Decorum

 
"A woman is a lady when her presence compels men to be gentlemen."


Quite a catch-phrase


Am I amazed?


Fazed by the haze that glazes such an innocuous-seeming malaise?


Mayhap a tad...


What a phase

Expecting growth and somewhat better


After all: this is 2015


Surely, we've surpassed such one-sided and ludicrous twaddle to dispense to young women (and young men).


On the surface of it, we have an injunction to good behavior


An incentive, if you will, to behave with modesty and decorum, politesse


A return to good manners, if you please, and good sense, if you would...


Yet

Yet

Yet


There's a far deeper meaning here


Nestled dangerously close as an adder inadvertently trod upon


Each one of us, woman and man, gentleman and lady is responsible for our own behavior and none other.


Tis a dreadful mistake to put the onus for men behaving as gentlemen on any other than those very men themselves.


Further: what an incredible insult to men to insinuate that they are incapable of being genteel, polite, decent, and honorable without a woman's reminding presence.


Funny how we never see:
"A man is a gentleman when his presence compels a woman to be a lady."


Still, that would not be appropriate either for, again, it places responsibility for everyone's behavior on one group.


Tis vastly important for us all to be responsible for ourselves, individually, and responsible for what we each do.


Increasing courtesy, politesse, decorum, and gentility in public dialogue and interaction?


By all means, let's do that, though I must remain
               artistically
                             rebellious...