Thursday, November 09, 2023

IS SIERRA LEONE PRODUCING OVER-BLOTTING UNIVERSITY LAWYERS?

The Changing Face Of Legal Professionals In Sierra Leone

By: Mohamed Jalloh (Pupil Barrister) and Marie Marion Kargbo

Introduction
The legal landscape in Sierra Leone has undergone a profound transformation, highlighted by the burgeoning community of lawyers. This article aims to delve into the significant evolution of legal professionals against the backdrop of historical challenges and a changing socio-economic climate. The surge in lawyers reflects a dynamic legal ecosystem adapting to societal, economic, and legal advancements. By exploring the factors fueling this growth and their implications, this article sheds light on the transformative nature of Sierra Leone’s legal profession. As the number of lawyers continues to rise, close monitoring is essential to ensure sustained progress, ethical standards, and the provision of legal services that cater to the evolving needs of Sierra Leonean society. This article examines the reasons behind this surge, its impact on legal services, and the implications for the justice system and society.

Shifts in Legal Education and Professional Training
One significant factor contributing to the rise of lawyers in Sierra Leone is the expansion and enhancement of legal education and professional training. The establishment of LLB programs in various universities has facilitated the production of skilled legal professionals. Before 2015, access to an undergraduate LLB program was limited to either overseas universities in Commonwealth countries or the University of Sierra Leone (FBC). With the growing demand for legal services and a burgeoning population, the capacity of the law department at FBC became insufficient to accommodate the rising number of applicants.

Recognizing the need to expand legal education, the Legal Practitioners’ Act 2000 was amended in 2015 to increase access. However, differing opinions emerged among practitioners regarding this change. While some expressed concerns about the standard of legal education in other universities, others saw this expansion as an opportunity to improve the availability of legal services and ensure justice for a larger portion of the population. Although Fourah Bay College remains a primary source of legal practitioners due to its higher number of graduates, there has been a notable increase in the admission rate.

Socio-economic Factors and Legal Services Demand
The demand for legal services in Sierra Leone has been influenced by various socio-economic factors. Economic growth, foreign investment, and the diversification of industries have necessitated a deeper understanding of complex legal frameworks. Economic expansion has led to increased business transactions, demanding expertise in areas such as contract law, corporate law, and intellectual property rights.

The surge in foreign investments requires an understanding of international law, trade agreements, and cross-border transactions, with legal professionals playing a pivotal role in facilitating these transactions. Additionally, the diversification of industries has brought forth complex legal challenges specific to various sectors. For instance, technology companies require legal expertise in intellectual property, data privacy, and cybersecurity, while healthcare and pharmaceutical industries face regulatory compliance issues and intellectual property protection.

Implications on the Justice System and Society
The increased number of lawyers can have various implications, both positive and challenging. On the positive side, a higher number of lawyers can enhance legal representation for individuals, granting improved access to legal experts who can effectively advocate for their rights. This can contribute to a fairer justice system, allowing individuals to receive adequate legal assistance and have their voices heard.

Moreover, the larger pool of legal professionals might potentially reduce case backlogs, expediting the resolution of disputes and streamlining the justice system. However, challenges associated with this growth include the need for effective regulation to maintain standards of competence and professional conduct among lawyers. Additionally, there is a risk of increased unethical behavior within the profession, necessitating strict ethical standards and disciplinary measures to uphold the credibility of the legal profession.

Addressing the Challenges of the Growing Numbers
The legal profession offers a wealth of possibilities beyond traditional practice. Lawyers can explore roles in business, technology, academia, and other specialized domains. Collaboration between key legal institutions such as the Bar Association, General Legal Council and Council of Legal Education is vital to address the challenges posed by the growing number of lawyers and foster innovation within the legal field.

To adapt to the growing legal community, it is crucial to explore new avenues beyond merely regulating admission. Updating existing legislation, such as the Legal Practitioners Act, should be considered to reflect contemporary legal practices and introduce alternative career options. This could encompass professions like legal tech professionals, paralegals, and legal consultants. Embracing technology in legal practice can significantly enhance efficiency and open new avenues for individuals passionate about legal technology to contribute to the profession.

To drive these innovative solutions and reforms, collaboration among key legal institutions in Sierra Leone is paramount. By working together, these institutions can create an environment that encourages innovation and alternative career paths in the legal field, ensuring its adaptability to the evolving needs of society.

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Friday, November 03, 2023

LAURETTA: THE UNTOLD MUSICAL STORY of LAURETTA!

LAURETTA  (101 YEARS OLD), THE NIECE OF SIR HENRY LIGHTFOOT BOSTON, FORMER GOVERNOR GENERAL OF SIERRA LEONE:  A MUCH REVEALING MUSICAL WOMAN WHOSE STORY IS NOT WELL KNOWN. Click Link. Thanks to Iyamide ThomasM.Phil., (of The Krios Dot Com & Sicle Cell Champiin), for bringing out the musical story.



In any British commemoration of World War 2 (WW2), you might also hear of Dame Vera Lynn who was an English singer and entertainer fondly called the ‘Forces Sweetheart’, since she popularly performed for the troops in places like Burma and India. Two of her most famous songs composed in 1939 at the outbreak of WW2 were ‘There’ll Always Be an England’ and ‘We’ll Meet Again’.  Dame Vera Lynn gave concerts to the soldiers as part of the Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA), but how many of you know the untold story of Lauretta Boston who also belonged to ENSA and performed for WW2 troops and did much more? Dame Vera Lynn died in June 2020, but Lauretta is still very much alive and turned 101 (no this is not a typo) at the end of October! Here is the story of the most amazing woman I have ever met, who I thought I’d spend a maximum of two hours with but ended up chatting to for four!


Who Exactly is ‘Lauretta’?

Lauretta was born in the UK in October 1922 to a Sierra Leonean father (Nathaniel Boston) and an English mother Margaret. Her father was a barrister who qualified at Lincoln’s Inn and whose younger brother Sir Henry Lightfoot-Boston became the first African and indigenous Governor-General of Sierra Leone.  Lauretta grew up with her white English grandmother in Paddington, London. From aged 5, her grandmother taught her to sing and play the piano. She recalls that her grandmother would sit her on her lap in front of the piano, holding her with her left hand and playing the piano with her right, having written notes on the white piano keys for her. In 1929, at the tender age of seven, Lauretta’s memorable musical performance was not at a primary school concert like the rest of her peers, but rather she played and sang ‘Won’t You Buy My Pretty Flowers’ in front of the Lord Mayor of London at a children’s charity concert in Tottenham Court Rd.  Lauretta has positive memories of growing up in Paddington as a mixed-race child. Showing me a childhood photograph, Lauretta said that when she was little she was much darker than she is now and everyone was always so nice and made a fuss of her!

Music came naturally to Lauretta and by age thirteen, she had been awarded a scholarship for piano playing at the Royal Academy of Music.  However, she tells me she didn’t enjoy her time there at all: “I found it rather boring and rigid. It was all theory and I loved playing songs that also had a story. In addition, it was a long walk to the Royal Academy, sometimes in hot weather and by the time I got there I’d want to dose off.  I just didn’t bother with it!”  Lauretta’s ‘break’ came when she was sixteen, when she signed her first professional contract for a hit musical at Drury Lane Theatre called ‘The Sun Never Sets’ which gave her the opportunity of working with big names like Adelaide Hall and Stewart Granger.  

War-time Contribution

In 1939, a major upheaval came just as Lauretta was starting her career and the country was thrown into World War Two when she was still in her teens.  Lauretta joined the Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA) which was formed to entertain the armed forces during the conflict. The nightly air raids were scary and Lauretta with some humour told me they used to joke that ENSA stood for ‘Each Night Something Awful’!  Lauretta was singing in shows around the country and even showed me her little diary which had the dates and places of her performances from all those years ago.  These included performing to the Air Force in Biggin Hill and the Navy in Southampton and Portsmouth.  She also entertained factory workers in Liverpool and Kirby.

 In 1941, at the tender age of 18, Lauretta married Rowland a Nigerian with whom she had two daughters.  He later became a barrister through the influence of his father-in-law, Nathaniel.  The fact that Lauretta still went for rehearsals at the Criterion Theatre on her wedding day shows how devoted she was to her work.  During the Blitz, Lauretta performed at the Dorchester and Mayfair Hotels, after which Rowland would collect her at Green Park underground station and they would walk all the way to Swiss Cottage in the blackouts with air raids going on around them!  In addition to the performances Lauretta did as part of ENSA, she participated in Childrens Hour on BBC Radio regularly and took part in a variety of programmes such as ‘Monday Night at Eight,’ the religious programme, ‘Lighten our Darkness’ and Variety Bandbox.  She also did BBC overseas broadcasts.

After the War, Lauretta lived and performed at the Theatre Royal in Dublin, Ireland for a few years before returning to London in the 1950s.  Lauretta then toured Germany and performed for American Troops there. It was then she met Calypso King Lord Kitchener who also entertained American soldiers.  Lauretta became the resident singer of the Latin American band at Churchill’s, an upmarket nightclub in Bond St. This was one of the top clubs in London, where legends like Louis Armstrong, Judy Garland, Elizabeth Taylor, Eartha Kitt and Frank Sinatravisited whilst Lauretta was performing there.  One night after their set, famous Hollywood actor Errol Flynn asked if he could play the bongos and he sat at Lauretta’s feet playing whilst she played the maracas!  She also met Dusty Springfield during one of the cabaret sets.  Lauretta performed every night at Churchill’s except Sundays, finishing at four in the morning, which explains why she told me she doesn’t necessarily go to bed early when I asked.  She said Churchill’s was a lively club every day of the week. The bar did not sell beer and most patrons preferred to drink champagne.  It was a fashionable club where style was just as important as the music and cabaret acts.  Lauretta said “ I could go for three weeks wearing a different evening dress each night.”

In 1959, Lauretta performed in Nigeria and appeared on the cover of the Nigerian Radio Times. She did a series of Sunday recitals accompanied on the piano by Fela Sowande.  Lauretta played me a recording of one of her recitals and her voice was amazing!  Whilst in Nigeria she also met her old friend renowned artist Ben Enwonwu, the first African artist to be commissioned by Queen Elizabeth 11. She also appeared with Paul Robeson the African American singer, actor and activist at BBC Broadcasting House to celebrate Nigerian Independence.


When Lauretta developed health difficulties which affected her throat, she retired from professional singing but still continued performing until aged 95 for Kensington Activity Group. She still has her piano which she has had for over 40 years and an organisation called ‘Help Musicians’ keeps it tuned for her.

Lauretta has lived through twenty-six British Prime Ministers, commencing with David Lloyd George when she was born, to Rishi Sunak, the current British Prime Minister. She has also lived through five British Monarchs.  It was King George V who was on the throne when she was born. Next was Edward VIII who abdicated in 1936, followed by King George VI, then Queen Elizabeth II and finally King Charles III.  What an amazing life!


For her 100th birthday last year, Lauretta received a card from King Charles III and Camilla.  One celebration for her 101stbirthday was when a friend took her for a meal at The Shard.  As we can see, ‘Aunty Lauretta’ is still flying high and she even sent me a photo of the occasion by WhatsApp that night!  I’m sure you’ll all join me in wishing this pretty, witty, chatty, amazing woman many more birthdays to come!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Firstly, thanks to Charles Harding for introducing me to his aunt and providing some information. Huge thanks go to Lauretta for providing me with much information and photos on her amazing story whilst we drank tea and ate cake!






https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fafricanvoiceonline.co.uk%2Fthe-untold-story-of-lauretta-west-africas-very-own-vera-lynn%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1-zcPD5B3qtRjpvfX6fDBXQzqDZnVIRFE1dO5J3N4-KHBM0g56gJRStWE_aem_AWEcL5zJPHBUgO72zHJNOtLFvz8GHuL2Kp9HwfG46Ua8fLbjwM-b-IGR5XIODqtJRxU&h=AT3fiL_0YKVO_ArFuXtFOwwNFCHh5SGQKJv6welZxVFewt_9QY537SYDwhZFdvCP8lFu0wZHd3Q4goctm1bHB167IDUtEpJ3_EWA0lS579Vs3pHxC-1LV43eqSGHNnUTBwc6gOoMR7h1&s=1

CREDIT FOR THIS STORY GOES TO Ms IYAMIDE THOMAS, MPhiL, of The Krios Dot Com; SICLE CELL AND 'SIERRA LEONE' HERITAGE CHAMPION/AMBASSADOR. 









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Thursday, November 02, 2023

PROFILE & CREDENTIALS OF AN HONOURABLE MAN-JOHN ANTHONY ROBERTS QC!


http://www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk/article/section/bhm-firsts/dr-john-anthony-roberts-qc/#.V--SN7jRI-k.facebook

Dr John Anthony Roberts QC 

Written by Ian Thomas

The first person of African ancestry to be made a QC in England and Wales

And….

> The first known person of African ancestry to be the Head of his Chambers in England and Wales
> The first person of African ancestry to be made a QC in England and Wales

> The first person of African ancestry to be made a Recorder of the Crown Court in England and Wales

> The first person of African ancestry be appointed by the British Government to a dependent territories as a High Court Judge of the Supreme Courts of the British Virgin Islands, and Anguilla, British West Indies.

> The first Head of Chambers to allegedly accept seven female barristers at one time in 1975. A record during that era.

Dr John Anthony Roberts QC was born in Sierra Leone on 17 May 1928. His great grandfather Joseph Jenkins Roberts, born in Norfolk, Virginia, USA, was the first President of Liberia, and his grandfather, John Anthony Roberts (Snr.), born in Liberia, was a cable engineer who worked in many countries including Brazil, America and in England, between 1891 and 1892. John’s father, John Anthony Roberts (Jnr.), was a Brazilian, and John’s mother, born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, was a descendant of “liberated” Africans, who chose to return to Africa after the Slave Trade. In the 1940s John worked as a Costs Clerk for Taylor Woodrow in Sierra Leone and then as a Civil Servant.

He was fascinated by airplanes, having seen members of the Royal Air Force (RAF) in Sierra Leone during the Second World War. He came to the UK in 1952 to join the RAF, where he first qualified as an accountant. Later, he was selected for aircrew duties. John remained in the RAF until 1962, serving in Europe, the Near East, the Far East and the South Pacific etc. He was invited by the then Prime Minister of Sierra Leone to work in the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Service, where he worked in the Air Traffic Control Services Department between 1962 and 1964.

John returned to England in 1964 with his wife, Eulette, a Jamaican and their son Tony, who was born in Sierra Leone. John and Eulette were married in 1961. He worked as Civil Servant in the UK between 1964 and 1969 and in 1966, he started to read law, as he said he: “Loves helping people.” He read law part-time at the Inns of Court School of Law whilst working and was Called to the Bar (Gray’s Inn) in 1969, becoming a Master of Bench in 1996. In 1972 he also became a Member of Lincoln’s Inn.

In 1970 John helped set up Chambers at 9 Stone Buildings, Lincoln’s Inn. In 1975 he left 9 Stone Buildings to set up his own Chambers at 2 Stone Buildings. He ensured that his set of Chambers was fully representative, mixed and diverse with Asian, white and African and Caribbean members. He left 2 Stone Buildings in 1992 when he became a High Court Judge in The Supreme Courts of the British Virgin Islands, and Anguilla, both British West Indies Dependent Territories. He tried many high profile cases, including homicide.

John was made an Assistant Recorder (a part-time judge of the Crown Court) in 1983 and became a Recorder in 1987. In 1988, John became the first person of African ancestry to be appointed a Queen’s Counsel at the English Bar.

Apart from the English Bar, John has also been called to the Bars of 10 other countries: Jamaica (1973), Sierra Leone (1975), Trinidad & Tobago (1978), Bahamas (1984), St Kitts & Nevis (1988), Antigua (2002), Barbados (2002), Bermuda (2003), Anguilla (2006) and Grenada (2007). This may well be a record.

He was made a Bencher of the Council of Legal Education in Sierra Leone in 1990. Between 1990 and 1992 he was a tutor at the Inns of Court School of Law in London, concentrating on Advocacy.

John was a former President of the British West Indian Ex-Servicemen and Ex-Service Women’s Association and former joint President of the British Caribbean Association, UK.

In 1991 he was made an Honorary Citizen of Atlanta, Georgia, USA. He became a Freeman of the City of London in 1996, made an Honorary Citizen of the British Virgin Islands in 2000 and then awarded an Honorary Doctorate at City University in 1996.

In 1998, aged 70, John retired from the Bench as a Recorder, as is the requirement. He was 80 in May this year and recently retired from private practice. He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and still sits as an arbitrator and remains a door tenant at Warwick Court Chambers.

John is a keen pianist, organist, guitarist and choir singer and a firm believer that “you are never too old to learn”. He loves reading, dancing and music. He is a member of the Guild of Freemen, a former boxer and sprinter in the RAF, who enjoys flying light aircrafts (which he gave up a few years ago).

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Wednesday, December 08, 2021

HONOUR THY FATHER AND THY MOTHER: EXODUS 20:12 - LEF FITYEI!! GUD NOR LEK DAT!

 


“Honour thy father and thy mother…”

Exodus 20:12

                            


              

KJ21

“Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

ASV

Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee.

AMP

“Honor (respect, obey, care for) your father and your mother, so that your days may be prolonged in the land the Lord your God gives you.

AMPC

Regard (treat with honor, due obedience, and courtesy) your father and mother, that your days may be long in the land the Lord your God gives you.

BRG

¶ Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

CSB

Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

CEB

Honor your father and your mother so that your life will be long on the fertile land that the Lord your God is giving you.



THE LESSON FOR TODAY IS:
RESPECT, LOVE AND BE CHARITABLE TO YOUR PARENTS AND YOUR ELDERS !

"Honour thy father and thy mother" (Hebrew: כַּבֵּד אֶת אָבִיךָ וְאֶת אִמֶּךָ לְמַעַן יַאֲרִכוּן יָמֶיךָ) is one of the Ten Commandments in the Hebrew Bible. The commandment is generally regarded in Protestant and Jewish sources as the fifth in both the list in Exodus 20:1–21, and in Deuteronomy (Dvarim) 5:1–23. Catholics and Lutherans count this as the fourth.[1]

These commandments were enforced as law in many jurisdictions, and are still considered enforceable law by some.[2][3][4][5] Exodus20:1 describes the Ten Commandments as being spoken by Yahweh, inscribed on two stone tablets by the finger of God,[6] broken by Moses, and rewritten on replacement stones by the Lord.

ChristianEdit

CatholicismEdit

The import of honouring father and mother is based on the divine origin of the parental role:

The divine fatherhood is the source of human fatherhood. (Ephesians 3:14) This is the foundation of the honour owed to parents. ... It is required by God's commandment. (Exodus 20:12) Respect for parents (filial piety) derives from gratitude toward those who, by the gift of life, their love and their work, have brought their children into the world and enabled them to grow in stature, wisdom, and grace.[39]

According to the teachings of the Catholic Church, the commandment to honour father and mother reveals God's desired order of charity – first God, then parents, then others.[40] Keeping the commandment to honour father and mother brings both spiritual and temporal rewards of peace and prosperity, while failure to honor parents harms the individual as well as society.[41]The pervasive societal effect of obedience or disobedience to this command is attributed to the status of the family as the fundamental building block of society:

The family is the original cell of social life. ...Authority, stability, and a life of relationships within the family constitute the foundations for freedom, security, and fraternity within society. The family is the community in which, from childhood, one can learn moral values, begin to honour God, and make good use of freedom. Family life is an initiation into life in society.[42]

The Gospel of Luke notes that, as a child, Jesus was obedient to his earthly parents. For a child in the home, the commandment to honour parents is comprehensive, excluding immoral actions. Grown children, while not obligated to obedience in the same way, should continue to afford respect for parental wishes, advice and teaching.[43]"Filial respect is shown by true docility and obedience. 'My son, keep your father's commandment, and forsake not your mother's teaching. ... When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you...'" (Proverbs 6:20–22)[44]

The Church teaches that adult children have a duty to honour their parents by providing "material and moral support in old age and in times of illness, loneliness, or distress".[45]This honour should be based on the son or daughter's gratitude for the life, love and effort given by the parents and motivated by the desire to pay them back in some measure.[46]

The principle of the commandment is extended to the duty to honour others in direct authority, such as teachers, and employers.[47] The commandment to honour father and mother also forms a basis for charity to others when each person is seen, ultimately, as "a son or daughter of the One who wants to be called 'our Father'."[48]Thus, charitable actions are viewed as extensions of the honour owed to the heavenly Father.

Orthodox ChurchEdit

Father Seraphim Stephens sees "Honor" defined as "Love and Respect", and notes that this commandment is positioned between those that address one's obligations to God and those that relate to how one treats others. "It clearly lays the foundation of our relationship to God and to all other people."[49] Richard D. Andrews points out that, "Every time we do something good, just, pure, holy, we bring honor to our parents."[50]

ProtestantismEdit

John Calvin describes the sacred origin of the role of human father (which thus demands honour). The analogy between the honour of parents and the honour of God himself is further strengthened by this understanding that earthly fatherhood is derived from God's Fatherhood. Thus the duty to honour does not depend on whether the parent is particularly worthy. However, Calvin acknowledges that some fathers are outright wicked and emphasizes there is no excuse for sin in the name of honouring a parent, calling the notion "absurd".[51]

Since, therefore, the name of Father is a sacred one, and is transferred to men by the peculiar goodness of God, the dishonouring of parents redounds to the dishonour of God Himself, nor can any one despise his father without being guilty of an offence against God, (sacrilegium.) If any should object that there are many ungodly and wicked fathers whom their children cannot regard with honour without destroying the distinction between good and evil, the reply is easy, that the perpetual law of nature is not subverted by the sins of men; and therefore, however unworthy of honour a father may be, that he still retains, inasmuch as he is a father, his right over his children, provided it does not in anywise derogate from the judgement of God; for it is too absurd to think of absolving under any pretext the sins which are condemned by His Law; nay, it would be a base profanation to misuse the name of father for the covering of sins.[52]

— John Calvin, commentary on Exodus 20:12 and Deuteronomy 5:16

The commentary of John Wesley on the commandment to honour father and mother is consistent with the interpretation in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. He summarizes the actions that express honour as follows: 1. An inward esteem of them, outwardly expressed, 2. Obedience to their lawful commands (Ephesians 6:1–3), 3. Submission to their rebukes, instructions and corrections, 4. Acting with consideration of parental advice, direction and consent, 5. Giving comfort and providing for physical needs of aged parents.[53][54] Like the Catechism, Wesley also teaches that the commandment includes honouring others in legitimate secular authority. He also encourages people toward honour of those in spiritual leadership with the question, "Have ye all obeyed them that watch over your souls, and esteemed them highly in love for their work's sake?" This question is reminiscent of Paul's statements to the church in Galatia and to Timothy.[55]

Matthew Henry explains that the commandment to honour father and mother applies not only to biological parents but also to those who fulfill the role of mother or father. He uses the example of Estherhonouring her guardian and cousin Mordecai:

Mordecai being Esther's guardian or pro-parent, we are told ... How respectful she was to him. Though in relation she was his equal, yet, being in age and dependence his inferior, she honoured him as her father—did his commandment, v. 20. This is an example to orphans; if they fall into the hands of those who love them and take care of them, let them make suitable returns of duty and affection. The less obliged their guardians were in duty to provide for them the more obliged they are in gratitude to honour and obey their guardians.[56]

— Matthew Henry, commentary on Esther 2
Esther and Mordecai writing the second letter of Purim. Arent de Gelder, ca. 1685. Oil on canvas, RISD Museum of Art, Providence RI

The commandment itself encourages obedience "so that you may enjoy long life and that it may go well with you".[57] Henry, Wesley and Calvin affirm the applicability of this promise for all who keep the commandment, though each notes that for the New Testament Christian, the promise may be fulfilled as earthly rewards and/or heavenly rewards, as God sees fit in his wisdom and love for the individual.

In his commentary, Calvin notes the harsh consequences required in Exodus and Leviticus for specific failures to keep the commandment. Those who struck or cursed a parent were to be sentenced to death.[58]Persistently disobedient sons were to be brought before the city elders and stoned by the whole community if the parents' testimony was judged to be accurate.[59]Calvin writes that God knew capital punishment for these offences would seem harsh and be difficult to pronounce, even for those responsible for adjudicating the situation. This is why, he argues, the text specifically places responsibility for the consequences on the offender. The severity of the sentence emphasized the importance of removing such behaviour from the community and deterring others who might imitate it.[60]

Although Calvin refers mostly to fathers in his commentary on the commandment to honour father and mother, he writes near the beginning that the commandment mentions both parents on purpose.[52] As described above, Proverbs supports the value of guidance from both father and mother,[61]and Paul specified that children should provide for their own widowed mothers and grandmothers, "which is pleasing to God".[62]

Just as "honor" involves offering profound respect, the opposite of honoring someone is to trivialize him, as if of no importance.[36]

Respect is not something based solely on personal or professional qualifications, but also on the position that God has given that person. In 1 Samuel 26 David spares Saul's life, even at the risk of losing his own, submitting to the authority God had placed over him as anointed king.[36]

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