Whatever happened to good manners? Are they not being taught anymore or has American society just gotten to the point that we think we can behave in any way and it won’t matter? You must have noticed what I’m talking about. And if you don’t, then try this: the next time you go to the store, go out of your way to be polite and say “excuse me” as you pass someone in an aisle. Now pay attention and listen to how often you get a reply. Once in a blue moon you’ll hear someone say “of course” or “sure” but for the most part all you’ll hear is silence. And if for some reason you’re the one blocking the aisle and someone needs to get past you, they’ll either reach out and physically move your grocery cart if you have one or bump into you to get by.

One of my personal pet peeves is when I hold a door open for someone and they walk through it without the slightest acknowledgement of thanks. They behave as if they are God’s gift to us and all deference should be given to them. Mostly, I choose to believe that they are mentally working on a problem that is vastly more important than what is going on around them. Like the formula that will cure cancer. But every now and then it gets to me and when I’ve held a door for someone who doesn’t know how to say thank you I just have to come out with a very loud “You’re welcome!”

Or how about when you’re in a bookstore looking at the Best Sellers section and someone steps in between you and the shelf (as if you’re not even there). No “excuse me” or anything. One time when I was shopping and I was holding a dress to admire it and a woman had the nerve to come up and take it out of my hand so that she could look at it too. Unbelieveable!

Something happens to us when we get behind the steering wheel too. Some of us become possessed when we start the ignition. Whether it’s the driver who refuses to wait for a person to cross the street, the person who takes up more than one parking space at the mall because they think their car is more special than anyone else’s or the driver who pulls out in front of you causing you to slam on the brakes to avoid hitting them and then they give you the finger. Why do some of us feel as though we have the right to run roughshod over everyone else?

Now I ask you: what kind of example are we setting for the children? If you think they don’t notice all of this bad behavior then think again. Children may be young but they certainly aren’t stupid. And they have very big ears. They mimic behavior and they figure that if mom and dad and other adults do it then it must be okay.

I used to manage a video store and I can’t tell you how many times I had to pick up movies and replace them because kids thought it would be fun to throw them all in the floor. Yes, their parents were present but they apparently thought they had taken a wrong turn and ended up at a playground instead of a business, because they did absolutely nothing to correct their children. It happened so often that I finally had to say something. Boy, did I get dirty looks.

It’s not simply manners for manners sake. Good manners convey a certain respect for other people and showcases our morals to the world. Does anyone really want to be thought of as the Ugly American?