Remember your manners

Editorials

Discussion

October 10, 2009

Anonymous The Commercial-News Sat Oct 10, 2009, 11:56 PM CDT

Every person wants respect as an individual, whether it comes from people we know or complete strangers. The problem — which can be seen at almost any busy intersection in Vermilion County — is that too few of us want to give others respect.

The Associated Press recently ran a story about a couple in Quincy, Mass., who received the wrong order from their local McDonald’s. Simply pointing out they had ordered large fries, not the small portion they received probably would have resolved the situation without incident.

Instead, the two went on a rampage, reportedly throwing coins at the employees and even tossing one of those orange, plastic warning cones at a worker, cutting her face.

Seriously, over an order of fries?

The AP story included a similar situation in Norwell, Mass., where slow services at a KFC aggravated a couple to the point where they began cussing long and loud. When another customer — probably thinking others didn’t need to hear weak minds trying to express themselves forcefully at such a high decibel level — asked them to hold it down, the couple attacked him.

These incidents almost serve as a reflection of “debates” going on at the national level. Those on the left and the right rarely discuss issues from a position of fact these days. They prefer to rip into opponents on a personal level.

Such tactics might do little to foster a better understanding of the issues, but they sure spark ratings, don’t they? We seem to have a fascination with the loud, the profane, the self-centered and the self-serving.

Simple manners go a long way toward eliminating the boorish and rude behavior of others. It’s not a sign of weakness to be courteous. It doesn’t mean surrender if you listen to another’s opinion before jumping in with your own. Hold open a door for someone else. Let someone else go first. Smile.

The next time someone barrels through the four-way stop at Vermilion and North streets, apparently on a mission so vital mere traffic signs don’t merit attention, just smile and wave. Maybe, just maybe, it will make them stop and think about the others with whom they share the road.

Text Only

Editorials

Statistics deserve watching

Officials with the Vermilion County Health Department continue to watch the statistics regarding sexually transmitted diseases, and with good reason.

February 12, 2012
Celebrate with Old Abe
Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky all lay claim to part of Abraham Lincoln’s legacy, and justifiably so. But few cities can claim as close association as Danville can with the 16th president.

February 11, 2012
WYSE winners earn honors
No cheerleaders. No team mascots. No stands filled with spectators. Yet Danville Area Community College recently served as host for one of the biggest competitions of the year.

February 10, 2012
History is for all of us to share
Vermilion County students know February traditionally kicks off Black History Month in their classrooms, a time when teachers concentrate on the contributions African Americans made to our nation’s greatness.

February 5, 2012
Quinn fails to deliver

Officials with Vermilion County’s schools and local government surely hoped Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn’s State of the State address Wednesday contained some good news for them.
It didn’t.

February 3, 2012
Ease pressure on prisons
In his almost frantic effort to cut state costs, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn reportedly plans to revisit a topic that caused him considerable political damage last year — early release of convicted felons.

February 1, 2012
Jury duty is a big deal
January 29, 2012
Open local courtrooms to recordings
Members of the Illinois Supreme Court, including Danville’s Justice Rita Garman, recently announced a change in the policy against allowing public court proceedings to be recorded. It’s a good decision.

January 27, 2012
Take advantage of advice on healthy kids
Parents can hear good advice tonight from a national expert about making sure their children eat in a healthy way.

January 25, 2012
Programs help more than just veterans
Danville Area Community College and the Department of Veterans Affairs Illiana Health Care System both offer special programs to help our country’s military veterans receive additional training and find a jobs after their days in uniform are done.

January 22, 2012
More Editorials Headlines

Editorials

Search Results

Discussion

Remember your manners

Site Map

Contact Us