R-E-S-P-E-C-T

From time to time I have been accused of being a little less liberal than a modern society demands. As I see things everything is connected. People can not begin to teach manners and parent when youngins are pre-teens. You don't need a degree from that big school on the hill to figure this out. Who they are and will be are formed much earlier. This is all a preface to my amazement of the five H1N1 infested buggers (10-12 year olds) I encountered in the local library branch this past weekend.

Speaking of the flu, they all had it or some other upper respiratory ailment that caused them to cough, hack and wheeze as if someone was sitting on their respective chests. There were new signs posted about the library pleading with young and old alike to help stem the spread of germs. I counted at least a dozen signs that even demonstrated how to actually cover your nose and or cough in to the crook of your elbow. As well, the library now supplies hand sanitizer and tissues for public use. Nevertheless, as I searched the card catalog online this group of loud kids had gathered at the computer next to me. I assumed their motivation was to monitor who could cough on me the most. One young fellow who stood over his seated friend was standing so close to me that I adjusted myself several times to avoid his hack stream. And then... Then he coughed so violently with his mouth uncovered that I could feel droplets from his mouth on my left cheek and all over my big bald head. Geezus! After taking my pocket hanky and shamming myself down, I looked up at the kids who looked confused. The particular boy did not seem to know or care what he had done. I suggested that they; 1. use their inside voices and 2. cover their mouths when they coughed. This was mighty effective... not!

They began a conversation among themselves as if I weren't there. They first queried, "...who I thought I was talking to?" They then perceptively pointed out that I wasn't any body's father and as well lacked some sort of right(s) to correct behavior. I said nothing more to them. The librarian who had witnessed all this came over and told them that only two people were allowed at each computer at a time. She repeated this three times before anyone moved away and then only one person left. Once I put away thoughts of actually hunting them down should I become sick, I was rather annoyed.

Surely, this isn't the first time I've seen it but, I am often amazed that people don't teach basic manners and self-respect to their issue. Would these things also hamper "freedom" and "self-esteem" or some thing? How can we possibly expect children to blossom into mature responsible contributing adults when at 10 years of age they believe that they have the "right" to snot all over some old bald guy's head? How are we shocked when they do much worst when the corrective words of some one at least 30 years their senior are considered "fightin" words? -When they see no difference between themselves and their elders... when they do not believe they need to respect either?