Many Progressive People are Impolite
To test my thesis, watch a few black and white movies, and see how people address each other, or in what language, if you doubt me. Not only were people more polite, but they reacted with more stoic reserve and dignity to lapses of politeness.
In my common and daily interactions, I refer to ladies as ‘ma’am’ and to men as ‘sir’. I do this for the sake of being polite.
My children refer to me as, “dad”, and not by my first name. They know my first name, but it’s a matter of respect. I’ve never known a low-life progressive person with the slightest modicum of respect. In fact they are known by being the very opposite, and they cheer themselves on while they behave that way.
If a gentleman holds a door for a lady, or a man refuses to strike a woman in the face, he is a sinister oppressor, and an enemy of women…possibly a misogamist. (though with the new progressive doctrine of “gender fluidity”, they may have some difficulty proving it because the door-holder could be a woman for those twenty seconds of holding the door before transitioning back into being a man).
The Left has convinced the world that courtesy is rude. Watch the sitcoms, watch the product of Hollywood’s efforts and it underscores my thesis.
Political correctness has politicized courtesy, so that now words found harsh or untoward are matters for lawsuit, or riot, rather than matter for an apology. In political correctness, every nuance of spoken and unspoken thought may at an moment be declared a micro-aggression, so that every ear overhearing your most casual joke might hide an expected enemy with license to attack without remorse, ruin your job, ruin your reputation, ruin your life. This substitution of mutual hatred and animosity for mutual respect was not done overnight, nor easily.
Name-calling, character assassination, rioting, and the suppression of unwanted opinions has not stopped, but the polite and reasoned exchange of opposing views has. Think back: how long has it been since you saw a news program giving both sides of any issue, calmly, reasonably, without interruption?
The Police
I know that a few of the people who read and comment on this blog have had less than charitable things to say about the police. You have a right to your opinion. The truth is that the various police departments around the US tend to mirror the populations that they serve. It’s also true that populations generally get what they pay for. Most folks don’t get it because they’re not close to the issue, but it’s true.
There was a time when police officers wore neckties and their uniforms produced a different utilitarian purpose. Note the change and the distinct shift from ‘officer friendly’ to the quasi-military approach that many law enforcement agencies take to their approach to the population. Ask yourself why that happened (if you wish) and mull over cause and effect. Nobody actually likes law enforcement people. They are distant, and are the only 24/7/365 icon of The State present in our lives. The average police officer has much more discretion (because they need it) than an FBI Special Agent or a Congressman, for example. If the discretion is applied to you, the officer is either a great guy or a jerk, depending on how it works out.
Black Lives Matter, a group led by social justice warriors, naturally doesn’t like the police – unless an officer saves one of them or their family on an individual basis. Then they will concede that there is “one good cop”.
Barack Obama, a community organizer, former drug dealer and son of the Chicago political machine, hated the police. It was obvious in everything that he said and did. President Trump feels very differently about them and it will be interesting to see whether polite discourse about the police will mirror its way into a different view.
Treating the police the way you would like to be treated (as with all things) is an interesting litmus test for social evolution.
I don’t think that the progressive trend of ‘rudeness toward all’ will be dampened easily. If we see a lack of abuse toward the police, it might signal a trend. It’s worth watching to see whether or not that will be the case.
As a female, or even a human being, I expect common courtesy, respectful behaviour and general manners and deliver the same. As a female I find it very respectful when a man holds the door open for me and addresses me politely. What’s wrong with that? Do you think I washed and blow dried my hair, put my nice shoes on, donned my beautiful red lipstick so you could walk through a door before me? Pffft! Real men don’t behave that way. Real men take pleasure walking behind you in the sillage of your Dior perfume.
Just a few words on police: they are first and foremost government workers. As a government worker, you take great efforts in protecting your own first, to reinforce the system and its bureaucracy, and often these efforts are contrary to the public good.
Police forces throughout history have proven to get more and more corrupt as time marches on. They are, after all, government workers first and forever. And accordingly, government workers are never, ever concerned with efficiency; doing more with less. That mindset is simply absent in public work.
It just is. And the police community is suffering in the public eye because of it.
LL,
Not sure how it is out your (and others here) way, but it seems to me that uniforms of the various agencies of police have undergone a homogenization. The LEO city-wise seem to be trending to dark navy uniforms (top and bottom) the sheriff (county officer with state constitution implications) are white over dark green.
Fredd, I have to disagree on your point about government worker first. They are at many times scapegoated by the elected and bureaucratic entities not of LE. They are used as whipping boy by grandstanding politicians and are, yes, protecting their own, but it is against the municipality and the social justice warrior type crowds. The mindset has become what it is as a result of defending themselves from their enemies.
You are a relic of a bygone era (even though you're not old). I can't help but wonder if pixies in Nottinghamshire put you into a time capsule and you emerged fifty years later? Today womyn glory in shaving the hair from their heads, only growing it from their arm pits (braided), legs, etc. and wearing androgynous clothing. Perfume? An unwashed body has a perfume all its own.
As a relic, I notice these modern trends and while I'm happy you've not gone along with them, the PC police may force you to adopt them until you Love Big Brother (or is it Big Mother now?).
Keith Moore (below) discusses the thin blue line mentality. He's right. So are you. But in a society that is increasingly uncivil and disrespectful, those tapped by the rest of us to keep order are left taking the brunt of a nation of churls. Maybe it will change and society will become more polite. I'm not holding my breath.
It's far from an ideal situation and in Barack, the impolite and brutish found a champion. The President's job is to support the executive branch of government and the rule of law, and he did neither. President Trump is trying to do that and they hate him for it.
I think you are right about the police. They are chosen from their cities, so they have to mirror them somewhat. We are lucky there are so many good ones out there.
I still say 'sir' and 'ma'am', too. Our oldest boy, slowly being corrupted by liberalism, still says 'mom' and 'dad', but I am not sure how much longer that will last.
Hopefully the sane can persevere.
I meant so many good officers out there.
>in Barack, the impolite and brutish found a champion
The irony is that effeminate, prissy, sanctimonious Barack probably would not last an hour in the company of the very persons he champions.
FWIW I say "sir" and "ma'am" as well. (Unless they have a title such as Judge, or Professor, or whatever, if so, I use that.) Especially to patients; I view with great disfavor those MDs and nurses who call patients, particularly elderly ones, by their first names without having been invited to do so; and even worse when they start out with "honey" or "dearie."
Police departments recruit from the human race so there will always be problems (government or private industry – goofs in both). Holding hiring practices to the highest standards always leads to better results.
"Honey" always makes me harken to the "southern" phrase, "bless your heart" — which doesn't mean that.
Barack (a 'bottom') by nature, might be kept around by ex-cons as an amusement. That's about it. When he stopped being amusing, they'd end him.
My peeve (and isn't a pet) is someone saying, "No Problem" when I say "Thank You." I didn't ask if you had a problem. I said Thank You and the proper responses is "You're Welcome." Who and why did the start the no problem bit?
Why thank you, Sir.
Maybe, Larry, the pesky piskies of yore have now become the progressive people of the now. Think about it. Often dancing in circles naked or badly dressed. Like to wear a bit of ribbon as a symbol of….
Often found at ancient sites – Stonehenge?
Short with pointed ears..Think Nicola Sturgeon..
Notorious for silly behaviour and can be known to shapeshift.
The "no problem" response is a LOT more common lately, innit? In that same vein, I am either amused or annoyed (often both, but the latter more than the former) when a clerk hands me change (cash? what's that?) and I reflexively say "Thank you" to which the reply is either "NP" or "You're welcome." No, damn it! The response is "Thank you, sir" or "Please come again" or "Thanks for shopping with us" or the like. I am not indebted to you for doing your job of giving me my change. I am being civil. It seems to me that a person could figure this out on their own, but since that happy outcome is clearly not the case, I suspect that they are simply not being trained on proper etiquette after being hired.
Heh. I already have two cranky etiquette comments on a single blog post today. I'll go for the hattrick: Get off my lawn, you kids!
Heinlein on politeness-
“A dying culture invariably exhibits personal rudeness. Bad manners. Lack of consideration for others in minor matters. A loss of politeness, of gentle manners, is more significant than is a riot.”
Hmm.
Nearly all the police I have ever had interaction with have been professional. There have been a couple of obvious new guys who were a bit excited, but nothing serious. We have a county sheriff and deputies around here,and they are spread thin. I like to think the citizens have their backs, at least to some degree. Of course treating the cops with respect goes a long way to getting treated with respect. When I see on the screen some of the stuff police have to put up with, I am amazed they retain their cool.
I will be polite and I 'expect' that to be returned. If it's not, then you've lost 'my' respect and any sympathy you might have garnered…
Forty-three years ago (Lord was it that long?) when I was in the academy it was drummed into out heads that we were civil servants, not an occupying force. We were expected, nay, demanded to be polite to citizens. Of course when you worked in the high crime ghetto beats that quickly went the way of the dodo.
Cops are not spawned in a clone factory in Utah. They are selected from the community and as the community has coarsened, so have the cops. I have witnessed the militarization of the police and it is not a pleasant thing. One thing has not changed, I always liked working with cops who had military service under their belts. They knew what an order was.
As individuals we can only set an example. In a 'boss' situation, more.
On a personal level, I am always polite, open doors, say thank you, etc. Matter of personal choice.
When I encounter progressive rudeness, my usual action is a question.
"Have you always been a twit?"
You're onto something.
Heinlein is one of my favorites of all time. Good quote.
It's not only the police, but (as Heinlein suggests), the litmus test is for the culture in general. Dying – slowly, but dying.
Same here.
I'm falling back on my Joe Wambaugh – "be civil to all, and polite to nobody." The police are people, but they are not paid to be friends. They're there to help and are called upon to deal with society's garbage. For that, they deserve respect.
I ask people, "Were you raised by wolves?"
Yours is the more polite question, as usual.
For the record, I am a professional woman and I LIKE it when a man opens a door for me, gives me precedence or otherwise treats me with deference because I am a woman. I always say "thank you" to a man who opens a door for me, in order (a) to express gratitude, (b) to encourage more of the same, and (c) to make reparation for the screeching harridans who verbally assault them for being polite.
I was raised to be respectful of others, especially my elders, and to treat others as I would wish to be treated. Still say Ma'am and Sir, and expect to have good manners and common courtesy around me.
My son's fiance told me the other day that his impeccable manners are one of the things she loves about him. He said he had had respect & manners drilled into him from a young age, and woe betide the kid that didn't exhibit them, especially to women, and the elderly.
You're obviously a lady.
I would have expected no less than that from you, Brig.
Comments are closed.