Respect for the hierarchy is something emphasized in this nation. It is molded during childhood at home and continues in the classroom where physical punishments are given to those who disrespect the order of things. But as we start to see the realities of life, teachers can be incompetent, public officials can be corrupt, and so many people in higher positions are both incompetent and corrupt.
This value of respect for whoever is older or higher than you only enables the undeserving people to stay at the top. Respect, in this nation, is often wasted on people undeserving of it simply because of their titles or last names.
When corruption is so rampant, people don’t just climb to high positions purely on skills or competence, but also on their ability to be a “sipsip”, yes man, or a teacher’s pet. They are just very good on appeasing the big boss or those above them.
Higher ups don’t automatically deserve respect, bootlickers who have no dignity deserve no respect.
Only results matter. But of course, we often ignore that and get caught up with the showman and his performance. We end up praising him and frame him as the perfect role model.
Our habit of idolizing people needs to be controlled, because at the end of the day, these “sipsips” don’t deserve the people’s respect and only managed to climb to high positions not out of their efforts but their abilities to be a good servant to the devil and his money or his power.
Respect is sacred and from my view, even the most shabby-looking but honest working masses deserve more respect than the most clean-looking official. No one likes a teacher’s pet and that should remain even outside of school. **