Self-Respect

Rasp

Senior Editor
[From: The Odinist, no. 7 (1973)]


SELF-RESPECT


Many years ago a story was told about an old man who was making himself a desk. His grandson was watching as the old man diligently polished the back of the desk which was to go up against the wall.

"Gramps," said the boy, "why do you bother polishing that side? Nobody is going to see it?"

The old man looked at the boy. "Son," he said softly, "even is nobody else in the whole world would see the back of this desk, we would know about it."

This man had something that seems to have gone out of style these days: He had self-respect; he had pride; he had the quiet dignity that comes when a person is willing to accept his duties and responsibilities to himself and his family. A man of this calibre has the inner compulsion of doing his work to the best of his ability in utter disregard to whether he will ever get money or praise in return; and he also accepts the importance of setting a good example for the next generation.

We do not intend to moralize; Odinists know that self-respect is necessary to be at peace with oneself.

Unfortunately, far too many people are afraid to take up their responsibilities. Instead they bounce on some "cause"; they get busy with social concerns, but in reality they are running away from what they ought to be doing right in their own homes.

Many of these people turn into professional "do-gooders" who are so eager to have a finger in every pie, trying to boost their importance by identifying with some great religious or social enterprise. These "do-gooders" have forgotten that the only way they will ever do something really good and important, is by first fulfilling their duties to themselves and to those closest to them.

It is far from us to say that people should not be concerned with what is going on around them; on the contrary, we think it is of the utmost importance to take part in the big issues of the day.

What we are saying, however, is that before you can be of any possible help in the community, you must be in harmony with yourself; if you are at ease with your own soul, then you have the spiritual courage and balanced judgment that is necessary in dealing with the problems facing your community, your country and Western Civilization.
 
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