A Letter...

A Letter Addressing Civility

                To my son:

        Hello my boy! I pray that this letter finds you in good health, and that it would answer some of the questions you had asked me when last we met.  You asked me about civility, and what would count one as civil, or uncivil. Well Son, I will tell you, but to tell one an opinion with the bland context simple facts and text would rob it of value. So instead I shall give you comparisons with opinions sprinkled throughout to perhaps enlighten you to form your own opinions.

                Take, for example, aborigines. They all live as a big family and share what they gather with each other. How simply brackish and uncivil! They consider fighting as improper and vile. They never wish to harm each other and make sure no one is left behind. It is difficult to find a group as uncivil as them. As you can see, their values are very uncivil and improper. And you might ask yourself, “What then, would one consider civil?” Well son, it is rather complicated and possibly confusing to some as to what would be considered ‘civil’, but I shall do my best to clarify to the best of my abilities.

                We shall look at the common middle class man. He goes to work each day in his suit, hoping to not appear overdressed, yet out dress each of his coworkers, thus making him more civil than them. He will work hard, but not too hard, lest he be considered a ‘workaholic’, which is considered rather improper. He goes throughout his life trying to cut peoples feet out from under them, without them knowing, as is proper. Some days, someone might have an opinion that differs from him, which is never good for one’s image. He of course will do what is civil and upright immediately, that is to cut them down and humiliate them with as large an audience as possible. People, seeing how civil and well mannered he is, will flock to him and listen to what he has to say. They dare not speak up, lest their ideas be cut down, and instead agree with whatever the man should say, and fight for his approval. Discordance seems to follow the fellow, as is proper, and leads him to climb the tall ladder of life and be seen as a good representative of the community, ever vigilant and civil in his ways. He will then come to the end of his life, and all his ‘Friends’ will attend his funeral, hoping to gain approval of others and too become as civil as the man.

                As you can see my boy, civility is truly the only way to live one’s life. Why, if one were as brash and audacious as to go out of there to help someone, then I fear what our society might become. For change is not healthy, it is only proper for one to remain vigilant and appear well-bred at all times. I hope that this long-winded and educational letter has helped you form your own opinions about civility and what it truly means.

                 I wish you all the luck of the world in times ahead.

~By Me