What We Lack

God Speed! - Edmund Leighton
(Source)

As I was reading this over at Grim's Hall today, I started thinking about our modern society, and just how raucous, discourteous, and uncivil it is. (Read this as well.)

While Grim has a nice take on what is and isn't a "gentleman," he leans towards the courteousness required when everyone is armed and being rude might get you shot/stabbed/bludgeoned, I had to dig a bit further. After all, in Japan one is polite because of hundreds of years of tradition, which in olden times kept you from getting beheaded by a samurai because you looked askance at him.

Yes, everyone was polite to avoid that. Especially if you were not a samurai.

While being armed does enforce politeness and courtesy (to avoid being shot/stabbed/bludgeoned), there is more to being a "gentleman," if you will. As I pondered all that, this word popped into my head -

chivalry

the medieval knightly system with its religious, moral, and social code.

• historical

knights, noblemen, and horsemen collectively.
"I fought against the cream of French chivalry"

• the combination of qualities expected of an ideal knight, especially courage, honor, courtesy, justice, and a readiness to help the weak.

synonyms: knight errantry, courtly manners, knightliness, courtliness, nobility; bravery, courage, boldness, valor, heroism, daring, intrepidity; bushido
"the values of chivalry"

• courteous behavior, especially that of a man toward women.

"their relations with women were models of chivalry and restraint"
synonyms: gallantry, gentlemanliness, courtesy, courteousness, politeness, graciousness, mannerliness, good manners
"acts of chivalry"
antonyms: rudeness

The word itself comes from Middle English: from Old French chevalerie, from medieval Latin caballerius, from late Latin caballarius‘ horseman’ (see chevalier). (Source)

We usually associate the term chivalry with the medieval knight, it was the concept they were supposed to embody, to live up to. Often, they did not. Many knights were coarse brutes, so troublesome that the Crusades were allegedly dreamed up to get them to go recover the Holy Land from the infidel. And take their troublesome ways with them.

Then there are the rules which supposedly define chivalry -

The Ten Commandments of the Medieval Code of Chivalry:

• Thou shalt believe all that the Church teaches, and shalt observe all its directions.
• Thou shalt defend the Church.
• Thou shalt respect all weaknesses, and shalt constitute thyself the defender of them.
• Thou shalt love the country in the which thou wast born.
• Thou shalt not recoil before the enemy.
• Thou shalt make war against the Infidel without cessation, and without mercy.
• Thou shalt perform scrupulously thy feudal duties, if they be not contrary to the laws of God.
• Thou shalt never lie, and shalt remain faithful to thy pledged word.
• Thou shalt be generous, and give largesse to everyone.
• Thou shalt be everywhere and always the champion of the Right and the Good against Injustice and Evil. (Source)

If you look through those "commandments," you can see that there is good stuff contained therein. You're supposed to be a Believer and follow and defend the Church. Defend the weak, love thy country, no cowardice in the face of an enemy, etc., etc.

Modern society says that "if it feels good, do it," that there are no moral absolutes, and what is wrong for some is right for others. It's all how one identifies. (What the Hell is up with pronouns anyway?)

Poppycock.

We need (and used to have) a religious, moral, and social code.

Most of the problem with the world today is a lack of morality, a lack of civility.

Damn it, good manners are lacking.

I'd be interested in your thoughts on the subject.

Fire away.