The Republican National Convention

I am watching the Republican National Convention this week. Of course, I am watching  a liberal slanted network, but what they are saying resonates with me. There are problems. 

Mrs.Trump made a very good speech last night.  It turns out, some of the content was plagiarized from Mrs. Obama in 2008 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/melania-trump-speech-plagiarized_us_578da752e4b0a0ae97c33675.  I do not blame Mrs. Trump. I think the people who helped her with her speech are to blame. I saw the speech.  Mrs. Trump did a very good job. And, let's face it, imitation is the highest form of flattery.

Tonight, I watched again.  As the state of Alaska screwed up the schedule by contesting the way their votes were recorded.  But this was resolved, the speeches progressed, and the night was not much of a surprise. Donald Trumps' daughter Tiffany spoke, as did his son Donald Trump Jr.  Junior was superb as an advocate for his father. 

I was not impressed. 

Changing conventions

I remember when I was on a business trip in Austin, Texas, in the early 1990's.  I worked then, as now, for the State of Texas, and we were ensconced in an upscale hotel that gave the state a rate for employees on business.  At breakfast, I asked the waitress if I could get a diet Coke instead of a coffee.  She was not sure: she had not served diet Coke for breakfast before.  I got my diet Coke.  The next morning, a couple of other patrons asked for soft drinks for breakfast, too.  

Now, it is not unusual in fast food restaurants as well as sit down restaurants to get soft drinks at breakfast. (Truck stops served soft drinks at breakfast for years before this.) So much has changed in our society in the last 20 plus years.

Conventions change.  Our society has become so much less formal over the years. This is not bad, except that we have lost some of the politeness and consideration that went with the formality. Good manners do not require formality.  They just require consideration of other people.  We should not confuse the two.