In times not long ago, people would actually say “excuse me” when they passed in front of you while standing in the aisle of a supermarket looking at products. People used to hold the door open and say, “After You Please” until Political Correctness put and end to that. As you would walk along the street people would say, “Good Morning, how are you?” We used to wait our turn with patience and dignity.

But all that has changed today from the way we treat each other, to the way we are now treated as customers. It started to decay in the mid 1980’s and continued to erode to this very apathetic and angry society. When was the last time you walked into a fast food restaurant and was greeted with a smile and a, “Welcome to ______, How may I help you?” Nowadays it’s, “Yea, what do you want?” from an expressionless, emotionless, angry teenager who seems more interested in picking on the label on the counter than dealing with you. Or when was the last time someone actually said, “Oh, excuse me, am I in your way?” when their shopping cart blocked the majority of the aisle. No it is generally a look, a sigh and huff as they move their cart to allow you to pass.

Our common courtesy and decency has eroded even farther if you evaluate the internet. Now on such websites as YouTube and MySpace faceless individuals feel they can say anything they want, no matter how discourteous or hateful, because they are anonymous and feel fearless in the comfort of their own home sitting behind an emotionless box. On these sites, as many comment sites, individuals will attack the poster with indignity and obscenity with as much venomous negativity a human being has within himself to dispose of. In the case of free sites like YouTube and MySpace which requires no confirmation of identity, anyone can place a posting or comment that can be way out of line with no recourse. Even if the administrators “Block” the user, they can just go right back on and sign in under another anonymous name.

Either in our daily lives, where we interact with other Americans, or online where we interact with the world at large we need to bring back Good Ole American Courtesy. When you bump someone as you walk by, please say, “Excuse me, have a great day” or when someone lets you into traffic please wave and say “Thank you” even though they can’t here you. When online use decorum and honor when replying to someone, even though your beliefs and ideals may be different. It is easier to have a conversation with someone if they are easy to talk to, not when they are screaming vulgar slurs.

Maybe I ask too much of America. But if we really want to see a change in our daily lives as we interact with each other, we must start with a smile and a “Good Morning”. We also need to teach this daily to our children so their hearts can be filled with joy and pride instead of vitriol and disgust.

Tom Taylor
Freelance Writer and Author of Grain and Grit, Ingredients of The True American