Many people in the world deserve respect from those around them. Most have earned it individually, but some have earned it globally. Rubin “the Hurricane” Carter is one of the few who deserve respect solely for the hardships they have struggled through. There is no way a person can hear his story and not feel respect and admiration for the 73-year-old man.
Hurricane (his boxing nickname) was on top of the world, poised to win the international middleweight boxing championship, when he was arrested and charged with a triple murder that occurred in his hometown of Paterson, N.J. Carter maintains this was a crime he did not commit. A federal judge finally granted him freedom in 1985 but by that time he'd spent nearly two decades in prison. He is an extremely inspirational man because, when most would have given up, he fought for his life and his rights. Though I do not know him personally, I believe that someone who has been dealt such horrendous cards and still managed to escape with his ante in the poker game of life, deserves my respect, and the respect of the public.
Recently, this world boxing champion, ex-con, pimp-clad comedian came to speak at Carleton. Carter was everything anyone would want in a guest speaker: funny, insightful and down-to-earth. He commanded the attention of everyone in the room, all staring close-lipped and wide-eyed at the legend before them. It was expected that the audience gave Carter immense respect – they had paid for their tickets to hear him speak. Unfortunately, there was a small group of people who – though they had also bought their tickets – did not feel the need to respect this man.
Sitting behind me were three boys who either had no idea who they were sitting before, or had not been raised to respect others. Passing gas, swearing and spitting chewing tobacco into a clear water bottle, these guys did not appreciate that they were about to hear one of the most famous men his history tell his story. Their inappropriate behaviour while Carter was inspiring students around them to dream big and go the distance left me wondering whether they had any manners whatsoever, or if they just didn’t believe Carter deserved respect.
This left me to question what constitutes respect worthy.
As stated earlier, I believe Carter has made the best lemonade from the lemons life handed him by taking his experiences and helping others learn from them.
This, to me, is someone who truly deserves global respect. But, this is my opinion, and obviously is not the opinion of the guys who made sexist and ageist insults about everyone around them, including Carter.
Their lack of respect made me both angry and curious to know who they believe would be worth giving respect. If not Rubin “the Hurricane” Carter, then who? Larry the cable guy?
I am unclear. But I am certain that when someone spends his remaining years giving back to a world that so cruelly took everything from him, he deserves respect. So, next time, put away the Skoal and shut your mouths, because this guy has something important to say, and he deserves to be heard.