WHO IS A SOUTHERN GENTLEMEN?
When I hear the term Southern Gentlemen, I see Robert E. Lee, Harlan Sanders, Rhett Butler, or Andy Griffith. Growing up in the south in the 1950's and 1960's was both a blessing and a curse, for we witnessed the end of tradition that defined the role of a Southern Gentleman and a Southern Belle and the beginning of what we have now in our country. An old fashioned saying I heard so often as a child, "should never throw out the baby with the bathwater." We have done that in the last 50 years. Here are some implied rules about being a gentleman taught by our parents
1. Men of Honor A southern gentleman does not offend others by what he says or what he does. A southern gentleman should never tell a lie about or seek to discredit another gentleman or the gentleman's wife or children. The offended gentleman is honor bound to defend his honor through a duel or other means. If an apology is given the and the offended party forgives, it is not binding on other members of the community.
Men of honor do not hurt someone who is weaker or harms another for personal gain. Men of honor do not always take the easy way.
2. Men of savoir-faire
- A southern gentleman is adaptable. He knows the right thing to do in a situation.
- He does not yell or talk loud. He speaks in a normal conversational tone.
- He does not offend in the way he dresses. Some view the southern gentleman as Colonel Sanders or Robert E Lee, but the Southern Gentleman does dress to be superior or snobbish. He can wear blue jeans or a white suit. He is always clean and wears clothes that fit well and are clean.
- A gentleman is not defined by the size or location of his home. He may live in a mansion in the city, a log cabin in the woods, or a modular home on a country road.
3. A southern gentleman is hospitable.
A gentleman opens doors for ladies, always stands when ladies enter a room, offers a lady his seat, and always pulls out the chair for her to sit down. When passing a lady on the street, he tips his hat. Always removes his hat at meals, when inside, and in the presence of ladies.
A gentleman always comes to the aid of others in distress. He will take food to those who are sick at home and can't get out. He will aid a stranger whose car is broken down.
A gentleman will say yes ma'am and no ma'am to ladies and yes sir and no sir to men. He is always polite and has manners at all time. He greets visitors to whose home. He makes sure they are fed and have something to drink, places to sleep, and all needs met.
A gentleman will use proper utensils at the meal, He will wait until everyone is served and not eat until everyone is ready to eat. He will ask for permission to leave the table if it is necessary for him to leave. A gentleman will never place more on his plate that he will eat. He uses his napkin during the meal. He never speaks with his mouth full of food.
A gentleman will seek to treat others as he wants to be treated. He will seek to find ways to resolve disagreements through negotiation. He is not selfish.
4. A southern Gentleman is a man
He may own guns, go fishing, hunting, swimming, play football, baseball, or run a marathon. He may be a lawyer, doctor, scientist, clergyman, a mechanic, a factory worker, or a farmer.
He is the head of the family not the dictator. He is to help teach his children respect, duty, manners, hospitality, and right from wrong. He is responsible for security making sure his honor and the honor of his wife and children and family is not attacked. He is to set an example for the children to follow by showing them love and discipline.
He is proud to be from the south and will defend the ideals and traditions of the south and his family. He believes. He is not afraid of hard work that is honest. He earns money through legal ways that do not harm others.
5. A southern gentleman is educated.
A southern gentleman is a learner. He attends school and college. He appreciates the past and its traditions but understands that the present brings challenges and changes. He seeks to understand what is good and what is not.
6. A southern gentleman articulates his views with gentleness, participates with humility, and believes with his heart.
A southern gentleman is a man of faith and hope. He values the past but also looks ahead with a deep faith in God. He may not attend the same church, synagogue, temple, or stake as his friends.
He may not believe in the same political ideals as his neighbor, but politics and religion are not barriers to friendship, respect, and treatment of others.
A southern gentleman will vote, participate in community affairs, be a patron of the arts, help the disadvantaged. He does what he does because he knows it is the right thing to do.
There have been those men I grew up knowing that exhibit what I have described. They were not perfect but they lived lives that showed me a better way....thanks!
WE NEED TO RETURN TO THIS!
Think about it.
Roy
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