Kristia Cavere Markarian
Reader challenge of the week: coarseness and cultural despair
FacebookTwitter
By Kristia Cavere Markarian
January 6, 2016

Two days after Christmas, on Sunday, December 27, my husband Charles and I were fortunate enough to attend the Jets versus Patriots football game at Metlife Stadium in New Jersey.

Our seats were near the 50 yard line, and we were especially blessed to have record-setting 65 degree weather. It was a very exciting game, and the team we were rooting for (the Jets) won in overtime.

But despite the fabulous tickets, lovely weather, and our desired outcome of the game, there was an ugliness that surrounded us.

Foul language was a constant, from the parking lot as we walked to the stadium to the majority of people in our seating section. There were very descriptive death wishes for Tom Brady (the New England quarterback), shouting matches between fans of opposing teams, people so drunk that security had to escort them out, and an obnoxious amount of litter scattered on the ground.

Family friendly it was not.

Then I had my own challenge: what does one do in such circumstances? I can't control how much alcohol people consume or that they dispose of their garbage properly. But could I dare to censure the constant barrage of curse words that many around me kept speaking (or screaming)?

There is no doubt rudeness has overtaken our society. The examples seem endless: road rage, cutting in line, letting a door slam into the face of the person behind you, dog excrement being left on sidewalks, people talking loudly (sometimes about very personal matters) on their cell phones, leaving shopping carts in the middle of parking lots.

I believe this coarseness is a significant reason why so many of us feel our country is headed in the wrong direction. There are many problems at home and abroad, of course, but challenges have always been with us. It is the day to day witnessing of and being a victim to rudeness that is why many feel cultural despair.

I've identified four reasons why society is more discourteous now than ever before:

1. Globalization – the outsourcing of jobs has created unprecedented competition on the workforce, with employees fearing for their jobs and working much longer hours.

2. Materialization – couples have big mortgages for their big houses and fancy lifestyles, thus forcing both to work long hours, rush in traffic to pick up their kids from daycare, and generally be exhausted and overwhelmed.

3. Isolation – computers, video games, and all those other gadgets are isolating people from each other, and in addition people are increasingly living far away from other family members.

4. Secularization – with the foundation of religion eroding, fewer people are being taught how to love their neighbor.

I have compassion on those who are impolite. Yes, I truly felt sympathy for the two young men Jet fans behind us who used the f word at least once in every sentence and who sincerely wished Brady would break his back.

Because people who are rude do not know how to treat others the way they themselves would want to be treated. Perhaps they do not even know how to love themselves.

My challenge was solved by Charles. Shortly into the first quarter, he said very loudly to no one in particular, "Can everyone watch their language in front of my wife, please?" A moment later he cheerfully said, "Thank you!"

He is my hero, because so often he has the courage to do what I wished I had done myself.

For the rest of the game, the curse words from our area were only sporadic. I did, however, hear expletives being shouted from other seating sections, as they perhaps did not have any advocate for more civilized public speech.

This New Year I've resolved to not be silent when I am a witness to or a victim of rudeness, and I invite everyone to join me and share their stories with me. I will be polite and will use the words please, kindly, and thank you. But I will speak up.

This will take courage. But I'm determined to try. Let us join together to transform our culture back to a more polite and considerate one.

© Kristia Cavere Markarian

 

The views expressed by RenewAmerica columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of RenewAmerica or its affiliates.
(See RenewAmerica's publishing standards.)

Click to enlarge

Kristia Cavere Markarian

Kristia Cavere Markarian and her husband, Charles, are committed Christians. Her background is in finance, national security, and education. Everyone is welcome to connect with Kristia through Twitter and Facebook. On her website, she writes every weekday about faith & values, marriage & relationships, child-rearing, etiquette, current events, and all of life's joys: www.ChristianHousewifeOfNewJersey.com.

Subscribe

Receive future articles by Kristia Cavere Markarian: Click here

More by this author

 

Stephen Stone
HAPPY EASTER: A message to all who love our country and want to help save it

Stephen Stone
The most egregious lies Evan McMullin and the media have told about Sen. Mike Lee

Siena Hoefling
Protect the Children: Update with VIDEO

Stephen Stone
FLASHBACK to 2020: Dems' fake claim that Trump and Utah congressional hopeful Burgess Owens want 'renewed nuclear testing' blows up when examined

Victor Sharpe
May God help us all

Jerry Newcombe
That pesky First Amendment

Michael Bresciani
Bring back a trusted, America-loving patriot with a proven record, or drink cackling Kamala’s Kool Aid and die

Curtis Dahlgren
Will there be better times, or what? Signs of hope

Cliff Kincaid
Holocaust survivor warns of world war

Tom DeWeese
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are beginning to crumble – none too soon

Cherie Zaslawsky
Kopy Kat Kamala

Marsha West
Who are the Emergent Church leaders and where are they now?

Tom DeWeese
What city planners are really planning and how to challenge it

Robert Meyer
Abortion on demand: Sacrament of the Democratic Party

Joan Swirsky
Suicidal Jews

Jerry Newcombe
A nation in need of true revival
  More columns

Cartoons


Click for full cartoon
More cartoons

Columnists

Matt C. Abbott
Chris Adamo
Russ J. Alan
Bonnie Alba
Chuck Baldwin
Kevin J. Banet
J. Matt Barber
Fr. Tom Bartolomeo
. . .
[See more]

Sister sites