Decency strikes me as the common man's kindness. Decent (per Merriam-Webster) means "Proper and fitting; not immodest, not obscene, chaste; conforming to social standards, respectable; reasonably good or adequate; fair and kind". And if you think about it, those things are all pretty easy to offer to one another. The phrase "Common Decency" conveys the whole meaning, really: a common sense of responsible fairness and fitting behaviour of respect for others.
It can be as simple as waiting for someone else to enter or helping someone with a heavy item. It can be as meaningful as keeping quiet in a moment where others shout or laugh away or taking upon ourselves the unkind or uncharitable comment meant for another. It can simply be not noticing a thing that, were it called out, could create a moment of embarrassment.
It becomes even more important, as Vonnegut points out, in a society that is none of these things.
It had never struck me before that to be humble is to be decent but upon consideration, why would it not be? Part of being humble is to think of others; is not decency the simple practice of thinking of others in our everyday social situations?
I suppose it could be said that decency is an outward act of humility, something that summarizes an attitude of humility. It isn't a word or concept used much nowadays, as it seems to have been abandoned by the angry element of society. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteLeigh, now that you mention it decency is a word hardly used at all. Perhaps because decency is a thing that generates form an internal source and so much of modern thoughts and morals demands we follow external guides that shift with the tide.
Delete"Decency as an act of outward humility." That is a great way to put it.
So true. The new counter-culture is kindness.
ReplyDeleteWow Sandi. That is well said. It really is the new counter culture.
DeletePerhaps treat others as you would like to be treated TB......now what was that called once upon a time? Hmmmm......what was it....hmmm....
ReplyDeleteNylon-2, how wuickly maxims of old are eradicated in this modern world.
DeleteIt used to be called decorum. Now it is something special and rare.
ReplyDeleteA word we get from the Latin Ed, meaning "fitting". A vanishing time indeed.
DeleteGenuine humility, at its core, requires some degree of self awareness, a sense of fairness, the practice of rigorous honesty, and some notion of morality. Decency and kindness are sure to follow.
ReplyDeleteOnce again, I thank you TB for the invitation to pause and reflect on the journey. Blessings to you!
B - What a wonderful distillation of the components of humility - really, of just general human heartedness. Thank you!
DeleteI'd not necessarily conflate the two. Decency is outward, humility is inward.
ReplyDeletePossibly John. Although I might say that decency without some level of humility is not common.
DeleteThis is the first thing that popped in my mind when I thought about this:
Delete"Crucifixion? Good. Out of the door. Line on the left. One cross each. Next."
I think I get the reference, John.
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