Re: [gardeners] OT: Sometimes the world
George Shirley (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Wed, 29 Apr 1998 19:18:44
At 03:33 PM 4/29/98 +0000, you wrote:
I think the paragraph below says it all. If more of us became "just a
decent sort of person" then the world would be a better place to live. I'm
rapidly approaching my sixth decade of life and have seen the norm go from
common courtesy prevails to rudeness rules. I detest what our culture has
become but still believe that there are good people in that culture and
that they are a silent majority to paraphrase the politicos. It may be time
for us to be less silent to ensure that we leave our children and
grandchildren a place to live that is not so life-threatening on an
everyday basis. Forget the personal agendas, forget the "I got mine" idea,
forget the road rage and thoughtless violence that prevails. Just commit to
simple courtesy, be polite to everyone, and honest in your dealings. In
other words, be another Pete Stucky, and hope for the very best.
A bit simplistic I'm sure but the only answer I have to what takes place on
a daily basis in our world. The good people of Lewiston demonstrated that
view with their attitude toward the death of a good man. I grieve with them.
George
>Sometimes the world is an irrational, violent place. And sometimes
>the people in this world choose to take a stand against that
>violence and irrationality. We tend to hide that stand under many
>labels -- nationalism is a common one. But I think something
>profound happened in my little redneck hamlet. Without saying a word
>people stood, not out of respect for Pete Stucky and his family, but
>out of respect for themselves and for Good. As his murderers
>committed great evil and became, in our town, living symbols of Evil,
>so Pete Stucky -- the quiet man with friends and neighbors who cried
>when they tried to tell the press that he was "just a decent sort of
>fellow" -- became the symbol of Good.
>
>It was the most dignified display I have ever witnessed.
>
>Liz
>
>