What is particularly costly about disrespect is that it wastes people's time, energy, money, and capacity.
Last night was a clear example of this in my neighborhood. There is one house that has very loud late night parties often. Typically I don't hear the raucous because my windows are closed and I'm situated quite far from the house, but my neighbors who live close by have been plagued by this series of very-late, very-loud, very disrespectful parties. They have tried to do what they can in peaceful ways to quell the disturbance. Last night, however, I had my windows open due to the heat and the rowdy party woke me up and kept me awake for hours. That zapped my energy and left me half-ready for the many tasks on my list today. I must say I am frustrated and I let my neighbor know it.
Disrespect of any kind carries a great weight. Throughout the Trump term, Donald Trump and his heinous cronies and family members disrespected the American people, our government, our laws, our natural resources, and our potential by using and abusing us in devious ways over and over again. As manipulators, they did what they could to spread misinformation amongst their gullible, ill-informed, needy base to power-up their greed, wealth, power, privilege, and pleasure. They were at best a disrespectful crew that harmed and hurt us every day. They need to be held accountable for their deadly, destructive, hurtful acts.
I'm sure that all of us have been disrespectful from one time to another. Much of that, I surmise, has been born out of a lack of understanding about the power of our actions and how those actions affect others. I remember years ago as a young person on a camping trip, a friend was very disrespectful to a young family who asked him to quiet down. Years later, that same friend, was aghast when a young person offended his family in a similar way. Over time we see things from new and, hopefully, better perspectives and that helps us to be more respectful.
Too often in American society we read stories of disrespect that has harmful aftereffects. Too often people act without concern, empathy, compassion, or collaboration. This is hurtful and harmful to all of us. As much as possible we need to develop respect for one another and show that respect in all we do. This will enrich our lives, increase our good energy, and develop our capacity to do what is right and good.