One of our fundamental teachings we are taught as soon as we are old enough to understand the spoken language and reply. Generally, the first words please and thank you along with excusing me. My dad called my name once and I made the mistake of answering him with the word huh. His reply was “ Does it hurt your mouth to say, sir?” Of course, I said no sir. He then said “ Well let me hear huh come out of it one more time and it’s going to hurt. Unlike a lot of parents today I knew he meant business and if he heard me say huh again my mouth and most likely butt would both hurt. So I learned to show people respect. It’s not just my elders but everyone I meet. That is the way it should be. Everyone deserves a level of respect. As I entered a convenience store yesterday there was a lady and a man toward the counter, another lady checking, another lady stocking shelves, and myself. As I was approaching the check-out counter the guy told the young lady to go on ahead babe. I was thinking maybe they were together. The lady was taking care of her business at the counter and the guy was standing just behind her making all sorts of sexual gestures and then looked toward me goggle-eyed with his tongue out. I thought wow this guy is showing no respect for his wife, girlfriend, or whoever she is at all. He just kept on getting more vulgar with his gestures and I just had to inquire. Is she with you? He said no I wish she was, I could do something with that. And the lady was still just a couple feet from him. Not just no but oh hell no keeping my mouth shut at this point is not even an option. I asked the guy if his parents failed to teach him about respect for others or if he was just a self-made asshole. Needless to say, I got his full attention now. The young lady took her purchase and headed toward the door looking back just as she reached the door with a nod I could make out the words thank you and she smiled and went on to her car. The guy said he was just having fun with her and meant no harm. I asked if he was married and he said not anymore. I asked if he had any children he said yes two daughters. I asked him if his daughters were teenage girls and came into an establishment like this to make a purchase and some guy did them like you just did her how would you feel? He held his head down and said not worth a damn. I would most likely jump on them. I told him I’m here to tell you as a father of three daughters, several nieces and granddaughters’ I know you would. People we need to see past the end of our noses think past our peripheral visions. The old cliches are not for our entertainment or amusement they have deep-seated meaning. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Everyone claims to be waiting on everyone else to do right by them first. You have a choice. Choose to sit on the long train of waiters or become the engine that pulls the long train of doers.
Simply my thoughts
Dean Butler
