Lets do some background for this one. I grew up in what I call a traditional southern family. I was lucky I had both my parents still happily married, my three siblings to which I am the youngest, and two generations of Grandmothers (giving me 3 Grandmothers). I was blessed with a healthy family and extended family. Both my parents were raised in homes that were strong in faith and in traditions. This may be the only time you really see me bring up faith or religion here, but it plays into the subject so much that I cannot omit it. The church is one way that this respect was taught to us but also a great deal in why it was so important to so many in my family. My family has long history in the church on both sides and I was brought up to act in a Christian way. Which to my family means being kind and polite to everyone and that means everyone. So I am respectful to everyone no matter what race, religion, ethnicity or social class. I am very thankful to my family for raising us to be such wonderfully kind polite adults. I look forward to seeing how my nieces and nephews take this upbringing and improve it.
So growing up in the "hills" of Georgia meant many things to the way I am today I love the way I am because of this by the upbringing. I would not have changed a thing. Growing up I was always taught to be respectful to strangers and my elders. I will always call people ma'am and sir until the day I leave this reality. Yes, you can ask me to to call you by your name but it will change nothing. I have a wonderful memory from a class in Uni where my professor was fascinated and amused by my manner. He had repeatedly asked me not to call him sir or Mr/Prof Chignell. So, I happily explained that it was the way I was raised and that my father would shoot if he ever found out. Now when I say that I don't mean to apply that I feared actual violence from my father, but more I feared his disappointment in me which would feel like I was being shot. He just smiled at me and we continued with me always speaking to him with southern respect.
I am not saying that other cultures do not instill this moral manner in their young but from what I have seen it you are more likely to see it more in a southern person of any age. People here just seem to find this respect to be second nature, like saying thank you or please. I found this to be such a part of my psyche that I actually call my husband, who is my senior in age, sir when accepting a task. At first my husband played it up but I think he has come to realize that I do it without knowing.
So growing up in the "hills" of Georgia meant many things to the way I am today I love the way I am because of this by the upbringing. I would not have changed a thing. Growing up I was always taught to be respectful to strangers and my elders. I will always call people ma'am and sir until the day I leave this reality. Yes, you can ask me to to call you by your name but it will change nothing. I have a wonderful memory from a class in Uni where my professor was fascinated and amused by my manner. He had repeatedly asked me not to call him sir or Mr/Prof Chignell. So, I happily explained that it was the way I was raised and that my father would shoot if he ever found out. Now when I say that I don't mean to apply that I feared actual violence from my father, but more I feared his disappointment in me which would feel like I was being shot. He just smiled at me and we continued with me always speaking to him with southern respect.
I am not saying that other cultures do not instill this moral manner in their young but from what I have seen it you are more likely to see it more in a southern person of any age. People here just seem to find this respect to be second nature, like saying thank you or please. I found this to be such a part of my psyche that I actually call my husband, who is my senior in age, sir when accepting a task. At first my husband played it up but I think he has come to realize that I do it without knowing.
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