Celebrate the Publication of The Royal Table

I grew up with the expectation of this and other forms of respect.  It was clear to me that the adults around me would be satisfied with the forms, and so go on being clueless (and clueless about their 
cluelessness) about how I really felt.  I felt that, in their adult world, respect was largely missing, or only paid lip service.  Then, as now, young people are swift to pick up on the inconsistencies of their elders.  When challenged, the response usually included some form of intimidation (‘How DARE you?!?’).  This clearly communicates that the issue is power, not respect.  It was well known to me (sadly) back then that my parents and teachers wanted control, not respect.  This article reflects the same point of view.  How little we’ve learned!  My parents’ generation seemed to express the belief (probably inherited) that admission of error (or, often, any kind of approval) equaled loss of authority.  I have many peers who, even as adults, continue to be ‘walking wounded’ because the authority figures in their lives acted in this aggressive/defensive manner.  The one-sided point-of-view of this article, that a parent couldn’t possibly be in error, or disrespectful themselves, and that it’s always the child who must change, sounds like a great way to get a young person to ignore you (
“Whatever . . . ” ).