It is not just because it was Halloween; we are different and weird every day. Every one of us is different from other humans. Our modern global world is based primarily on principles of respect – the respect we give to others and the respect we expect others to give us. Respect is what makes us look beyond our differences and find a common ground where we all can talk and communicate.
But sometimes, it is not the right time to communicate. It was Halloween Saturday and after dressing up, I was and ready to get scared. A friends and I went to the movies to watch “Paranormal Activity,” one of the most successful scary movies of this period.
I was very excited because I heard people talking about how good the movie is and how scary it was. And truly, it was. The filming technique and approach used to present the movie made it such a wonderful and exceptionally unique movie that it is a must see.
As I was waiting for the movie to start, I started sensing bad omens about the coming movie experience. No, I was not scared or anything close to being scared, but I heard people who were talking loudly inside the room.
The lights went off and the movie started, and for the first few minutes, everyone was quiet and paid attention to the movie. But it all happened so fast and suddenly after the first scream. As usual, a doorknob turned, a loud noise rang in our ears and people started screaming in the theater. But then, some decided not to zip it. People started whispering and talking all through the movie.
The more the movie progressed, the more exciting and scary it became. The noise in the theater increased, not only from people who were screaming – those I totally tolerate since it’s a scary movie – but people who were chatting and giggling.
They ruined it for me. All those who were talking owe me the $8 I paid to watch the movie. I did not enjoy the movie the way I expected, and I definitely was not as scared as I wanted to be. I am sure many others who were in the same theater felt the same disappointment when they did not enjoy their movie experience as they wished.
And all the “shhhs” were powerless against the big laughs coming from some inconsiderate viewers.
I feel very sorry to bring up such a topic, but we need to remind ourselves today of the need to respect each other, the need to respect each others’ different beliefs and each others’ comfort zones.
But respect sometimes conflicts with freedom, one of the most important and pivotal principles this country is based on.
An individual is part of a group, and he sometimes has to follow the rules and principles of that group no matter what his or her personal beliefs in these principles and rules are. Your freedom ends when another’s freedom begins.
Such principles need to be incorporated more into our society so a person realizes he has to respect the society and community.
At the same time, each person has a human right to express himself or herself and to work and live by the principles he or she believes in, as long as this does not contradict the general laws.
Respecting others and individual freedom and values stimulates the mind and nourishes the ambitions of each individual. We can do whatever we want. We can cross the streets whenever we want. We can sing in the middle of our English class. We can curse everyone we meet in the street.
But are these really reasonable actions? Probably not, because the common rules and code of laws of our society have doctrines which despise, and on some level prohibit, some actions.
Our mind is there for a reason. If we do not use our mind to make right decisions, then there is no reason for us to have a mind.
So the next time your personal freedom conflicts with the respect you are supposed to have for others, use your mind to think about it, and hopefully, you will make the right decision.
Abdallah Abu Ghazaleh is a freshman majoring in electrical engineering. He can be contacted at [email protected].