Good Manners

I would be remiss if I didn’t take a moment to write to my Vuvs about manners.

After all, this has been a great week to teach your kids a thing or two about etiquette and appropriate behavior.

Let me recap.

First, Congressman Joe Wilson interrupts the President of the freaking United States by yelling out “You lie” in the middle of a major address to the nation;

Second, Serena Williams tells a line judge in the semifinals of the U.S. Open Tennis championship after she calls Serena for a foot fault, “I would like to shove this ball down your f’n throat.” (BTW, I hear the producers of The Sopranos called her immediately regarding a spot in the Sopranos sequel); and

Third and finally, Kanye West interrupts sweet, young country star Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech for best female video award at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards by grabbing the microphone and saying Beyonce was better and should have won.

I ask you, what has happened to decorum? Respect? And what the hell was Lady Gaga wearing? Did you realize she was actually prettier before she pulled that red thing off her face? (It was a very disturbing aha moment).

And what did each of these “violations” or outbursts have in common? The “perps” had a difference of opinion.

Representative Wilson claims he had an emotional reaction to what he viewed as a misrepresentation by the POTUS. Serena thought the line judge made horrible call at a crucial time in her match and Kanye West completely needs to re-evaluate his position in this crazy world of ours.

Doesn’t he?

I’m just sayin’…

Now is the time to open the dialogue…to discuss with the youngin’s where to draw the line…to draw distinctions between supporting your convictions and opinions and stepping on those of others and between playing to win and breaking rules to win…and to teach our kids that every action has a consequence.

Joe Wilson is now widely viewed as an ass (on the other hand he received numerous campaign contributions from Republican supporters). Serena lost the match because of her outburst and was fined thousands of dollars (at least the price of one handbag). Finally, Kanye was admonished by his peers and given a lesson in class by Beyonce herself.

Is civility a dying art?

It won’t be if we continue to have the right discussions with our kids.