popa_bar_abba
“Well, if
A. The problem really is new to the current generation, and,
B. We accept as a premise that people are born good and are then corrupted, and,
C. Since we are talking about kids, it is unfair to assign the majority of the blame to them,
Then:
It seems most logical that the people who are causing the problem are the current group of parents and leaders.
If so, they don’t really deserve respect.”
I disagree. The Torah says we must respect our parents/elders/Rabbonim, whether they deserve it or not. Whether or not they will actually get respect may be a different story, but we’re still supposed to give it to them.
blinky: Very true. If parents don’t show any respect for authority (Rabbonim, Rabbeim, etc) than how can they expect their kids to? Children must be taught respect (along with just about everything else) by example.