I know that three weeks ago I wrote about an increase in local politeness, but I wonder if that implies an increase of personal decency. Politeness only goes so far after all. Politeness for politeness’ sake is an empty, cold thing requiring no compassion for others, and can cause us to become distanced from each other. It can also become a façade that we hide behind and thus don’t have to regard properly those around us or our surroundings. Goodness and a healthy society require that our motives be good as well as our results. I can see that a soulless formality can destroy us more assuredly as a race and as a country than a lack of politeness.