To the Editor:
In 1960 I was five years old and starting kindergarten at Bunker Hill School in Waterbury, Connecticut. Each morning I walked with the older kids in my neighborhood to the bus stop. There were no big yellow school buses, but only city buses. I thought this was the greatest as I got to ride the bus by myself. My how grown up I thought I was. Strange that nobody thought any less of a five-year-old riding the city bus or that I would have been kidnapped or worse by today’s standards. Everyone looked out for each other. I am not sure my poor mother felt the same, but she was at home with my two-year-old sister.
Each morning we said the Lord’s Prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. We were taught respect for our flag and our country. Memorial Day and the 4th of July were great holidays, I got to waive the flag at every parade my dad took me too. It was a great time to grow up.
Fast forward to 2022, what happened? There are some in our society for various reasons, who have lost respect for teachers and law enforcement. God help me if I showed any disrespect for my teachers or law enforcement. My father’s boot print would have been embedded on my back side.
I was taught to give respect in order to get respect. Speak to other people the way you want to be spoken to and treated, humbly.
Respect and kindness in the world, where did it go? Maybe it’s time to get back to basics of caring, helping and being respectful to our neighbors. One act of kindness a day will help everyone feel better about themselves and each other.
Patti Myers
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