Respect: a gift or something you earn

I went to Emma's parent teacher conferences yesterday and one of her teachers had a poster on the wall that said this: "Respect is not a gift. It is something you have to earn."
I don't like that poster. In fact I want to tare it down and shred it! Let me explain myself. The school also has a program they are promoting that is about character pillars. These character pillars are things like loyalty, integrity, trust, respect, etc. I think you get the idea. All of the characteristics are things the students are supposed to exemplify, behaviors they are to develop. But the poster in the classroom suggests that it is OK not to treat someone with respect if they aren't earning it. That is so wrong! I know we have all heard the terse reply, "I'll show you respect as soon as your earn it!" Maybe we have even used it a time or two. This concept totally misses a very important point. We are all children of our Heavenly Father. And for that reason alone we should treat each other with respect.
I have two quotes here from a conference address given by Sister Margaret S. Lifferth in the April 2009 general conference. The first quote says, "May I suggest that our ability and our credibility to exemplify reverence for God is strengthened as we show respect for each other." Later she says, "Respect for others and reverence for God are close cousins." From this I learn that I must show respect to all people because they are all children of God. I should say, "I will show you respect whether you earn it or not because you are a creation of God and I respect everthing He has made." Actually I don't think I would say that to anyone because I'm sure it would offend those who are acting rudely. But I should remind myself of it when I am tempted to respond without civility.
Now back to the poster. We discussed this at the dinner table last night. I recognized the concept that was trying to be portrayed. It is important for us to try and earn respect from others but even if others don't earn our respect we should still treat them with respect. Often when you treat someone how they should be treated it helps them to earn it and become a better person. As a family we decided that the poster should have said. "Trust is not a gift. It is something you have to earn." I can show respect to everyone I meet but I don't have to trust everyone I meet.