Common Courtesy

You know once upon a time people used to be taught to say things like "yes sir" or "ma'am" and "thank you" and "please" and "excuse me" and hold doors open for people,etc. Firstly and most importantly it was taught in the home (where it should be) but then also it was re-enforced in the school system and thirdly out in society itself.

Yeah those were the good old days when after a war we realized just how fragile life is and how important another human being was and how much it meant to have respect for each other as well as our homes and property.

Now days it seems like with all this "gangsta" garbage and the survival mentality that these things are a sign of weakness. The parents are kids themselves and don't know how to discipline their children or are afraid to and the schools are afraid to discipline for fear of lawsuits or other consequences.

Well I say manners, respect and courtesy still have a place in our society and in fact they are needed now more than ever.

As the world gets more crowded we all seem to have gone into this jungle mode where it is everyone for themselves. You can see it everywhere in stores and schools and work and especially on the roads.

Is that one car length really so important that you can't let someone in front of you. Give me a break people. We used to drive with courtesy in mind but now everyone is in so much of a hurry they disregard it completely.

You know the reason for the driving rules such as 1 and 1/2 car length separation between cars has a purpose and that is not only for stopping safety but also so that another person can change lanes when they need to and it used to be common courtesy to allow it.

Everyone now drives like they are in nascar and we are putting not only our lives but others lives in jeapordy by doing so.

Another thing is we are so wasteful and throwing or leaving our garbage everywhere. Yeah I know you think there is someone whose job it is to pick it up. Well maybe that is true but not always and anyway we ALL have a stake in a cleaner environment.

Now I know everyone is stressed and tired and rushed most of the time but we are using this as an excuse to be rude, mean, disrespectful, slobs not only with each other but in the not picking up after ourselves and leaving waste everywhere in parking lots, campgrounds, beaches, our homes, etc.

Anyway the point is it is time we stopped using excuses for acting more like animals than human beings and got back to teaching some basic societal rules that make us better people and our world a better place don't you think.