The Indian prayer "All My Relations" is a prayer of respect for the Hoop of
Life.
Almost everyone believes respect is a good thing but few people have a
clear idea of what respect means or what respect looks like. Respect is
not a commodity. Respect is a way of being. Respect is in our chest not
in our hand. Respect is for all of life. Respect is for every species in
the world, including all four races. Respect is for all our relations.
Respect means no interruption.
Respect means no confrontation.
Respect means no accusastion.
Respect means no "mocking," especially, no mocking of elders.
Respect means no lies between us.
Respect means no betrayal of confidence.
Respect means no "ripping off."
Respect means no hording.
Respect means no "Lording it over" someone.
Respect means no ordering around.
Respect means no yelling in anger.
Respect means no bad language.
Respect means no name calling.
Respect means controlling yourself.
Respect is focusing on and dealing in "issues" and not "personalisms."
Respect is focusing on "what" is right rather than "who" is right.
Respect means owning our own negativity and not being a "Blame Shifter." A
"Blame Shifter" is one who projects on shifts his own negativity onto
someone else. This is the process of bigotry, war, and genocide.
Respect is keeping the lines of communication open with those who have a
different opinion, and making a sincere attempt to let them be heard and
understood.
Respect means listening until everyone has been heard and understood, only
then is there a possibility for "Balance and Harmony," the goal of Indian
spirituality.
Dave Chief
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Correction for post Sacred Circle/About Dave Chief (1-8-97), the word "band"
was inadvertently omitted from the first paragraph. It should have read -
"A descendant of the Crazy Horse band." His grandfather was Red Dog.