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Posted on 12/18/2013 11:22:41 AM PST by jazusamo
As a youngster, I remember being taught to offer your seat on the bus to any elderly person. It was not unusual to see people offering to help carry a heavy or awkward box when a perfect stranger was obviously struggling with one.
In today’s culture, it would not be unusual for the stranger to encounter harsh criticism instead of help, because he failed to appropriately plan the transport of the heavy box. What has produced the coarsening of attitudes in modern society? Are the crude and mean-spirited comments heard on television and read in the print media having an undesirable effect on the populace at large?
The key to civility is thinking about others first. When we only think about what makes us feel or look good, it becomes easier to disregard the needs and feelings of others. Prior to the severe economic downturn in 2008, a number of selfish, greedy business types, with complicity from public officials, created schemes to entice relatively inexperienced people to purchase houses that significantly ignored the old, established rule of never taking out a mortgage that was more than 2 times one’s annual salary.
These and other types of paper-pushing manipulations by a small but influential segment of Wall Street types and politicians produced enormous fortunes for many who actually produced little or nothing of value. I do not in any way resent great wealth and, in fact, I greatly admire many of my fellow Americans who, through their creativity and dedicated hard work, have make contributions that were valuable to many while enriching themselves. That is what capitalism is about. However, when people practice deceit and use clever tactics to enrich themselves or pass legislation at the expense of others, admiration quickly morphs into disgust...
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
This is the result when much of the culture is based on demonizing anyone who disagrees with you politically.
Please Freepmail to get on or off this list…
“In today’s culture, it would not be unusual for the stranger to encounter harsh criticism instead of help...”
Dream on; in today’s culture, he’d be lucky to get mugged rather than used as a punching bag for kids wanting to “play” the ‘knockout game’.
Yes, the knockout fiasco crossed my mind as well.
We live in a selfish, greedy, me - me - me world. This behavior is taught at home, nurtured in school and endorsed by every politician from the president on down.
Thank you for the ping.
For later.
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