“Respect” is an abstract word. That is to say, there is no concrete referent for “respect.“ We all have an idea, or a mental image of a book, or a desk, or a chair, or a car, etc. But, the meaning of “respect” lies in each of one of us. That is to say, we can’t conjure up a mental image of “respect.“ Each person has her/his own idea of what it means to offer respect, or to be respected.
So, for example, someone says something to you that you find disrespectful, you have every right to say, “I find your remark disrespectful.” And, properly, an apology should be offered. Of course, that doesn’t always happen. People can become defensive and try to turn the table, so to speak, and attempt to blame you for being “too sensitive,“ “or too touchy."
However, when Native Americans or First Nations say, “I find that disrespectful” we’re told that we’re being “too sensitive,“ “or too touchy.” Or, “we’re honoring you!“
In short, there is a very obvious double-standard.
Just like those who offer fatuous attempts to bring up other cultures and/or races that might be “imitated” in order to make a fallacious and illusory counter argument, are like those who cannot accept their faux pas and offer an apology.
Offering an apology is where honor lies.
I let other groups, races, ethnicities, etc. determine for themselves what they deem respectful, and disrespectful. What is or is not acceptable to one group of people cannot, and never should be generalized to all groups of people.
Just because people try to emulate or pretend that they belong to a group, or culture to which they do not belong, does not make Native American and/or First Nations Wannabes OK. Two wrongs do not make a right.“