• In this episode:
  
• *The Staple Sisters, ‘Respect Yourself’, 1972.
• https:youtu.be/10Rw7tf3QzM
• *Brene Brown, Top Ten Tips for Self-Love
• https://youtu.be/s5d2yQK5P_E
• *Film Chat with Steve Parker – ‘R.E.S.P.E.C.T.’, MGM Official Trailer
• https://youtu.be/qTtxoz3OIlU
• *Aretha Franklin, ‘A Natural Woman’, Live at Kennedy Centre Honours, December 31, 2015. https://youtu.be/qz2efshhuq

To view World Service 8 video, copy and paste the following url into YouTube Search.
https://youtu.be/p5PmDSkvz1I

There is a new movie in the cinemas called R.E.S.P.E.C.T. It tells the story of Aretha Franklin, widely known as ‘The Queen of Soul’.

I don’t know about you, but although I had heard the name ‘Aretha Franklin’, I never took much notice until I saw her in ‘The Blue Brothers’. Wow, does she sing with attitude!

So, the film review of R.E.S.P.E.C.T. with Steve Parker in this episode spurred me on to find out more about her, while at the same time, leading me to reflect on respect itself, as a theme.

Respect for others demands respect for ourselves; respect between husbands and wives, respect for children as unique persons, respect for Aboriginal people, migrants, refugees, strangers, the environment, and so on – too much for one episode! But enough, I hope, to fulfil our aim of providing inspiration and encouragement.

I hope also that this episode provides a jumping off point for you. Check out ‘Amazing Grace’, the documentary on Aretha Franklin that Steve refers to (see https://youtu.be/ypHZbtqSU48), search YouTube for Brene Brown’s TED Talks. And there are also the recordings of Aretha Franklin on Spotify.

What I most like about this focus on Aretha Franklin is not just her music and her voice, but that she is a survivor. She represents so much more than the historic breakthroughs she made in music. She represents conviction, a deep knowledge about herself and the right to be herself despite the efforts of others to try to control and bend her to their ends; a determination to overcome the abuse that rained down on her. It is so significant that her last public performance was in the presence of Michelle and Barack Obama. 

‘Yes, We Can!’

I have found much inspiration and encouragement putting this episode together. I hope you will too!