It should come as no surprise to anyone possessing even the slightest powers of observation that civility in America is dead. Now I am not speaking here of the long lost art of chivalry… spreading one’s cloak on the ground so mi’lady can daintily step across the puddle without soiling her toesies. No, I’m talking about the common courtesies of giving seats on the bus to old people, not flinging garbage on the streets, and refraining from “throwing the bird” to every driver who happens to move into lane in front of you.
Even though the world is getting smaller, even though electronic marvels now allow us to reach out and touch someone faster and easier than ever before in the history of mankind, our human instincts are moving us farther and farther apart. We are so far removed from feeling any connection to one another that young people think nothing of showing disrespect for anyone and everyone who’s not on their Facebook page.
But in their defense, just look at the roll models young people have to call on. Town hall meetings set up to inform people about potential health care reforms turn into shouting matches between supposed intelligent adults. Pop stars at awards ceremonies grab the mike and shout down the winner in favor of their own choice. Football players mock the other team after scoring, one going so far as to stick his rump high in the air while going through the motions of dropping his pants in the face of the end zone crowd. And then, of course, there’s the elected representative in the congressional chambers who calls out, “You lie,” to the President of the United States during a major televised speech. Is no one or nothing sacred? Apparently not.
So how would this work in a society based on “higher consciousness”? What would life feel like if we truly treated others as we would like to be treated ourselves? If we actually practiced the teachings of the religious masters we claim to follow? If we stepped aside to let others pass, held doors open for those with their hands full, gave up our seats for elders.
What if we cared about other people’s suffering, listened to the viewpoints of the opposition and actually tried to imagine what factors must have been involved for them to believe what they do? What if human life held such sanctity that we not only didn’t kill, but killing no longer made good family TV entertainment? What if we actually taught our children to say “please” and “thank you”? But, clearly, I’ve gone too far.
The world will not instantaneously change just because I want it to or because of the way I personally behave. In the best of circumstances it takes a long time for the Titanic to change direction. However, right now, I can affect one little corner of the world, the one in which I find myself. And that, for the moment will have to do.
peace……………………ag
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