We Are All Needed

Value addressed: Love people

Often people look down on others because their job has a lower social status or they resent an individual who achieves great economic wealth. This is far from a legitimate way to view people.

We need everyone who works a legitimate job. We need the janitors, the truck drivers, the entrepreneurs, and the cashiers. We need the managers, the CEOs, and the school teachers. We need the engineers, the sales people, and the assembly workers. We all contribute to the economic vibrancy of the nation. We all contribute to the system that provides for our many needs and wants. There is no one to look down upon. Sure, maybe someone gets paid more than you or maybe less than you. They are still part of the system that provides for your needs. Maybe their jobs take less skill than yours. They are still contributing a necessary function in the overall fabric of production and consumption. Maybe she stays at home, raising her children. Again, a great contribution to the well-being of our nation.

We must always respect one another, no matter their status, their job, their race, religion, political view, and so on. We don't have to agree with everyone's ideas, but we must always remember they are human beings like us, with hopes and dreams, successes and failures, strengths and weaknesses. They were created in the image of God and came here as babies like everyone else. We all grow up in cultural environments that help shape our thoughts and behaviors. Our environments may instill good values leading to good behaviors or those environments can develop destructive values that lead to delinquent behaviors. Our environments are different, but we are all of equal worth as people and deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, even when we're wrong or make mistakes.

What to teach children:

- Treat people with respect
- That means acknowledging them and listening when they speak
- It means doing things that are helpful to others
- It means avoiding intentionally irritating or annoying others
- It means accepting everyone when possible (of course it is always important to protect themselves)
- It means having patience with other people's weaknesses and mistakes

- Help kids see the good side of people who are different
- Help kids see the good even in those who have done wrong and hurt others
- Help children understand that often people hurt others out of ignorance or social conditioning more than hatefulness
- Explain that you are teaching these things so they are not like those who hurt others
- Teach them that it is behaviors that are bad, not people

- Involve children in helping others without pay

Avoid:

- Avoid talking badly about groups of people or individuals
- Avoid identifying people by their faults or mistakes (as in "they stole; they are thieves and bad people")