232 Global Ethics for Leadership
17.7 Conclusion: Respecting Diversity
One cannot demand respect, but must be freely given. The way of
creating an ambience of respect is through selfless service for the wel-
fare of all. Jesus washing the feet of his disciples at the Last Supper is an
example par excellence of true respect. Or as the golden rule states: “So
in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you” (Mat-
thew 7:12). As you sow, so you reap.
Recognition of human dignity, respecting the identity of each person,
responding to the demands of solidarity of all persons and practicing
charity towards all can be fine threads weaving the life of harmony. This
entails the recognition of equality on the basis of human dignity, though
differences and inequalities exist among people. It is not by ignoring or
rejecting the uniqueness of each person that harmony thrives, instead it
is by recognizing and promoting diversities that we can work for unity
and beauty: unity is in diversity and beauty is in variety. This means
respecting plurality and multiplicity that is the roadmap for a harmony
of life.
In order to grow in the virtue of respect, the following questions
should be addressed: Who is who?, What is what?, and Why do I do
what I do? Starting from family relations, there is the need to identify
who is who. Though human beings are equal in human dignity, relation-
ships are distinct and different based on one’s relationships. Depending
on the relationship, there is a qualitative difference and uniqueness in
dealing with each. In Taittaria Upanishad, there is an insightful and
beautiful instruction regarding reverence and respect. It goes like this:
matru devo bhava, pitru devo bhava, gurur devo bhava, atithi devo ba-
hava (1:21) The instruction means “revere your mother as god, revere
your father as god, revere you teacher as god, and revere your guest as
god.” This piece of advice is a comprehensive statement on the question