Essay

Quatica Trammer

English 132

Significance of Sir and Ma’am’

Have you ever called your mom, teacher, or any other adult Ma’am or Sir? Do you believe "sir" and ma'am" shows respect and should be used by children when they speak to adults? Do you require your children to say "please" and "thank you" and "excuse me"? Is "yeah" and "whatever" acceptable? What about calling adults by their first name? Oh - how about table manners? One of the biggest complaints of older adults today is the decline of manners and respect for elders in children, young and older. Have we loosened up on teaching etiquette to our children? Or has etiquette changed with the times to a point that we have tossed aside much of what we grew up with and feel it is no longer necessary? What do you expect from your children? What does "polite" and "well- mannered" mean to you? Saying yes/no Ma’am or yes/no Sir is just as important as saying please or thank you. In the North people don’t make a big deal about saying ma’am or sir like us people in the South do.

Some may say that it mainly derived from slavery, and commanders. I disagree with that. sure slaves had to answer their owners and masters by sir and ma’am as a sign of recognition. And soldiers answering their commanders by the saying Ma’am’ and Sir is just common courtesy. I honestly believe that saying yes ma’am no ma’am yes sir no sir is a form of respect that all elders should be granted. As the bible would say and I quote “respect your elders or your days will be numbered. There is a song by the Confederate Railroad titled “Time off for bad behavior”. I'm up and gone every day at dawn just a workin' like a regular dog. To keep the woman and the water and the lights and the phone turned on. I've been sayin' "Yes sir" all day at work, I've been sayin' "Yes maam" at home Savin' up my cuss words and keepin' 'em under my tongue. And the Chorus says. I need a little time off for bad behavior. The devil in me done been asleep too long. I...