Have you been honked at lately? Seen someone run a stop sign? I remember after September 11, 2001 people became kinder and more considerate as they drove past their neighbors. People were patient and more respectful to others that they passed in the grocery store. Now, it seems like drivers are falling back into the bad habits of honking and and being rude. Today I saw a truck with a trailer pull out in front of an oncoming car, and my heart stopped.
I think we thought it was a 21st century problem, but in reading through Grandfather Weaver's scrapbook, I found this article written during World War II that addresses the same issue. There is no reference or note telling what publication he cut this article from or any mention of the writer. The typeset resembles some of the Baptist publications he clipped from and glued into his scrapbook from the 1940's. I think I will retype this so we will not miss a word!
But first, to paraphrase John Claypool, "Smile at others. It may be the only smile that the person you pass by receives."
COURTESY IS A WAR CASUALTY
It is clear that courtesy has become a very conspicuous war casualty. Which is surely a great calamity. For nothing else so oils the machinery of living and lessens the sense of strain and stress as does courtesy. Especially does one miss the general presence of courtesy in the market places.
Before the war men were treated with friendly regard and expressions of appreciation and gratitude were frequent. In the past generation business houses everywhere invariably vied with each other in extending consideration to their customers. Now people are not only ignored but are often treated as if they had given offense.
Of course, the customer is not needed now as he was needed, say, during the recent depression. Today there are too many customers and too few of those who would serve him. Rationing is an excellent thing but the time it takes and its repeated explanations are annoying procedures. Nerves are under pressure, help is inexperienced and hard to get and keep.
These are all excuses of a sort, but they are not valid reasons for discourteous treatment. The cold but kindly truth is that it takes no more time to be pleasant than it does to be unpleasant. As a matter of fact, it takes less energy to be amiable than it does to be disagreeable. Courtesy is a creature that carries its own reward along with it. It is constructive in its nature and as helpful to the giver as it in to the recipient.
It is worth money to be courteous and kind. Agreeableness will sell more real estate, cigars, groceries, dry goods, furniture, insurance, than any amount of argumentative salesmanship. Just be pleasant and one can walk away with a contract right under the nose of the argumentative man who knows it all.
The courteous man is like the shade of a big tree on a hot day. He is like love when one is lonesome, a bed when one is tired, food when one is hungry, and money when one is broke. Our advice to everybody these nerve-wracking war days is to try to be pleasant and see what happens. It may teach certain lessons that will be wonderfully helpful when the next depression comes-as come it will.
