Editor,
A lot of societal, technological and political developments have occurred in the short time that has elapsed from the turn of the century. Society begs your constant attention the moment you are woken from slumber.
Spouses, children, alarms, phone calls, text messages, Facebook notifications, check engine lights, bank account alerts — this list could easily begin to lose your attention if continued on.
Our ability to overlook the most basic societal interactions has, at no time, been so simple. Common decency, my fellow citizens, appears either to have been completely disregarded, or has faded from the concerns of our everyday life.
What is common decency?
Common: Pertaining or belonging equally to an entire community, nation, or culture; public.
Decency: Conforming to the recognized standard of propriety, good taste, modesty, etc., as in behavior or speech.
Broken down, this phrase speaks of the agreeable standard within society of how to act towards one another during any given moment.
The Golden Rule is treat others how you would like to be treated.
Surely we see this phrase and our mind automatically snaps its fingers and quickly remarks, “Yes, yes the golden rule. I always abide by that.”
Do you? I recommend you question your recent actions as I am because we are all responsible.
It is time we rise above laziness, fear and complete disregard for other members of society and to take responsibility for our own actions.
Money, property, social status, and happiness are all perfectly attainable in the game of capitalism, but let us not forget what it feels like to be looked down upon.
Let’s us be aware of how a simple “hello” or smile affects those around us and rise above the constant rat race to bring back common decency.
Hug your neighbor, shake someone’s hand you don’t know, smile as you pass one another on the street, treat the person waiting on you with respect and be aware of what’s going on around you.
Energy is contagious and can start with anyone in any scenario.
Cory Knapp
Oak Harbor
