Couth: (Noun) "Social Sophistication". [Encarta Dictionary]
Where has all the Couth gone in Glen Burnie? My Grandfather grew up in Glen Burnie for about 3/4 of a century. He built this city on his rugged good looks and evil twin. For real. They ran this town. The won an award at the Glen Burnie Carnival for cutest twins and sold competing newspapers on opposite corners of the 648 and rt. 3 crossroads. They switched places in the movie house and fooled people all the time because they were identical. They rode horses and shot dogs pretending to be cowboys. But they had couth. They knew how to dress, and had a sense of social decorum. For instance, "You don't fight on my property." This was a credo for my grandfather. He broke up several fights. He wasn't afraid even as an older man to assert himself in congenial conversation with anyone (even trees, if there was no one around to talk to).
But alas, here's what I've been steady thinking about. Where has couth gone in our beloved Gopher country? Wait staffs in restaurants, cashiers at Kmart, and The Walmart phenomenon are all contributing factors to my thoughts.
Sunset restaurant. I know I just gave a blow by blow of my visit there, but I get tired of poor service at restaurants. It's not just there. I once had a meeting at Bob Evans in GB and couldn't concentrate because the service and management were so poor.
At Kmart I was checking out and the cashier asked if I wanted a Sears account....What? I thought I misheard her. She said (with an obvious impediment) "Oh, I know, I just had my tongue ring put in. Sorry..." and then she asked me if I wanted a Sears account. Did you know Kmart is owned by Sears? Who cares. But WHO CARES THAT YOU HAVE A TONGUE RING? COUTH PEOPLE.
Finally, everywhere in America you can go to a place of sanctuary, a place of smiling faces...Walmart. The great American success story. Not in Glen Burnie. GB's Walmarts are the worst I've ever been in, and it's not because of the products it's because of a degeneration of couth.
Ideas for things to give up for Lent:
1. Self-focus
2. Social Ignorance
3. Tongue Rings
4. Ok, maybe complaining.
--Ben
1 comment:
not to insult the Glen Burnie folks, but I'm not sure they were ever the height of couth :) You are right, though, that the social standards just keep getting lower and lower. Maybe you should write some letters to the managers of these stores.
Post a Comment