apathetic society that would rather whine and gripe than speak up.

With that in mind, here is my open letter to those in authority - those whose actions, words and policies deeply influence and impact the youth of today, and of the future.

Today marks 57 years since Martin Luther King’s infamous (and grossly over-quoted) speech “I have a dream”. As cliche as it may sound, his dream and all its implications still hold true today. In the words of John F. Kennedy, I envision a future in which those in authority “ask not what their country can do for them, but what they can do for their country”. The present, however, is far from that.