Thitirat Pongprajuc

HUMA1100
Greg Spendlove
April 30, 2023

My Manifesto

After thinking about what I have learned from this class for a semester-long, I think the

most important value to me is respect. Respect is a fundamental value that is important in all

aspects of life. It is the foundation for healthy relationships, effective communication, and a

positive outlook on life. Respect is not something that can be demanded or forced, but rather it is

something that is earned and given freely. According to the American Political Science

Association, respect is defined as “a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something

elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements” (“What is respect?” 2023). It is a feeling

that is earned by treating others with kindness, compassion, and empathy. When we respect

someone, we value them as a person, and we acknowledge their worth and dignity. Respect is not

something that is given based on social status, race, gender, or any other external factor. It is a

universal value that should be given to all individuals, regardless of their background or identity.

To me, showing respect means valuing other people and their ideas, respecting their

uniqueness, and their right to be different from you. It shows that you are open enough to accept

differences between you and others without judging those differences negatively or behaving

unpleasantly toward them. In my opinion, respect for other members of society is essential and

should be part of daily life because if we did not have it, we would be fighting each other.

Without respect, there would be arguments, fights, and wars over a tiny little conflict. Without

respect, a person will always have anger toward others who have different opinions. This

possibly leads to hatred and violence against each other.

 Broader social issues associated with respect can be any issue because, with respect, you

are willing to listen to others and engage in solving problems. Respectful people are more open

to listening to the different opinions of a diverse group of people. With this open-minded quality,

respectful people could adopt ideas from diverse groups of people and apply them to any

situation. However, if I have to be more specific about a social issue that can be solved with the

value of respect, that problem could be racism. The textbook The Human Experience From

Human Being to Human Doing defines racism as “a prejudiced opinion that assigns a superior or

inferior status to groups of people who share genetic or inherited physical characteristics. This

bias against particular races is irrational and frequently hostile” (Adams et al., 2020). This belief

can lead to discrimination, harassment, and even violence towards individuals who are deemed

inferior based on their race. Racism is a problem that has existed for centuries, and it continues

to be a pervasive issue in many societies around the world.

I believe that respect is essential in combatting racism because it requires us to

acknowledge the worth and dignity of all individuals, regardless of their race. When we respect

someone, we see them as equals, and we acknowledge their unique qualities and abilities. This

means that we do not judge or discriminate against individuals based on their race, but rather we

value them for who they are as a person.

With that being said, I believe respect is a value that can be demonstrated in many ways.

One of the most important ways to demonstrate respect is through communication. When

communicating with others, we should listen actively and attentively to their thoughts and

feelings. We should avoid interrupting or talking over others, and we should be open to hearing

different perspectives and ideas. Communication is a powerful tool for building relationships and

creating a sense of mutual respect and understanding.

 Another way to demonstrate respect is through our actions. We should treat others with

kindness, compassion, and empathy, and we should avoid hurtful or disrespectful behaviors. This

includes avoiding insulting language, name-calling, and other forms of verbal abuse. It also

includes avoiding physical violence or intimidation toward others.

The civic engagement that I had done was volunteering in an English as a second

language class for the Human Rights & Responsibilities Active Learning Assignment. This

experience during the activity opened my eyes and made me realize what I could do as a person

to help others in the community. So many people in Salt Lake City suffer from inequality

because of their skin color, origins, and the lack of ability to communicate in English. This

activity might not be directly related to racism issues, but being able to speak English can be one

way to help solve the issue. One more thing I learned from this activity was that refugees were

relocated to Utah without knowing what to do with their lives in this country. In comparison,

Immigrants aimed to have a better life in America. The problem is that they do not know the

culture, and more importantly, they do not know the language. As a person who learned to speak

English later in my twenties, I know it is not easy to pick up a new language when you are an

adult. I appreciated that I could use my experience as a former ESL student to help others who

are thriving to survive in this land of hope and liberty. I believe that when individuals are able to

communicate with each other in a common language, such as English, it can help break down

barriers and reduce misunderstandings that may contribute to racism.

Moreover, language is closely tied to culture, and being able to speak English can help

individuals better understand and appreciate different cultures. This is particularly important in

the context of racism, as negative stereotypes and prejudices towards individuals from different

cultures can contribute to racism. By learning about different cultures and being able to
communicate with individuals from different backgrounds, individuals can develop a greater

appreciation and understanding of diversity. Being able to communicate in English can help

reduce racism by facilitating communication and understanding between individuals from

different backgrounds, promoting cultural awareness and appreciation.

In the near future, I will volunteer as a teaching assistant in an English as a second

language class at the Asian Association of Utah, where they have free English classes for

refugees and immigrants, regardless of their race. In the next couple of years, the career that I am

pursuing may hinder me from being a teaching assistant. When I become a psychiatric nurse, I

possibly shift my civic engagement activity to be an occasional translator for Thai people when

they see a doctor. As far as I know, a few Thais are working in health care. Moreover, many

people, when they are sick, may hesitate to get proper treatment because they do not know how

to explain their symptoms to a doctor or nurse. I think doing this not only helps others in society

but does it also help me grow as a person. It provides a healthy boost to my self-esteem and life

satisfaction, and it also strengthens my Thai community.

In conclusion, respect is the most important value that can help solve many problems,

especially racism, because respect is a fundamental value that is essential in all aspects of life

that requires us to acknowledge the worth and dignity of all individuals, regardless of their race.

One way to help reduce racism is communication. Being able to communicate in English

promotes understanding and empathy and facilitates cross-cultural communication. Respect is a

value that everyone should adopt as one of their core values because accepting somebody for

who they are, even when they are different from you or you disagree with them, allows people to

live together peacefully.

 References

Adams, C., Dibble, E., & Lewis, K. (2020, July 31). Reform & revolution. The Human

Experience From Human Being to Human Doing. Retrieved February 25, 2023, from

https://slcc.pressbooks.pub/humanexperience/chapter/diversity and difference/#chapter-

209-section-4

Gender equality: What is it and why do we need it? Victorian Government. (2021, March 30).

Retrieved April 11, 2023, from https://www.vic.gov.au/gender-equality-what-it-and-why-

do-we-need-it

Issa, N. (2022, August 23). Utah is the Worst State for Women's Equality, ranked last fifth year

in a row. Deseret News. Retrieved April 11, 2023, from

https://www.deseret.com/utah/2022/8/23/23318877/utah-womens-equality-ranking

What is respect? RESPECT. (2023). Retrieved April 29, 2023, from

https://connect.apsanet.org/respect/what-is-respect/