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Martin Greenwald, M.D.'s avatar

Gentlemanliness is surely one of the more under-cultivated and under-appreciated virtues in our time.

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Art's avatar

This point of this article should be obvious, but for some people, unfortunately not. Nobody ever won an ally by being a jerk.

It also brings to mind a related point: when did becoming mature in mind and body become such a social liability? Remember when we held open doors for our elders? A lack of respect for one’s elders is a sign of a shallow and decadent society. My grandmother lived to 94 and was always the center of wisdom in our family.

Cultures that survive the test of time revere their elders and consult them. Native Americans, Asians, Latin Americans, pretty much everyone but the recent iterations of western countries. These are countries in the greatest cultural decline, and despite the latest technological innovations, are hollowing out spiritually, in the broadest sense of that term.

Our young people are in serious trouble, and the increasing suicide rates of young people is the tip of the iceberg. If we had better ways of bringing the young and the old into conversation, we might see tremendous benefits.

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