With all of the sequels, re-boots, and recycling of the past, I would like to push the phrase common decency back into circulation. Growing up, if someone told you to “show some common decency”, it meant that you were being a jerk in some way and, for me, it was an immediate redirection code word to just be nice. It’s the Golden Rule in action, another misplaced gem in our modern society.
To exhibit kindness, acceptance, and tolerance toward each other is my definition of “common decency”. This does not mean, however, that I should have to accept or be tolerant of others’ bad behavior as I am experiencing in this decade. Perhaps “live and let live” would make a great partner to “common decency”!
I purposely left out the word “respect” because it has lost its true value of meaning by being tossed around so carelessly. According to dictionary.com, respect is “esteem for or sense of the worth or excellence of a person”. So, if you are not speaking or acting in a manner that I consider excellent, then I don’t really respect you no matter what I may profess for the sake of peace. Doesn’t that make a false proclamation of “respect” for someone little more than patronization? Of course! But the more disturbing question is, why is that ok? Pushing your ideology on me with volume, anger, or intimidation won’t change my thinking, ever. It only changes my actions to make you go away.
Our personal stories and perspectives have been uniquely shaped over time and each person’s beliefs are their own, just as mine are as personal to me as my fingerprint. When we tolerate the beliefs of those who are different, when and only when those beliefs result in kindness as opposed to hatred, we have a functioning diversity. It really can be that simple.
We must allow each other to be unique – and still work together harmoniously. When people begin fighting, verbally and physically, over differing points of view, they are taking away the freedom of individuality – thus, the whole concept of a diverse society is destroyed. People need to see the hypocrisy in preaching diversity and spreading intolerance.
Most important of all, a person who lives a life of common decency does not initiate or spread negative energy. There is enough of that in the world against us all! We, as a people, must band together, with kindness, tolerance, and true brotherhood (as a vulnerable species in the universe) while embracing our individual uniqueness. What is it, really, that gets in the way of such a simple concept?