Father My Ass!

I was once reprimanded by my college instructor, who happens to be a Catholic priest, cause I kept addressing him as “sir” while everybody else in the class calls him “father”. He was so furious and accused me of disrespecting his “status” that he threatened to fail me in his class.

In the Philippines, addressing people as “sir” is just as staple as Americans address each other as “Misters”. That’s why I never thought it would be a big deal for him cause I know calling him sir or anything else, even calling him by his first name is a sign of respect.

You see, people may call you “Mr. President” or “Father” or whatever crap you can think of but that doesn’t mean that they respect you. Respect is something that is not imposed upon. You may teach somebody how to respect but you can’t teach him who to respect or push him into respecting someone.

I have been brought up in a family where I have been thought about Christian values even at an early age and went to a sectarian school from 6 to 20 that’s where I learned about how to gain and pay respect. I am also no stranger to being respected being city councilor at that moment. I have never insisted on being addressed by my official title even when I am at the office. Positions and titles, I believe, are just ciphers. You may have lots of abbreviations attached to your name but that doesn’t mean that people should respect you.

I used to have high regards on this him and respected him as my instructor that’s why I call him sir. Besides, we were in a classroom and not at a church. I respected him for being a priest because I know that its a big sacrifice for him to refrain himself from carnal plasures.

I look up to priests and the religious cause some of them contributed to keeping this world out of chaos. However, forcing me to call them “Father”, “Sister”, “Bishop” or whatever brouhaha would surely strip that respect away. They of all people should know that respect is beyond words. Words without feelings are nothing.

As to my theology instructor, I started to call him “father” now just because that’s what he want to hear but the respect that he craves so much to come with such a word ceases to exist anymore.