“A Scout is polite to everyone regardless of age or position. He knows good manners make it easier for people to get along together. ” ~The Boy Scout Handbook, 12th Edition.
For many people, the name ‘Boy Scout’ means two things: First Aid, and helping old ladies across the street. It is no mistake that this image of courtesy and helpfulness has become
synonymous with the Boy Scouts of America. You may also notice that courteous, helpful, cheerful and kind are very similar and woven together like strands of a rope.
“A Scout is polite to everyone regardless of age or position. He knows good manners make it easier for people to get along together. ” ~The Boy Scout Handbook, 12th Edition.
To be courteous means to be a gentleman. As a Scout, you should be a gentleman to everyone regardless of age or position. What does courtesy look like: Holding the door open for others to pass through. Greeting people with a firm handshake and kind word, giving up your seat on a crowded bus, saying “excuse me” when you accidentally bump into someone, and a simple “please” and “Thank-you”. These are just a few examples, but remember that courtesy occurs out of a respect for other people.
You may have heard people complain that “common courtesy is no longer common”. There is a perception that courtesy has become a thing of the past and that the generation of young people today do not understand the basics of courtesy. I would challenge this assertion and say that the Boy Scouts of America continues to promote an environment where courtesy is common.
So prove me right, make an effort this week to show your respect to someone else though an act of common courtesy. Remember, true courtesy is accompanied by an attitude of cheerfulness and service to others; not out of obligation. You may be able to go through the motions of courtesy, but without a heart that cares for others you courtesy is a hollow action. Finally, remember that courtesy begins at home. Feel free to practice some common courtesy on your family and when they ask “why”, you can just smile and wink.
BSA Troop 204 