“Andrew Scheer sat in that seat you’re in yesterday.”
I resisted the urge to jump up.
Mr. Scheer, former leader of the opposition here in Canada, is not someone I am particularly fond of.
I’m sure he feels the same about me.
Though I’m almost 100% positive he’d say something like, “I don’t even know who he is.”
That’s fine.
I think he’d be lying, but that’s fine.
It was the new Speaker of the House of Commons, Greg Fergus, who had told me about Mr. Scheer and I sharing a chair in the Speaker’s chambers. It was in reference to a discussion on civility and decorum we were having (rest easy, the Speaker divulged no secrets).
I like that.
I want my government to be civil and working together, not petulant and chaotic.
Though, it sometimes seems like we’ve lost that sense of decorum.
It was like the worst people had heard Grace Hopper’s phrase, “it’s easier to apologize than ask permission” and instead of her implied intent to do what’s best for the greater good and then smooth things over after, they took it to heart as carte blanche to exploit every human interaction that isn’t written law.
I can think of numerous examples of people, from famous public figures to local opportunists, who have operated under the notion that if something isn’t technically illegal then they’ll use it to their advantage.
It never works out in the long run.
However, this destructive attitude of “there’s no law against it, what’s stopping me” is a great and easy way to spot horrible people.
If someone tramples over others, they are not a good person.
They are self-serving.
If pillaging decorum and civility is someone’s main game plan for personal success, they are not a good person.
They are self-serving.
If someone entirely abandons empathy in pursuit of their own gain, they are not a good person.
They are self-serving.
There are those that will admire such people and call it assertiveness, competitiveness, and strength.
Almost invariably, those admirers will be the next to be suckered.
If they’re not suckered already.
I’ve seen it happen.
We’ve all seen it happen.
It’s maddening.
Of course, there are times when decorum and civility are the first casualties of conflict… but this cannot be allowed to turn into routine.
The good news is, those in power positions who abuse social protocols simply because they’re not technically illegal, usually end up blurring the line so much they end up doing something actually illegal and paying a price.
It can take a while, but it usually happens.
But those people are just the celebrities of dickishness.
I’m referring to life in general.
Civility and decorum exist for a reason.
To maintain order and, ideally, respect for each other.
To make life… nicer.
More good news… I see a return to decorum and civility.
I see it in messages of congratulations from one politician to another politician of a different party.
I see it in many charity efforts this time of year especially.
I see it in restaurants that offer it Pay It Forward meals for those who maybe can’t afford to eat or at least have a treat.
I think we humans get tired of horrible after a while.
Civility and decorum is returning.
We just need to help it a bit.
Prime the pump.
Life is as pleasant as we can make it.
We can make it cut-throat and win-at-all-costs…
or we can make it respectful and, for lack of a better word, nice.
I choose the latter.
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I certainly hope you're right, I'm oh so tired of #CutthroatPierre and his intellectually challenged supporters.
Yes ! I miss civilization. I want it back.