"COMMON" sense, and "COMMON" courtesy....that's the only two things needed to set everything else right. But, as we know....
Right on!
Another point to consider in this regard; we have
nothing in common anymore.
Think about it the next time someone decries the clear and too-apparent lack of common sense in our society.
(Common courtesy fits nicely into this discussion as well.)
I am on the grumpy side of 50, but my particular age has no lock on this phenomenon.
As we age and take note of behaviors around us, we all see this decay as a process - not a singular event pinned on a certain year.
There was a time when our morals, core-convictions, and personal beliefs regarding acceptable behavior were somewhat aligned and accepted even when we may not completely agree on the finer points. In the middle of the country, I met few Jews and even fewer Muslims or Hindus. The only Buddhist I knew was my Japanese stepmother, and her active faith was something to be respected and allowed to remain her private pursuit - at the risk of my Christian father putting a very large boot in my ass.
So, dispensing with the notion that a particular faith is supreme (for the sake of this discussion) at least we accepted the social incentives to behave in a manner not to offend the sensibilities of others. I wasn't in church every Sunday, or participating in every program they sponsored or encouraged, but I knew from an early age that at least some public compliance was a good idea.
Now none of this matters.
The young'uns are indoctrinated to believe this in every "socially-acceptable" or "hate-free" information outlet.
Look who we can't offend nowadays, for instance....
We no longer get our news from the same paper or radio station as all our neighbors.
We are no longer limited to the programming of the only three broadcast TV stations.
No longer influenced by the same pastors or priests, the same schoolteachers, the same grumpy-ass old man next door, or the crazy cat lady living two streets over.
With the explosion of first cable television and then the internet, we no longer have any INFLUENCES in common.
I do not advocate trying to put the information genie back in the bottle, but I will preach loudly to my dying breath that we have NOTHING IN COMMON anymore because we are pressured at every turn by those seeking ratings, clicks, or poll-proven popularity to be "different" and think like
THIS GUY instead of
THAT GUY.
So, the fix?
Let's get back to what we do have in common.
What would that be?
If you are an American, and you don't like my Bible, I will take the position of our Founding Fathers:
Fine with me, as long as you have
some kind of belief system instead of just making sh!t up as you go along.
Pick a faith or a value system, learn it, and actually do what you should to set an example.
Then get involved in your community and civic causes that REALLY MATTER.
I would purposely exclude anything involving "victim status" predicated on race or sexual preferences, or redistribution of "free" stuff by any government agency. Get involved in civic matters from the private or charitable side.
More importantly (and was taught with vigor in my high school government & economics class) is the notion that if you are an American, ACT LIKE ONE. Being an American is the one thing we definitely have in common, regardless of your intent to join in as our Founders knew would be required to prevent the collapse of our society. I must state that I do not believe our 50 states have a lock on Liberty and personal freedom in the 21st century, as that's another discussion thread. But we have a Constitution in common, and we are well-served to understand the Original Intent and cut out the middle-man B.S. that only serves to obscure and obfuscate it.
Or just go back to your shameless immersion in Facebook, sports, or pornography and pretend to be offended when something you don't understand catches your attention. It probably hurts too much to give things that really matter some critical thought.
My $0.02