My dad passed away in April of 2005. He was of The Greatest Generation (TGG), a World War II Veteran. Of course, we all know that before too long, we will no longer have any TGGs left or witnesses to pass on the oral history of WWII or the Holocaust. But those aren’t the only important/valuable qualities that will die with this age group. I’m talking about a very important characteristic of my dad’s generation, and that is a little thing called CHIVALRY!
We take these things for granted now, because there are still little old men in the grocery store to say, “Merry Christmas, My Dear” to you, those who will still hold a door open for you, or let you go ahead of them at a check-out counter. I observed at least two gentlemen at 7 o’clock the other morning walk into the restaurant, remove their hats and say “Good Morning” (or at least nod) to each and every one of us on their way to the back table, where they were meeting for coffee. The reason my mom sings out, “There’s a gentleman in the house!” every time a man opens a door for her is that that’s what gentlemen do and because such men are becoming more and more rare. Thanks to the radical feminists of this world, many men are afraid to do perform chivalrous tasks, and some men don’t even know how!
No one ever asked my opinion when they started sending the message that women wanted to open their own office building doors, or car doors, or pickle jars! On the contrary, I love it when my husband does those things for me. (Okay, he hasn’t opened the car door for me in 20 years, but the rest of the stuff does happen.) I love it when he changes the windshield wipers on my car for me (“Just cuz”). I’m sorry, but I don’t want to change my own oil, or shovel the snow, or mow the lawn. Let the men have their jobs!
Yes, I encourage Mr4444 to keep up the modernization of the man’s role in a relationship (he does laundry, cooks often, and does more than his share of parenting), but I’m here to say he is living proof that chivalry does not need to die with TGG. Women, unite! Teach your sons to take the baton from TGG and bring back chivalry on a grand scale! Encourage them to take their caps off in restaurants, open doors for everyone, and help you put your coat on once in a while.
Of course, this would be easier if their fathers modeled it for them. How about it, Dads?! Don’t let chivalry die with The Greatest Generation. Turn Generation X into Generation X-tra, as in Extra Mile. I know many women who will love you for it.
