The Obituary of Common Courtesy

Common courtesy died this week, after a long illness.

Common Courtesy was born thousands of years ago during the time of early man. It was recognized then by the acts of sharing a fire during winter or sharing food when others were unsuccessful hunters. Its parents were “Survival of the Species” and “the Philosophy of a Common Good”. It is survived by its siblings, “Random Acts of Kindness” and “Senseless Acts of Beauty”, both of which are reported to be in bad health as well.

Common Courtesy will always be remembered for its peak existence during the Age of Chivalry. It will be lovingly remembered in later centuries during the rise of democracies throughout the world.

Its illness, and subsequent withdrawal from the world, has been noted in the now almost complete lack of manners, the increase of nastiness, and the lessening of respect for each other’s existence. Common courtesy and kindness, while once celebrated, has become the focus of derision and ridicule. Its death this week will certainly lead to its replacement by selfishness, greed, and narcissism.

There will be no public memorial service for Common Courtesy. Instead, the family requests that each of you look in your own heart and put Common Courtesy’s lessons to use in your individual everyday lives. Though Common Courtesy is no longer with us, perhaps its legacy can be kept alive and even revived in future generations.