Common Courtesy and Respect
Where has our common courtesy and respect gone?
Lionel Wijesiri
"When music and courtesy are better understood and appreciated, there will be no war. (Confucius)
Most of us belonging to pre-Gen X (people who are 60+ of age) will agree that both young and not-so-young amongst us have become less considerate and more selfish than they used to be few decades ago. We know it through personal experience, and we know it through published studies.
By performing a kind act, one makes the world a slightly more pleasant place to live. It’s like that series of commercials where one person sees another person doing something inspired or heroic, and then at a later time makes a point of paying it forward. This happens again and again. It is the Golden Rule. I’ll be the first to admit that putting this principle into everyday practice is tough, when you live in this fast-paced society. It was only yesterday, that I didn’t yield to my fellow pedestrians during evening rush hour when I was stuck in traffic en route to pick up my grandson from school. Later, I felt guilty and ashamed but it was too late.
Manners
Lack of manners for Sri Lankans is not whether you confuse the salad fork for the dinner fork. It's about the daily assault of selfish, inconsiderate behaviour that gets under people's skin on the highways, in the office, on TV, in stores and the myriad other settings where they encounter fellow citizens.
When someone else does something we consider wrong, we tend to blame their personalities.
When we do it ourselves, we blame circumstances. For example, if my kids spill juice, they're being clumsy. If I spill it, I was distracted. Other people don't get the pass we give ourselves.
The inner brat is the part that wants what it wants when it wants it and doesn't care who or what is destroyed in the process.
Second Nature
I make it a habit to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ to anyone I come in contact with – the server in the restaurant, the
Lionel Wijesiri
"When music and courtesy are better understood and appreciated, there will be no war. (Confucius)
Most of us belonging to pre-Gen X (people who are 60+ of age) will agree that both young and not-so-young amongst us have become less considerate and more selfish than they used to be few decades ago. We know it through personal experience, and we know it through published studies.
By performing a kind act, one makes the world a slightly more pleasant place to live. It’s like that series of commercials where one person sees another person doing something inspired or heroic, and then at a later time makes a point of paying it forward. This happens again and again. It is the Golden Rule. I’ll be the first to admit that putting this principle into everyday practice is tough, when you live in this fast-paced society. It was only yesterday, that I didn’t yield to my fellow pedestrians during evening rush hour when I was stuck in traffic en route to pick up my grandson from school. Later, I felt guilty and ashamed but it was too late.
Manners
Lack of manners for Sri Lankans is not whether you confuse the salad fork for the dinner fork. It's about the daily assault of selfish, inconsiderate behaviour that gets under people's skin on the highways, in the office, on TV, in stores and the myriad other settings where they encounter fellow citizens.
When someone else does something we consider wrong, we tend to blame their personalities.
When we do it ourselves, we blame circumstances. For example, if my kids spill juice, they're being clumsy. If I spill it, I was distracted. Other people don't get the pass we give ourselves.
The inner brat is the part that wants what it wants when it wants it and doesn't care who or what is destroyed in the process.
Second Nature
I make it a habit to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ to anyone I come in contact with – the server in the restaurant, the