The fifth
element of the Boy Scout Law is: A Scout is Courteous. To be courteous is more than just being able
to say please and thank you at the right times.
To be courteous is knowing how to treat others with respect and
kindness. It is to be able to show
caring for others and a willingness to go out of your way to be helpful. In short, it is to be a gentleman.
Some may think that the concept
of being a gentleman is outdated and no
longer applies to our present-day society.
That is misguided thinking. The
need for the real gentleman is more
critical now than ever before. The
shortage of gentleman is not a matter of culture or social norms, it is that we
do not teach this principle to our boys anymore. They have few examples to follow and many
times are taught that you must first look out for yourself - which is the
opposite of being a real gentleman.
“Chivalry never dies. The
gentleman in most men did. Being male is
a matter of birth. Being a man is a
matter of age. But, being a gentleman is
a matter of choice.”
– Knights of the Free Company
Amateur
Sporting team
Scouting strives to help young
men learn that being a person of good manners and one who practices kindness to
all, is a place of power not of weakness. There is no shame in being a
gentleman. The shame comes from causing hurt and damage to others when you can
rather be a source of encouragement and kindness.
So how do we restore this quality in our young people and return to a
more civil and caring society? (I do
believe it is possible to change society by changing the people in it. We did not get to where we are by accident,
it was a deliberate choice. It will take
a deliberate choice to change things for the better.)
Teach the Importance of Caring
The key to good manners, acts of
kindness and right behavior is nothing more than simply caring for and about other people. When we care about how others feel and how we
can help them to succeed, we cannot help but show good manners. It is the Golden Rule put into action:
"Do to others as you would have them do to you." If we care we will do what is right.
Teach the Importance of Courage
There are few men braver than a
gentleman. It takes courage to do what
is right. It is a brave man who will
show respect and care for others. When you always show good manners and do what is right, some may
criticize you and make fun of you.
However, the real gentleman is willing to stand for what is right, help
others and ignore the heat.
Teach the Importance of Pride
We tend to think that pride is
an ego thing and something that must be avoided. That is not the case. To take pride in yourself is to understand
that touch the lives of others and how you behave matters. If you are proud of who you are and what you
stand for, you will have confidence and be willing to do far more than what is
expected of you. A gentleman is proud to
be a servant to others, proud to be an American, proud to be a Scout.
You
matter! You matter to the world and to
yourself. Remember to be your best, love
God, have good manners, achieve the unknown and change your world.
Scouting Out of Uniform
is a personal blog based on the lessons learned from Scouting that relate to
personal development and success principles and is not an official site of The
Boy Scouts of America. John Patrick Hickey does not represent or speak for the
Scouting program; however, he does completely support and encourages Scouting
for both young and old. John Patrick Hickey is an author, speaker, Personal
Development Coach and proud Scouter. To read more from John Patrick Hickey or
to get his books, training and book him to speak to your church, business or
group, visit our website at www.johnpatrickhickey.com. © 2018 John Patrick Hickey
No comments:
Post a Comment