People are encouraged to show an extra measure of respect, even if small, to certain people we meet because they experience special difficulties in their day-to-day lives.

Day-to-day “heroes” include former combat soldiers, nurses, doctors, teachers, police, firemen. These people occasionally have to go the extra mile, above and beyond the call of duty, to deal with situations that can endanger them, either emotionally or physically, or both. These people I consider ‘professional’ because of this.

But I realized this morning there are other groups of people among us, seldom recognized, also experiencing unusual difficulties in their daily lives, often causing emotional harm; sometimes physical harm also. The threat of that danger is always present, sometimes almost 24 hours a day.

These people are the minorities, who have not always been treated well in our great country, which has talked the talk but not always walked the walk, of equality, justice, and freedom.

Black people, Indian people, gays and lesbians, Hispanics, and children are among those who never know what they’ll encounter when leaving home in the morning, but more often than not are sure to encounter some unnecessary assault on their self-esteem or psyche.

These people are also day-to-day heroes, for being subjected to and having endured this, sometimes for many generations.

The next time we see one of these people, it would do as much good for ourselves as for them, to show them even a tiny extra measure of respect.

It would do us all good to quit paying attention to our lesser ones, the sarcastic and ignorant, and tell them to “Knock it off.” Incredibly these days that includes too many demagogic leaders and politicians. (Most recently Rep. Todd Akin, R-MO about rape.)

The root, of all this strife, is us: the majority.

Al Martin

Merrifield