COMMON

February 29^th is an uncommon day.

 

The perfect day to consider a concept that was once so universal, it had ‘common’ in its title.

It isn’t fancy or cutting edge. In fact, it’s a throwback.

Technology has made it virtually extinct.

So, too, have grocery store check-out lines, highways and parking lots.

You know. Courtesy.

Nowadays it’s so unusual an occurrence, we ought to call it ‘Uncommon Courtesy.’

Civility. Politeness. Consideration. Respect.   

All wrapped up in a notion that seems as quaint as a Norman Rockwell painting.

I am scanning the headlines this February 29, 2012, thinking that many major news stories would not be major, news, or stories, if courtesy had been considered and employed.

The Rutgers Webcam Spying Trial.

The News Corp Phone Hacking Scandal.

The Resignation of Maine Senator Olympia Snowe.

All things Politics.

Sasha Barren Cohen vs. Ryan Seacrest.

All things Bullying.

Wikileaks and Anonymous Join Forces Against US Intelligence.

Pentagon Rushes to Learn Number of 9/11 Remains Sent to Landfill.

Apple Loophole May Expose Personal Photos to App Developers.

Funeral Home Owner “Horrified” Over Whitney Houston Casket Photo.

What is up with us?

We (I) complain when we have to wait a half hour for a human to answer the phone at a call center, and then we (I) get annoyed when the person who answers the phone takes too long to address our problem.

We (I) chat on our cell phones while ordering coffee, paying for groceries, and dining with friends.

We comment anonymously (or not) in or to Op-Eds, Blogs, Facebook posts, Tweets and Talk Radio, barely able to contain our anger, disgust, and disdain.

And yet we are a citizenry that leaps to our neighbors’ – to the world’s -  aide when tragedy, natural disaster, acts of terrorism or other such momentous events occur.

Perhaps we just need a reminder, on an uncommon day like February 29^th,  that we're all in this together.

And for every ordinary day to come, we must work to return 'common' to courtesy.

Bad for 24/7 news bureaus, bloggers, and reality TV.

Great for humanity.

QUING Hereby Decrees: Paying attention beats paying the price.