I will be contributing on insults, respect and the decline of morals in Namibia. Some people seem not to distinguish between an act of insult, mere talking and normal behaviour. The majority of cultures in the world have set a difference engaging people of different ages and status in terms of respect and approach. Coming to insult, the standard meaning will be a deliberate act of showing disrespect, which will offend a person/people, especially an elderly or a person of stature. This can also mean disregarding and underestimating his mental capability and activities despite the good work and good meaning. Insulting can both be carried out vocally or actively. (NB: For fun, this can be between good friends.) When I talk to a person, talk about a person, refer to a person, and even think about a person older than myself or of a stature in a disrespectful manner, then I am insulting that person. In many cultures including my own, it is un-African to insult an elderly or a person ofa stature. The same applies to indecent behaviour. Indecent behaviour can also be regarded as an insult. As far as respect is concerned, this is two-way traffic but in some cultures and some institutions, “Some people are more equal than others.” This means that levels of respect differ from people to people. By way of an example, in many cultures you take to task your kid who has wronged, differently from an elderly person who has done the same thing. And in military institutions, a young military officer will be treated accordingly by all despite their ages. Respect is earned, yes, but in the African culture it is natural and a divine right of the elderly. The elderly might behave in a manner that might cause him to lose his respect but you will still be forced to go square one which is still to respect him. Going against it will only earn you a bad name and possible ostracism by many since it will be against established rules of the given society. On the moral decay in our country, this is very visible especially in post-independence Namibia. Some of the contributing factors are nothing else than the discarding of our culture in favour of other cultures more especially those of the so-called First World, which are most probably corrupt according to our African standard. Our laws effecting the sparing of the rods have spoilt our children. Imagine, a parent being laid a charge against by your own kid whom you have taken to task or spanked for having done something wrong. This is alarming, discouraging and destructive. Something should be done to restore the lost glory of respect of the elderly, human beings and lives. I suggest the establishment of the subject on the teaching of our people about the value of people and their lives. It will also be a wise idea to have a department of humanity for the purpose of propagating the philosophy of humanity. Namibia should be seen to be doing something to curb the worsening situation of moral decay, which is also contributing to the culture of violence and making people live in fear. Concerned Namibian.