In response to the editorial "The death of decorum" (July 10): I highly commend the gentleman who had the grit and decorum to firmly confront the uncivil young men about their manners, while ultimately losing his life in the process.
It's unreal and almost disgusting to realize the lack of respect these young men had. But why did we wait for something as drastic as this to open our eyes? What about the less-contended examples of the loss of basic chivalry in our society? Let me show you a few examples:
- Someone holds the door open for you, but you go out the other door. Or, you don't hold the door open at all! You simply let it slam on the person behind you.
- You slouch and avoid direct eye contact when speaking with another person, acting bored as if you're doing the person a favor to listen to them.
- In public places, you walk slowly and take up the whole aisle with your group of friends, causing people behind you to navigate through your indifferent group.
Recognize any of these? While these conditions are typically found in young people, it is not restricted to them. Though feminism is somewhat blamed for the loss of chivalry, I believe for the most part it is in the loss of example. Television celebrates carelessness, and the "whatever" attitude. Being selfish by nature, for the most part we tend to care only how we feel, ignoring simple courtesies. Even my 7-year-old neighbor knows the age-old maxim "ladies first." We all need to take up a role in society to be a representative, as this man Stan Dixon was, of chivalrous conduct.
Mary Claire Birdsong
Augusta
Comments
Lack of chivalry seems to be the wrong term to apply to what goes on in society today. IMO a completete lack of basic decency and self-respect are the problems that cause the disrespect and anti-social behavior. It seems as if all personal values are degenerating, especially among the younger generation.
We need the government to award parts of our society some self respect and manners, self esteem alone doesn't seem to be getting the job done. Maybe we can arrange to have it take place in government schools. Obama '08
more " code " words, if you are going to disparage Africian Americans, at least be man enough to do it in the open!
Do I need to define paranoia or defensive. No one mentioned anything about race, but simply how manners have declined. Obviously the posters who mention race are a little testy because they are defensive because they do believe it is a predominately black problem or they are paranoid and need counseling. D1216 and justus4 do a great job of disparaging the black race so I would argue for them to stop being a part of the problem and be a part of the solution. I attended Decorums funeral and yes we were close friends. Chivalry lived down the hall from ole Decorum and I'm said to hear of Chiv's death. Both Chivalry and Decorum will be sorely missed. My kids think I'm an old fool and chauvenistic for opening the doors for the ladies-you just can't win. LOL.
when your income tax burden for people is more than they spend on food, clothing, and shelter it takes one of the family to work just to pay taxes. mothers are no longer at home to raise the children. then when you subsidize illegitimacy and drive fathers out of the home of the poor, the uneducated, the 2nd 3rd 4th generation welfare child hasnt a chance. poverty is big govt's best friend. the plantation is alive and well and now we all live on it.........
"when your income tax burden for people is more than they spend on food, clothing, and shelter it takes one of the family to work just to pay taxes". LaTwon that describes everybody. I noted an article stating that both the middle and upper class don't have money to spend because of inflation and our huge tax burden. If the govt had to account for every dime they spend like we every dime we make, we would be shocked at how wasterful it all is. We should all unite and form a coalition to encourage all Americans to not pay their taxes this year-they can't arrest all of us. With a Prez and Congress having approval ratings in the dumpster that is the least we can do to encourage real CHANGE.
LaTwon, probably nobody on here came from a poorer family than I did (youngest of 8), but my mother, God rest her soul, taught all of us respect for each other, elders and ladies. Now days, though, women conduct themselves more like men hanging out in bars, loud laughter, language a sailor would be proud of. Young men are just as bad or worse. Why show such a generation respect?
jack............ those were different days buddy. our society has been systematically destroyed by monied interest and debt. we do need a revolt. freddie mac and fannie mae are govt creations one by fdr and the other by nixon. we just doubled the current national debt by assuming their liabilities. besides the 3 trillion on the books they have 5 trillion off balance sheet. some of bush's cronies were put in charge and ran it right into the ground and one left with a 26 million dollar bonus. i came from a poor family. i was taught you can be poor without being dirty. i was happy.
bizzaro......... remember the clinton years the lefties considered you rich and due a tax increase if u made 50 000 or more. now the level starts at 250 000. so yes your point is correct. as our monetary system stands on the verge of collapse soon you will need a mil a year just to be poor. in 1980 a u s dollar would get you 1.25 z imbabwe dollars. a beer in zimbabwe just went from z 15 billion to z 100 billion and one hour later it was z 150 billion. a link: http://www.independent.org/blog/?p=134
LaTwon you seem to be an independent thinker. I like that about you. I'd buy you a beer but I can't afford it. hee,hee,hee.
LaTwon, I remember when the idiot dem running for president campaigned (for a brief period until advisers said shut up) than any earned income over $50,000 should be taxed 100%. My self employed father said, when I have hit the $50,000, why should I work the rest of the year. It goes without saying that if you keep escalating the taxes on the more you earn, the less hard work, even work will be expended.
Human beings put forth the effort if the reward is there. Just ask any illegal alien worker receiving money under the table. Without the governmnents' take, it's worth it to him to make lower wages. Especially if he can also reap our Great Society's free benefits. Who are the real stupid people here?
Hey Biz, you got me off the original topic. And just plain, Hey, Jake. Still planning a SF trip. Planning only so far. My son loves what he is doing. Fortunately the commute from Hotlanta to SanFran hasn't gotten old because of that.
Hey d1216. clearly you assume the comment was aimed at african americans. What would make you think like that unless you knew it to be a fact.
Well, savgirl, I am very aware of the words that whites use to mask and difuse what they really want to say about Africian Americans. If ya'll would just say what you mean, I would have more respect for you. But, as I have said many times before, come November many of those chickens will come home to roost.
We are honored. The wholly molly Rev. Wright be here to honor us. Chickens and roost. They are the key words. But alas. They be your folks words, not ours. I am not, nor have I ever been out there looking for some kind of race war.
Spent years getting along with people before the likes of you D1216 showed up.
This article makes me think of he Father that was severely beaten the other day while at the fair with his 12 year old and lil punks slapped her on the butt and then beat the father down for even saying anything.. a group of them 6 men beat this one father becuase they sexually accosted his daughter. Makes me sick, I wish someone had a gun that night and had put a bullet in each and every one of them!!! Maybe in time, they will get what they deserve!!
Probably going to hide behind the fact that they were juveniles when it comes court time. Guess what, juvies back when I was growing up knew better. For anyone who does not remember those times. rise up and thank the Federal Government takeover of all aspects of our lives. Then talk to us about what it was really like.
D1216, I can see that.. and I would agree, it probably is referring to them, not as a whole but a group mindset. But I'll tell you one thing, I never had a group of any other race threaten me becuase I try to squeeze by on the steps with my 1 year old baby in my arms politely saying excuse me. And had to get security to follow me out just becuase I wanted to walk throught he mall with my child and it was an inconvience for them to move while they were sitting blocking the whole set of steps loitering in the mall. It is one thing to not hold a door open its another to threaten someone for trying to get by, I have all different races and genders not holding a door open, but not to many threaten me for being polite, those seems to always be young african american thugs!!!. But I have had many many wonderful young black men help me very m,uch and go out of their way so I actually do not think anyone is point the fingers at a race in particular in this article, but the gang thug mentality that these young people have is the culrit, and for the most part the gang thugs just happen to be black, not to say there are not p.os, in other races but this one category of mindset is related to this "group" Also.is it not the thug life rap crap that talks about gang bangin is cool, F the police, Kill someone for lookin at ya?? I love rap, but that crap I can do with out and this is very popular among young blacks and have a large infulence on them, so it is more a social thing than a race thing we need to address. This particular mindset we speak of just happens to be more common in black, just like more serial killers are white, does not mean there arent black ones, just most are white!!
After reading that TakeAStand, I am bewildered. I thought you were much more mature. And for the most part I do agree with you.
Care to elaborate?????
I am just trying to relate it isn't about a race thing it is a mindset of a social "clique" for lack of a better word at this time becuase this is on a larger scale. I mean who jumps someone for asking you to refrain from cussing in the presence of a lady or beats a dad almost to death for sticking up for his inappropriately touched daughter?? Maybe I do not type what I mean very well, but I would hope people get the gist.
You can name call, but you can't tell me what I said to make you think that way??? Yeah, much more mature. Can't have a decent conversation? I take what you say now with a grain of salt. I did want to know where I went wrong to give you that impression in my post. Unlike others, I encourage constructive criticism, It helps me to be a better person. Obviously I am barking up the wrong tree with you if all you can do is name call. Oh Well!!!!!!! won't lose sleep over it, can't win em all!! lol
When half of the population discovers it can vote itself government support, they will, and the country will crumble. We are on the verge of that point today. If Obama wins in '08 the theory will be tested.
TakeAstand, was the name calling referring to me? I hope not. I told you for the most part we agree.
I ask forgiveness for those that have read this before, but Charles Manson had high self-esteem, which obviously can go hand in hand with self-deception and false pride. Just as patriciathomas said, it's self-respect that should be sought after, and that is earned, unlike self-esteem, which is not. Self-respect is what someone gets when he or she does the work to earn it. Self-esteem is a feeling that can fall away like a house of cards, since it has little or no foundation in reality. A child that has been given an award for his grades, when he and his class aren't even at grade level, may have high self-esteem, UNTIL he finds out, he is behind the nation for his age. Then what? What value does the award have to him then? His self-esteem is shattered and he doesn't have self-respect to fall back on?
Those thugs probably had high self-esteem culled from their gang-like bonds. What good is that to them now? A man who showed respect for his daughter and himself and stood up to them who showed no respect for his daughter, or him, or themselves, is dead now. Do they still have high self-esteem? I wouldn't be surprised if they still do. Self-respect comes with a conscience. Self-esteem doesn't necessarily.
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