February 16, 2010

Heal the world..

Is it me or has the world totally gone mad? This is no trick question and as a matter of fact, it's only terribly easy to answer this one. Yes, the world has gone mad. Look at what's happening around us. The bomb blast in Pune... the train crash in Belgium... the earthquake in Haiti. And that's only the top 3 disasters off the top of my head. Everyday I open any news page, there's nothing to rejoice. If it's not about the Afghan war, it's about the poverty and starvation in some country. If it's not an Olympic death, it's about an Italian landslide. And what's with all those unexplained bulk airplane crashes in recent times anyways? Be it Air France or YemenAir - what's going on?? After witnessing the events that the world has undergone in just the recent past, suddenly the 2012 predictions for the end of the world is not looking so implausible after all.

Just take our basic behavior with one another. It sort of reminds me of a Frasier episode in which Niles wonders aloud if all social etiquette has died. So many people are no longer considerate about the many basic courtesies that at least some of us are used to... and these are not even the antediluvian chivalrous acts like holding a door open for a lady or something. These are basic at best -

1. The verbal courtesies - When did it become uncommon to thank someone for something? Not just that, taking someone for granted ranks high up there in the social non-etiquette. Returning pleasantries is another thing. Being rude is an entirely new level, which seems to occupy the most-opted for pedestal in recent times. Is it too hard to be polite upfront? Like someone once said, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it at all. Go figure.

2. The physical courtesies - One can only wonder how it is possible to go wrong here. And I am not talking extremist-terrorist behavior, but just ordinary everyday people in everyday interactions. You bang into someone.. you're in a hurry, but yes, everyone's in some world's-rushing-by-and-I've-got-to-catch-up hurry too, but it's only polite to apologize, no matter whose fault it was. You knock someone down.. please apologize even more profusely and help them on their feet. Do not run away in either situation, unless you tried to steal something from them and actually succeeded. Simple? You'd think so.

3. The mental courtesies - No matter whom you are pissed of at, do not take it out on another innocent person. It may have been bad service at a restaurant or just a bad dream, but taking it out on someone else only spreads the ill-humour, like ripples in a pond. So do everyone a favour, including yourself, and let it rest. Deal with it.

Don't you think just including these ultra-basic courtesies in our everyday lives will make domestic and social situations much more pleasant and easier to deal with? And yes, I realize that none of this is going to solve any of the worldly problems that I began with in the first place. But it will help us remain civil with one another and help one another out in situations that demand it. And while we are on etiquette, please show some respect for the place you dwell in as well. And yes, that means, please find a dustbin to stow away the trash or cigarette butts and refrain from spitting that gum on the road or sticking it what you think is a hidden corner, no matter how tempting it is. It's a humble request on behalf of everyone who's found gum in the unlikeliest of places and been icked out by it.

Is it so wrong to want to "heal" the world? Let's give it a shot.. one band-aid at a time.

To my Paati who bore the brunt of one of society's uncouth examples, get well soon.

15 comments:

Buzzing Bee said...

Oh oh. Get well soon to your Paati. And this post was right on the money. I completely agree with everything you've pointed out here. Society needs to re-learn its etiquette. Excellent post. And please keep them coming.

Tijuana junkie said...

Holy crap! Who did what? Is she going to be okay? GWS. But yea, this post summarized many things wrng with our world and society at large. People aren't pausing to smell the flowers. Its all abt the rush to get to place, do things and collisions are explained away with random excuses or worse, ignored. People really need to udnerstand that interpersonal behavior is one of the ways to bring some class back into the society. wonderful writeup. Thank you.

Jayasree said...

Excellent post!

Radhika said...

OMG.. fantastic post. My best wishes to Paati.

Gandalf said...

I wish everyone had the thought to do everything you've outlined here. And like you've said, it's just for the art of living better and hopefully a more peaceful world. We could all drink to that. Thanks for enlsiting the basic courtesy that everyone seems to have forgotten. Brilliant post.

PS: I still read your blog but just haven't been able to comment enough. I apologize.

Veena Sethuraman said...

Excellent post! bang on! i totally agree with you.Loved the way u have put it "healing the world with one band-aid at a time!" Way to go...Guruji!!!! :)

Googler said...

Such a lovely post with lucid thoughts. Keep it up.

Jaya said...

Everyone, thanks a million for your kind words of praise and for your good wishes to Paati. Hopefully she'll make a speedy recovery. Thank you all for visiting and commenting.

Unknown said...

Hi, Jaya:

Love your post!

Here is a song for you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WJrtms8EoQ&feature=related

Best,
Mingliang

Musing Gal said...

I understand your frustration Jaya and you have put it well with courtesy.. :) Hope people change for their own selves.

Menthul Pulusu... said...

Nice one Jaya...

Shiva kumar Shankar said...

fantastic post indeed! so true on so many levels.

On the other note, one thing I have learnt by being in US and one that has become second nature is being courteous and it drives me nuts when I go to India!

Oh of course GWS for your paati indeed!

Jaya said...

Once again, thank you all!! Appreciate your visits and comments.. keep them coming!

Parasuraman said...

joint prayers do have their own effect paati is back home and just needs total bed rest thanks all who wished her a speedy recovery.

Anonymous said...

hi j, hope your paati feels better soon!!

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