by Rohan Jolly

Created on: January 14, 2010   Last Updated: January 15, 2010

The modern day idea of a rebel has become a bit distorted through the ages. Firstly, let's clear up what a rebel isn't; a rebel isn't a hippie, a rebel isn't someone wearing a leather jacket on a Harley Davidson, a rebel also isn't someone escaping the poetry of life by indulging in hedonistic pastimes. None of these define what a rebel really is. These are people who have tarnished the image of the true rebel. A rebel is someone who is out to live life his or her own way, a person with strong convictions and independent ideas and feelings about everything . He is someone who is ready to overthrow all that is not right and make amends for the damage done. For this very reason we both fear and admire him. We fear him because he threatens the very foundation of the current order in which we live yet we admire him for he represents what we wished we had the courage to be.

We might think that by teaching our kids rebellion we are making them free thinkers who will grow up to inspire the changes we wish to see in society today. Rebellion in itself does not make one a rebel, otherwise we wouldn't need separate terms for vandals, rioters, separatists and the likes. By showing disrespect we are teaching disrespect. By teaching disrespect we are promoting our children to be like the very people who pull us down collectively. Showing disrespect is easy. Teaching respect is hard. A truly independent and free thinking individual can only emerge from an environment of great open mindedness and mutual respect for the feelings and actions of others. Disrespecting a person for doing their job only shows small mindedness and a great disregard to the feelings and actions of the person doing their job.

The only thing such actions teach their children are aggression and violence, a modern day punk culture in the making. The opposite of respect need not be disrespect. It can just as easily be indifference. It is better to teach right from wrong and explain what earns someone respect and what doesn't. Perhaps that will help them turn out into good citizens if not true rebels. If we cannot help them we will not hinder them at least. This way we will be teaching them if you have a problem with the establishment or your fellow man, don't show it by raising the finger and mouthing off or by “satyagrah” under a stoned stupor, but by knowledge and leading the way by example.

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