QotD: Respect

In order for society to work, people's first instinct has to be to respect authority. Sometimes authority is wrong, but usually, it isn't, and the proper thing is to presume authority is correct until you have reason to believe otherwise. Kids learn respect for authority by dealing with their fathers. Sure, Mom is an authority figure, too, but who is the nuke in a healthy home's authority arsenal? Dad. When you find yourself in your room dreading the sound of Dad's car in the driveway, you know you are in deep, deep trouble.

If you don't respect Dad, you probably won't respect the police, either. You probably won't respect anyone.

Steve H., "Daddy Just HAAAAAD to Marry a Feminist: Hollywood and Madison Avenue Tell us About Healthy Relationships", Hog on Ice, 2005-01-12