My great-grandmother, a native of Louisiana, has beenliving in the Midwest for at least fifty years. Whenever we discuss the differences between the South andthe Midwest, she always states that she loves the South and would love toreturn one day.
The conversation concludes by the comment that shewill not return because she does not want to start anew from the life she hasestablished in Kansas City for such a long time. “The people are so much nicer in the South,” she said. “The people up here are mean andcold.”
But is this really true? Due to some experiences that I have encountered here oncampus, I question her statement.
The other day I was in a food service line in theUnion. From previous experienceshere at Southern, I have grown accustomed to having to wait in lines, and Iknew that I would have to wait awhile to eat on this particular day. For a reason unknown, as my friend andI approached the register, the employees stopped taking orders and the linecame to a halt.
They began to go back and forth between the front andthe back rooms, and did not once say something like, “Please give us a minute,”or “It’ll be a moment before we take orders again.” My friend and I waited nearly twenty minutes before wereceived our meals. I know I hadthe option to get out of the line and get something else to eat, but I opted tohave a personal lesson in patience for the day.
As an employee in retail for three years, I have cometo learn all about customer service and professionalism in the workplace. Had the employees in Jaguar Expresssaid something to the patiently waiting customers, the students in line may nothave grown to be as restless as they were. Simply doing so would have been a simple act of commoncourtesy.
A second experience that stands out in my mind is theuse of cell phones. We’ve all beenthere–our phone rings loudly, or the vibration is heard when the class isextremely quiet. Sometimes weforget that the ringer is on and that is understandable.
However, I was in class one day and a student had awhole conversation while the professor was trying to teach. Is it that serious? This was simply impolite and exceptionallydisrespectful. The least you coulddo is excuse yourself and go into the hallway.
One impolite person does not represent a whole group,but for those that are new or unfamiliar with the university, as well BatonRouge, impoliteness can cause someone to have a discreditable perception on theschool and/or city. I understandthat we all have our days and do not feel like being bothered.
Politeness, however, goes hand in hand with respect,and the bottom line is that polite is right. It does not hurt to speak to people. It does not hurt to say excuse me andthank you. It is okay to move tothe side of the sidewalk when someone else is trying to pass by. It is not terrible to hold the dooropen for people. It is not a signof weakness if a man offers his seat to a young lady on the Jag Train.
I thank God for allowing me to have a relationshipwith my great-grandmother, a woman who is ninety plus years of age and is stillgoing strong. She has seen anddone more than I can only hope God will allow me to do. She has taught me so much about being ayoung woman, a friend, and definitely how to treat people.
Even though I questioned her statement, she iscorrect in that the South is known for the warmth that is displayed amongpeople. Even though she hasencountered individuals that came off as mean and cold, she never let go of thesouthern hospitality and politeness her mother taught her.
Allow Southern University and the college experienceas a whole to teach you life lessons both academically and socially. The actions in which we partake now areultimately laying a foundation for the rest of our lives.
So as young and maturing individuals, let us allpractice politeness now so that it will become second nature to us in thefuture. What harm could come fromthat?