Whatever Happened...

...to Peace, Love, and Understanding?

No, I'm not channeling the spirit of Elvis Costello, though I suppose that wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing. It's just curious to me that we, as a society, and the wealthiest one in the world in so many respects, can blatantly disregard common courtesies on a daily basis, almost as if on purpose. Case in point (and the rationale for my blog today):

I'm walking outside from my office the other day and I stop to hold the door open for two guys coming in. They looked like they could have been younger than me, possibly even interns, who knows. Anyway, I hold the door open, and not one of them even makes eye contact, let alone says anything. Now, we've all seen this before, and we've seen far worse examples where entire families will take you up on your hospitality and not say a word or even smile. The day after the Metro accident in DC, though, one would think that would give pause to notice the smaller things in life and take notice.

Eh, maybe I'm reading too much into this, but I can tell you one thing: if I had the exact same experience in Atlanta, or New Orleans, or Biloxi, someone would have said, "Thank you." It's just how things are down there, I've come to find. Say what you will about the South, the Deep South, the Dirty South, the blah blah blah, but there is quite a good deal of truth in the two words 'Southern Hospitality.'

Y'all can keep your weather, though.

I gave some thought to this incident, and weighed the idea of going purely "DC" and being as abjectly rude to everyone I meet down here who can't possibly advance my career. The more I pondered this newfound lifestyle, however, the less I knew I could do it. I'm just not cut out for that kind of attitude. Well, not yet, anyway. Besides, I came to realize I don't do things like that for recognition; I don't need to hear 'thank you' every time I do one good thing, trivial or not. I do, however, need to be a decent person and do things because... it's the right thing to do.

That's my bottom line, everyone. Do the right thing... because it's the right thing. Do you have to go out of your way sometimes to be the better man? Yes. Is it always convenient, quick, and easy? No. Do the rewards far outweigh momentary displeasure? I'd like to think everyone would answer yes to that question, but it really boils down to what kind of person you are. The eternal optimist in me would like to think that being decent is by far its own reward.

I'm probably reading too much into this one incident, but as I said, it happened the day after the Metro collision down here and everyone was a little shaky that day. It's probably stuck with me so much on account of timing. Still, I hope we never lose sight of right and wrong, and despite all our trials and personal obstacles we face, I hope we continue to endeavor to be decent to each other at all times.