The Mangling of the English Language

I'm saddened by the down grading of the word "respect." Apparently, now a days, you must show people respect, you must show the appropriate amount of respect for a person and a situation.

Respect no longer has to be earned, apparently, it is assigned automatically to anybody and any situation. 

When I was a kid, I was taught that respect was always earned and that it was only those people who had done something commendable, or lived a life in such a way that was full of goodness, who would be entitled to respect.

Now, anyone and everyone is entitled to respect. It has become a generic term.

Then there is the word "appropriate." Sadly, the word appropriate now really means nothing at all. It has become a complete weasel word for the general public to use to express themselves about just about anything.

It really now means any behaviour that 'the person speaking' deems is not to their liking. It could really mean absolutely anything.

It is the fill in word for the uneducated, the stupid and the lazy. "I don't think that is appropriate." It is only a tiny step above, "I don't like it." (especially said with a Queensland accent)

And let's not even mention "awesome." It is suffice to say, that finding the shoes that match that hand bag perfectly, is not awesome.