Everyday Thoughts for Your
Everyday Life.
Do the Rules Apply?
August 30th, 2010 by stephanie
Ok, so you’re not off the hook yet. If you’ve been with us, we are working through George Washington’s 110 Rules of Civility. Now, the goal is, pick one, and work on it for the next few days. Think about it: this exercise in bettering ourselves can’t do us anything but a bit of good. I hope you are enjoying this adventure. I know that I am. We are on 31-39! 
Cheers!
31st If any one far Surpasses others, either in age, Estate, or Merit yet would give Place to a meaner than himself in his own lodging or elsewhere the one ought not to except it, So he on the other part should not use much earnestness nor offer it above once or twice.
32nd To one that is your equal, or not much inferior you are to give the chief Place in your Lodging and he to who ‘is offered ought at the first to refuse it but at the Second to accept though not without acknowledging his own unworthiness.
33rd They that are in Dignity or in office have in all places Precedency but whilst they are Young they ought to respect those that are their equals in Birth or other Qualities, though they have no Public charge.
34th It is good Manners to prefer them to whom we Speak before ourselves especially if they be above us with whom in no Sort we ought to begin.
35th Let your Discourse with Men of Business be Short and Comprehensive. [When you speak, be concise].
36th Artificers & Persons of low Degree ought not to use many ceremonies to Lords, or Others of high Degree but Respect and highly Honor them, and those of high Degree ought to treat them with affability & Courtesy, without Arrogance.
37th In speaking to men of Quality do not lean nor Look them full in the Face, nor approach too near them at lest Keep a full Pace from them.
38th In visiting the Sick, do not Presently play the Physician if you be not Knowing therein.
39th In writing or Speaking, give to every Person his due Title According to his Degree & the Custom of the Place.
I know. It’s even an exercise in vocabulary! But think how smart and civil we will all be by 110.
Just my thoughts.
Yours?
S.
The Challenge Continues: Rules 21-30
August 24th, 2010 by stephanie
Ok. So be honest. How are you doing? Have you picked one “rule” each new blog to work on for those days? Well, if you haven’t there’s still time. Take a look at this next grouping. Remember: There are 110!!!
Pick one. And work on it for the next couple of days. Then come back, and pick a new one! Go get ‘em!
| 21st | Reproach none for the Infirmities of Nature, nor Delight to Put them that have in mind thereof. | ||
| 22nd | Show not yourself glad at the Misfortune of another though he were your enemy. | ||
| 23rd | When you see a Crime punished, you may be inwardly Pleased; but always show Pity to the Suffering Offender. | ||
| Don’t draw attention to yourself. | 24th | Do not laugh too loud or too much at any Public Spectacle. | |
| 25th | Superfluous Complements and all Affectation of Ceremony are to be avoided, yet where due they are not to be Neglected. | ||
| 26th | In Pulling off your Hat to Persons of Distinction, as Noblemen, Justices, Churchmen &c make a Reverence, bowing more or less according to the Custom of the Better Bred, and Quality of the Person. Amongst your equals expect not always that they Should begin with you first, but to Pull off the Hat when there is no need is Affectation, in the Manner of Saluting and resaluting in words keep to the most usual Custom. | ||
| 27th | Tis ill manners to bid one more eminent than yourself be covered as well as not to do it to whom it’s due Likewise he that makes too much haste to Put on his hat does not well, yet he ought to Put it on at the first, or at most the Second time of being asked; now what is herein Spoken, of Qualification in behavior in Saluting, ought also to be observed in taking of Place, and Sitting down for ceremonies without Bounds is troublesome. | ||
| 28th | If any one come to Speak to you while you are are Sitting Stand up though he be your Inferior, and when you Present Seats let it be to every one according to his Degree. | ||
| 29th | When you meet with one of Greater Quality than yourself, Stop, and retire especially if it be at a Door or any Straight place to give way for him to Pass. | ||
| 30th | In walking the highest Place in most Countries Seems to be on the right hand therefore Place yourself on the left of him whom you desire to Honor: but if three walk together the middest Place is the most Honorable the wall is usually given to the most worthy if two walk together. |
Geo. Washington’s Rules of Civility: 11-20
August 15th, 2010 by stephanie
Our series continues. For today…here are rules 11-20. Which one will you work on this week? :)
11th Shift not yourself in the Sight of others nor Gnaw your nails.
12th Shake not the head, Feet, or Legs rowl not the Eys lift not one eyebrow higher than the other wry not the mouth, and bedew no mans face with your Spittle, by approaching too near him when you Speak.
13th Kill no Vermin as Fleas, lice ticks &c in the Sight of Others, if you See any filth or thick Spittle put your foot Dexteriously upon it if it be upon the Cloths of your Companions, Put it off privately, and if it be upon your own Cloths return Thanks to him who puts it off.
14th Turn not your Back to others especially in Speaking, Jog not the Table or Desk on which Another reads or writes, lean not upon any one.
15th Keep your Nails clean and Short, also your Hands and Teeth Clean yet without Shewing any great Concern for them.
16th Do not Puff up the Cheeks, Loll not out the tongue rub the Hands, or beard, thrust out the lips, or bite them or keep the Lips too open or too Close.
17th Be no Flatterer, neither Play with any that delights not to be Play’d Withal.
18th Read no Letters, Books, or Papers in Company but when there is a Necessity for the doing of it you must ask leave: come not near the Books or Writings of Another so as to read them unless desired or give your opinion of them unask’d also look not nigh when another is writing a Letter.
19th let your Countenance be pleasant but in Serious Matters Somewhat grave.
20th The Gestures of the Body must be Suited to the discourse you are upon.
Ok. So, Just How Civil Are You?
August 12th, 2010 by stephanie
It was the cutest, thin, red book. I loved it. But I can’t find it anywhere. Doesn’t that just get you when that happens. This little gem was something truly valued. Yet, now, nowhere to be found. And just what was that special gem you ask? It was my very own personal copy of what has become known as Washington’s 110 Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation.
Now, granted, he didn’t invent these. But how many 16 years-olds do you know that actually take the time to copy by hand this type of information, carry it around, and practice the advice? Sadly, I doubt there are many.
Some of you may have forgotten that these rules were actually composed by French Jesuits in 1595. And others of you may be witnessing them for the very first time. With that, let’s begin our next venture: to take a gander at all of them over the next few weeks. Here’s your first grouping. See if you can’t work on one, or two, or…
The Rules:
1st Every Action done in Company, ought to be with Some Sign of Respect, to those that are Present. [Treat everyone with respect.]
2nd When in Company, put not your Hands to any Part of the Body, not usually Discovered.
[Be considerate of others. Do not embarrass others.]
3rd Show Nothing to your Friend that may affright him.
4th In the Presence of Others Sing not to yourself with a humming Noise, nor Drum with your Fingers or Feet.
5th If You Cough, Sneeze, Sigh, or Yawn, do it not Loud but Privately; and Speak not in your Yawning, but put Your handkerchief or Hand before your face and turn aside.
6th Sleep not when others Speak, Sit not when others stand, Speak not when you Should hold your Peace, walk not on when others Stop.
7th Put not off your Cloths in the presence of Others, nor go out your Chamber half Dressed.
8th At Play and at Fire its Good manners to Give Place to the last Commer, and affect not to Speak Louder than Ordinary.
9th Spit not in the Fire, nor Stoop low before it neither Put your Hands into the Flames to warm them, nor Set your Feet upon the Fire especially if there be meat before it.
10th When you Sit down, Keep your Feet firm and Even, without putting one on the other or Crossing them.
Come back soon. Our series continues! And who knows, we all might be a bit more civil by the time we’ve finished!
Just my thoughts.
S.
Icebreakers. Part II.
July 29th, 2010 by stephanie
So, here we are. And I am back with PART II of this week’s ICEBREAKER series. Hope you enjoyed our first installment. (Scroll down below.) Here is round 2 just for you.
11. I don’t make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.– Will Rogers
12. If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when it’s free!– P.J. O’Rourke
13. In general, the art of government consists of taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other.– Voltaire (1764)
14. Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you! – Pericles (430 B.C.)
15. No man’s life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session. – Mark Twain (1866)
16. Talk is cheap…except when Congress does it. – Anonymous
17. The government is like a baby’s alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no responsibility at the other. – Ronald Reagan
18. The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of the blessings. The inherent blessing of socialism is the equal sharing of misery. – Winston Churchill
19. The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin. – Mark Twain
20. There is no distinctly native American criminal class…save Congress. – Mark Twain
Just their thoughts…yours?
S.
Icebreakers for Your Week.
July 26th, 2010 by stephanie
We can all use a little levity from time to time. And, if not that, some fresh perspective now and then never hurts. Do you have any meetings scheduled this week? Gatherings perhaps? Socials? If so, here is Part One of a two-part blog that I wanted to share with you.
When you walk into that board room, perhaps you just need a little something to ease the tension. Why not try one of these out for size? Or, perhaps you have a family gathering coming up and will find a moment where you feel the need to enhance, or even change, the subject?. Maybe one or two of the below can assist. Enjoy!
1. In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm and three or more is a congress. – John Adams
2. If you don’t read the newspaper you are uninformed, if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed. – Mark Twain
3. Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But then I repeat myself. – Mark Twain
4. I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle. – Winston Churchill
5. A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul. – George Bernard Shaw
6. Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner. – James Bovard, Civil Libertarian (1994)
7. Foreign aid might be defined as a transfer of money from poor people in rich countries to rich people in poor countries. – Douglas Casey, Classmate of Bill Clinton at Georgetown University
8. Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys. – P.J. O’Rourke, Civil Libertarian
9. Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else. – Frederic Bastiat, French Economist (1801-1850)
10. Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it. – Ronald Reagan (1986)
Just their thoughts. Yours?
S.
Founding…Mothers?
July 9th, 2010 by stephanie
In keeping with our nation’s birthday theme this week, I made an effort to finish the book Founding Mothers by Cokie Roberts. Wow. Glad I did. I had Noooooooo idea as to the stories I read and the scoop I learned. I realize some of the below are NOT what you are expecting, but neither was I!
Did you know:
Martha Washington had a Tom Cat she named “Hamilton”, yes, after Alexander Hamilton. And for good reason! That guy was married, but “got around” to be sure!
Nathaniel Green’s wife, after his death, lived openly and traveled with her children’s tutor! And, she helped Eli Whitney invent the Cotton Gin. It was at her plantation when that invention went down.
Eliza Pinkney, at the age of 16, was left to run the three family plantations. And in so doing planted a forest that she hoped one day would be used for her new nation’s future naval ships! But there’s more, she is responsible for the entire indigo industry that came about.
On and on the stories went. I SO hope that you will add this title to that already high stack of books on your nightstand. Better yet, as I do, get the CDs and listen on your commute or in the car. That’s where I do my BEST, if not all, of my reading.
Just my thoughts,
S.
Not Politically Correct. But Food for Thought No Less.
June 29th, 2010 by stephanie
“Aren’t you possibly just outdated and fighting it?” was the retort from the attractive television host (who is presumed gay by elite inner circles). He posed that question to his conservative guest on the screen while a gay rights activist sitting next to said host continued to verbally pound the traditional marriage proponent.
My heart sank, have we really come to the point where a majority of our citizens truly believe that marriage between a man and a woman is “archaic”? That thought saddened me greatly. Many in the main stream media, as well as those in higher institutions, have for some time now viewed folks with traditional values as just plain out of sync, or even more so, ignorant. My mind continued to spin.
What if we continue to “outdate” the man + woman = marriage equation? Where will we be in say, 25 years? You know, don’t answer that. It’s late, and I don’t want to think that hard right now as I sit here peacefully watching my dog, and the dog I took in from the flood, lazily snoring at my feet.
I guess, when it’s all said and done, what it really comes down to is this: people that spew anger or personal venom at traditional, or, Judeo-Christian values are fighting for their personal right to live the lives they themselves believe in. If they back down and accept another or opposing view, then it would prove their chosen lifestyle as perhaps “wrong”. And therein lies the rub. That would be the unthinkable for them. Therefore, in their minds, it’s something to fight for, or over. I can understand that. We fight for what we believe in.
The news anchor I was watching as well went on to berate the traditionalist. The rights activist chattered on about his personal “suffering” while stating adamantly that the courts are merely in place to protect the majority. Basically, what he was trying to say was this: if a majority of folks decide to overthrow a law (or the Constitution even) then let it be done! The people are to rule. Not the given law. Our laws are there simply to be overturned when we are ready to do so. At that point, I wasn’t feeling so great, so I turned off the television. [It brought to mind the French Revolution. Factoid for your day: we have had one Constitution in the last 200+ years while France has been through nine in the same time period!]
I had to be sure I was getting this right. Are folks today saying that if you and I decide, as a majority of course, that something once viewed as immoral or wrong, is now best for the greater good, we should simply storm the courts, prove we are the majority, and with a wave of our angry fists overturn laws we deem “archaic” or ill placed ?
It’s a fair and weighty question. Is the country we live in today truly what our forefathers envisioned? Are we the people today holding firm to that for which they willingly sacrificed their very fortunes, their lives and their sacred honor?
This discussion may be a bit melodramatic for some, I would imagine. But one thing is pretty clear: there are a lot of people out there still loving, living, and dying for this country. They are not fighting for a personal vendetta. They are fighting for freedom. They fight for historic principles, and for many, their personal faith.
Here’s where I get concerned: if America is the land of the free, and it is, and if you and I are free to believe and worship as we choose, and we still supposedly are, and, if freedom of thought is encouraged, and it still is, then when people demand that I respect their thoughts, shall I not in turn demand they respect mine? Seems fair enough to me.
Maybe those in our midst who feel “otherwise” about moral issues, marriage, or whatever deep seeded belief need to be reminded of that fact. And maybe the fire in the bellies that we are seeing of late is an awakening of sorts that lies within this truth. Maybe the battle we hoped to keep at a distance, that for awhile was in our own living rooms (or bedrooms) is making its way into the town square. If “free to be you and me” is truly the order of the day, then I can see why people are beginning to boldly state and declare the freedoms they personally hold dear.
Just my thoughts.
S.
Wave Your Colors. Wear ‘em Proud.
June 13th, 2010 by stephanie
I hope you have a flag somewhere. One that you can hang out in front of your home, or, perhaps place in your window. Maybe you have one of those table top stands that make for setting a flag on your kitchen or dining room table or even your desk at work. Why? Because June 14 is FLAG DAY!
“So”, you ask. “Just where did this special day come from?” Well now, please allow me to divulge.
President Woodrow Wilson, back in 1916, issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag Day. But it wasn’t until August 1949 that National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress.
Flag Day is not an official federal holiday. But, the great Keystone State, Pennsylvania, became the first (and only) U.S. state to celebrate Flag Day as a state holiday. For you infomaniacs, you can find the offical statute in Title 36 of the United States Code, Subtitle I, Part A, CHAPTER 1, § 110.
But, know this: it is at the President’s discretion to proclaim officially the observance. So be in watch…
Flag Day used to actually include Parades and Festivities. One of the longest-running Flag Day parades is actually held annually in Quincy, Massachusetts (home of President John Adams and Abigail). Quincy celebrations began in 1952.
Appleton Wisconsin’s Flag Day Parade will (celebrating their 60th this year) will feature the U.S. Navy.
The largest Flag Day ? Well, it’s held annually in Troy, New York, and patterns itself after the Quincy parade drawing up to 50,000 spectators!
The oldest continuing Flag Day parade? Fairfield, WA. Since 1909 or 1910, Fairfield has held a parade every year since and will celebrate the “Centennial” parade this year!
[For more research click here]
and Click here.
So there you have it. Wave your colors today. Wear them proud.
Just my thoughts.
S.
Did You Decorate a Soldier’s Grave Today?
May 31st, 2010 by stephanie
I remember as a young girl, my mom would tell me, “You were born on traditional Memorial Day.” She said that due to the fact that Memorial Day used to be May 30. (And that day just so happens to be my birthday.)
But then, the government decided to make it a federal holiday, and employees got a new 3 day weekend to add to their calendar. Thus, the last Monday in May officially became Memorial Day.
Even before that, Memorial Day was known by another name. It was called “Decoration Day”. And if you are over the age of 50, you remember what that day meant.
My grandmother tells me that she grew up observing Decoration Day. And, as her father was a vet of the Spanish American War, and her brothers were vets of WWII, well, it meant something.
So, just what was Decoration Day? Glad you asked:
Memorial Day (originally called Decoration Day) is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings. Quite a few cities and towns actually claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day. But it’s hard to tell the origin.
Women’s groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War. And there is actually a hymn (published in 1867, “Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping” by Nella L. Sweet) that was dedicated “To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead” (source see: Duke University’s Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920).
While Waterloo N.Y. won the honored position as declared birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, it’s difficult to prove the real origins of the day.
And there you have it.
For more info (I know who you folks are!) here’s a source:
Memorial Day
Wishing you a happy Memorial Day. And well, a very happy birthday to me.
S.
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