tə
1.excellence of manners or social conduct; polite behavior.
2.a courteous, respectful, or considerate act or expression.
I looked up this word in the dictionary recently just to understand it better, and to be sure I was not going insane...because, I don't know if you've noticed but, there is NO courtesy in our society any longer. It is a lost art. The word is lost on us all. Simple acts of kindness like opening a dorr for someone, offering a seat on a crowded bus, not crowding the sidewalk, standing to one side of the escalator so people can pass...these simple acts of courtesy are long forgotten.
I was sitting in a cafe one afternoon and was trying to read some emails...I say 'trying' because the guy behind me was talking on his cell phone...well actually, he was shouting. I guess he figured everyone in the cafe needed to know his business. Not only was he talking so loudly, I could even hear the person on the other end...I was getting the entire conversation. And there are those who insist on texting well at the movies...forget that the advertisements remind us to TURN OFF our cell phones!
I'm heading to the airport with a large suitcase in one hand and a carryon bag and laptop bag in the other. I get to the door of the bus station and switch bags so that I can open the door, I strunggle, get the door open, pull my suitcase thru...and this guy out of no where pushes me aside to get past the open door that I am holding. Or better yet, I am exiting the metro and arrive at the door a few second before people on the otherside of the door are arriving to enter...as I pull open the door to pass thru, this guy rushes thru and pushes me aside to get out of the way, then gets upset at me when I block him and go thru first.
And SO many people DO NOT know how to walk on the side walk. No matter where I've gone in the world, I have never seen it so bad as here in Canada, here in Montreal. People do not know how to walk on the side walk! First you have your left-siders, the ones that do not realize that proper sidewalk etiquette suggests that we walk on the right side of the sidewalk. Then there are the 2-people walkers, who do not realize that most side walks are only wide enough for two people so firstly, if they are walking side by side they should allow on comers to pass...and on-comers should also be aware of the courtesy of stepping aside to allow side-by-side walkers to pass. Let us now forget the group walkers...these people think because they are in a group they OWN the sidewalk. Well, even MORE reason for these people to allow on-comers to pass. And os course, when you are walking with your loved one, mom, or special friend, you should be aware of the fact that YOU as the well mannered person, should always...ALWAYS walk on the out-side...never allow your partner to be on the side of the traffic...it is a common courtesy.
You are lined up in the supermarket and you have a cart load of items, the lady behind you has a few items...let her pass before you. A few more seconds will not make a difference.
Our bus drivers need HUGE lessons in courtesy...they way they drive, they way the speak to passengers...most clerks need lessons in smiling and manners and dealing with costumers no matter how irate they may be.
I once was visiting a small city in Mexico, and took a stroll down one of the main streets which was busier then any street in Montreal, but no matter how busy or rushed, everyone greeted me with a 'buenos dias' or 'hola'. This same thing happened when I was in Tel Aviv, and in England. People there, no matter what walk of life, greet you. It is both refreshing and warming. This is definitely not something we do here...if you were to greet someone like that here, they'd think you were loopy.
In many cultures families are united and work together. The elderly are regarded with esteem, the young are guided gently but firmly, adults are respected, rules are obeyed, and people are genuinely respectful to each other. This is not the case here in North America...we have come a far way and advanced greatly in many ways but, we have strayed so far from the family unit and caring for each other...none of our advancements and technologies really matter if this is the path we continue to take...we will end up nowhere.
Courtesy is a lost art. You see on bus and metro walls reminders to give your seat to the elderly or impaired...we actually have to be reminded to done what is supposed to come naturally. It is a sad sad thing.
Courtesy is a lost art.
