Hujambo!, Selamat Paji!, Guten Tag!, Nee How! or in English Good Day! I started this commentary by greeting you all in 5 different languages: Swahili, Indonesian, German, Chinese, and English respectively. Different languages they may be but they show the same thing ... Courtesy.
Courtesy is a virtue that is universal. It applies to people of different nationalities and races.
This virtue of Courtesy is a product of another virtue: Charity. With it, we think more about others than of ourselves. We become sensitive to their needs and feelings. Courtesy is not limited to those classy people riding their own planes or yachts. Some of them even seem to lack it more than those who have nothing at all. Sometimes, one gets the impression that the latter seem to know and also practice this virtue more than we do. They know how to respect because that is what they expect in return. It is easier for them to be humble because they have nothing. It would probably be easier for a poor fellow to apologize compared to someone far richer.
Just in case you do not know, a good way of establishing and maintaining friendship is by being courteous. A simple "hi!" to a girl might lead to a conversation. The mere lack of courteous men, or rather gentlemen, makes the girls (of the good sort) appreciate even the simplest gesture of courtesy. As a former teacher would say "dagdag sa pogi points".
Being gentlemen as we should be, we are living up to the expectations of the school -Viriliter Agite: to act like men, and if I may add "... like gentlemen".
By acting that way, we not only make our teachers happy but also our families as well. Our actions also speak of the kind of family we've been brought up in. It shows how our parents brought us up: the values they taught us and the kind of culture they inculcated in us. "A tree is known by its fruits"-our parents, through us.
We should practice this virtue all the time and towards everyone. It would be good to do so not only among our peers, but to our household helps as well—they need it. It somehow reaffirms to them that they are human persons since you are treating them as such, with respect. Courtesy shows our culture, the thing that separates humans from beasts.
I would like to end this commentary with a SHORT COURSE IN HUMAN RELATIONS:
If you want to narrow down the most important words to six they are: "I admit I made a mistake."
If to five: "You did a good job."
To four: "What is your opinion?"
Three: "If you please."
Two: "Thank you."
One: "WE"
The least important word: "I"
MOTTO: A name is not given, it is earned.