Bravo to Mayor Nutter of Philadelphia. Finally, a black leader speaks out against violent hooligans and flash mobs of teens who have no respect for self or others.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoxQbnVx4TU&feature=related
Honorable, civilized, law abiding citizens come in all colors, shapes, sizes, ages, health, wealth, education, religious and political affiliations. Uncivilized behavior has nothing to do with genes. It is all about teaching respect and good manners.
The whole point of living in a civilized society is to show respect to self and others. We each benefit as a whole when large numbers of people live in close quarters such as cities and towns. The more uncivilized and illegal behavior we tolerate, the more freedoms we give up.
It is easy to recognize that these lawless young people are looking for boundaries. Children feel safe and comfortable when they are taught the boundaries of civilized behavior. Children crave the affection of both a mother and a father. All adults are role models whether you like it or not. There is no opting out. You are either a good role model or a bad role model. Consequences for bad behavior are important in order for a young person to understand the importance of behaving in a civilized manner. We do them no favor by not holding them accountable for their own actions.
Children want to be treated with respect just as each of us wants to be treated with respect. It is our common bond. Respect and Good Manners must be taught. We are not born with this information. Those who are not lucky enough to have two loving parents teach them respect and good manners, still have a personal responsibility and civic duty to learn how to be an honorable, civilized, law abiding citizen. Poverty does not have to be mean, violent, and uncivilized. It can only be changed by the people living in poverty. It is a personal decision by each member of society to willingly hold themselves to a higher standard. Every freedom that you can name exists because honorable, civilized, law abiding citizens take personal responsibility for their own actions.
Respect and Good Manners cannot be mandated by government; it comes from willing, honorable, civilized, law abiding citizens who then elect our own government officials from among ourselves. The more honorable We The People are, the better our government will be and the less government we will need.
Confidence, good self esteem, and common sense are by products of knowing Respect and Good Manners. The ability to make good decisions comes from knowing respect and good manners. These traits cannot be given to anyone. They come from within and are the result of knowledge and action. Teaching social skills is an obligation of parents, teachers and managers; however, it is bad manners for the rest of us to go around correcting other people’s bad manners.
Respect and Good Manners are the first tools one needs to learn in order to succeed in family, school, social and business situations...not the last tools to learn after you have acquired an education and wealth. The sooner they are learned, the easier it becomes to learn additional skills necessary to become an honorable, independent, civilized, law abiding citizen.
Good Manners are powerful and will last a lifetime. What you learn as a child will stay with you for the rest of your life. As a nation, we need to place more value on an honorable, civilized, law abiding citizen than we do on looks and money alone. We are all born with good character, until we decide to give it up.
Honorable, civilized, law abiding citizens are the backbone of our country. We are the eyes and ears of America. We are always there on the spot in any disaster and we know how to take charge and work together until the government officials arrive to pick up the pieces.
You cannot teach something you do not know. We invite you to read “A Year of Good Manners” by Margery Sinclair and Jan Polk, $27.95, which features 365 common, every day courtesies written by Margery Sinclair and the reasons to use each one. AYOGM also features Jan Polk’s Great American Flower Collection “respect series” images which are reminders to treat yourself and others with respect. This 180 page book is easy to read and understand. The information applies to all citizens.
In addition to a carefree, happy childhood, children are also little people in training to become honorable, civilized, law abiding adults. They learn by observing their parents and other adults. By age 8, children are expected to have table manners as good as or sometimes better than their parents. It helps to know what is expected of you and why.
It helps to know where your boundaries are at an early age. Learning to “maintain composure when displeased" (no yelling) is a very valuable social skill to own and is expected from all adults.
AYOGM Tip by Margery Sinclair: “Etiquette also has a visual component. People notice your clothes first (now that you have removed the ring from your eyebrow). Whether it is your personal appearance or a table setting, making the effort to be attractive is a compliment to others.” How you dress shows respect to yourself and to others.
Margery Sinclair provides a reason for each tip. When the reasons change, it is time for the rule to change. No matter how much technology changes and evolves, showing respect and behaving in a civilized manner will always come first in a civilized society.
AYOGM Tip by Margery Sinclair: “Good manners are the great equalizer. They apply to everyone, are free and available to all. They are the opposite of being elitist, arbitrary, and artificial. When society refuses to obey the practical rules of etiquette that govern behavior, rudeness, thoughtlessness will prevail. Every problem of the world could be, or could have been, solved on the level of etiquette before descending to lawsuits or wars.”
We invite you to securely purchase your copy of “A Year of Good Manner”
by Margery Sinclair and Jan Polk on line at http://www.ayearofgoodmanners.com
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