Albert Walks confidently through the small gathering of people to the center of the crowd, making a be-line streight for the small podium. He steps up onto the podium and smiles warmly arround the people who are milling arround the street, belaying the nervousness he feels inside at his first speech on teh streets. Raising one hand to his lips he coughs gently twice, drawing the attention of a few of the people. As these people gaze on, mildly curios, he begins his monologue.

"I am here today to talk on the subject of Respect.

To me Respect is the single most important aspect of this thing of ours. It's something that is so easy to accomplish, you can be a lowly thug or a lofty Godfather or mother and still have it. Respect can be commanded and earned, given both grudgingly and willingly, and it has such a huge effect.

So when it is so easy why do so many ignore it completely?

I have seen people openly insulting Godfathers and mothers, can this possibly be right? I am by no means saying be a suck up, never give an oppinion, and agree with everything your superiors say, but has all respect been lost?

Surely it still has its place?"

He coughs again, slightly nervously, and waits for comments.

i feel respect is the key to sucess in life you need alot of things in life but respect can get you alot farther then anything else plus respect for yourself if you have respect for yourself then people will respect you...Respect your elders people who been around the block a few times....

It's like my sainted mother always told me, "Respect is everything,"

People forget that we're not merely common criminals, but mafiosi. Honor, respect, omerta. These words should be etched into all of our hearts.

The next time you see somebody talking trash in the streets, check out who is speaking. I'd bet there won't be a button in that guy's future.

With no respect in this life you have nothing, you will not make it and it will be a very short lived life.

My thanks for your points of views!

Respect is the only way to go.  I would rather keep my mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.  A simple criminal has no morals.  They do what they do to satisfy some carnal need for recognition.  Mafiosi work incognito.  We try to remain as quiet as possible.  Sure we commit crimes, but they are necessary evils to help our families survive.  Shooting off the verbal cannons of your mouth is the quickest way to blow your cover and get shot.  I don't want to get recognized for being an idiot who verbally attacks someone just so I can get 15 minutes of people replying to my post before I die.  

But what about the flipside to this debate?

Should respect work the other way, from those with power to those who don't. Obviosly the lower rankers couldn't directly take out a Don Or Godfather, but without their support where would a family be?

If you demonstrate respect to another human being, they will feel you deserve the same. If you treat someone of a lower rank like crap, they will resent it and will potentially disrespect you openly.

Respect should work both ways, because if you're a leader and you demonstrate respect to your lower rankers, they will in turn respect you, boosting the Morale of the Family. It creates a better atmosphere to work in, and people feel welcome to get involved. If you shit on them, they will feel less inclined to work as hard.

That's probably not the best way to look at it, but that's what I think. Morale is a key factor in ensuring that a family runs smoothly, and anything you can do to boost it should be done.

what is it thats said over and over again by our parents?  Oh yes "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you."  If you want respect, then clearly you need to show respect right?  If I show respect to my Don and godfather thats going to go a long way down the road when I make it up to the high ranks.  I then get to show others that same level of respect, teaching them, guiding them in the ways of our world.

true true

My family line has walk these shores for over six years now, in that time a saying has been passed down to each secedding generation. I will share this saying with you all for I believe it will bring a better viewpoint to all.

In this thing of ours, Omerta is our Code, Honor is our Shield and Respect is our Currency.

These words are what my family has always stood by, and in plain english it means that we live by the law of the Family and speak nothing to outsiders. That we stay true to our Family and all members and allies. And that respect is how you prosper in this thing of ours, earning it as you advance and giving it to those who in turn earn it from you.

Respect will get you far in life... Having none will get you a bullet (IG) or hated (IRL)