Where’s respect once shown for sensibilities?

My wife and I recently went to see the movie “The Blind Side.” I was a bit leery because the promos seemed to promise us yet another predictable story ala “Australia,” but I was pleasantly surprised. Although the beginning and the ending were predictable, the trip from start to finish wasn't. It was a good movie, that is, until we were blindsided by the very end.

Once again they had to dig down into their juvenile backpack of foul language when the mother threatened the youngster with maiming his private body part if he got a girl pregnant (not her exact words).

Respecting other peoples' sensibilities used to be considered a virtue. That isn't true anymore. Disrespect is now considered comedy. We see it every night on TV, in the movies and on stage.

We are becoming desensitized much like when the oil companies wish to raise the price of gasoline from $1.50 to $2.50. They raise it up to $4 and then when they let it sink down to $2.50 we don't complain.

Our local genealogical society had a speaker once who refused to say the h-word, referring to the place opposite of heaven. He didn't want to trample on anyone's sensibilities. That, folks, is integrity. That is what we should be teaching our kids.

Instead we seem to be spiraling down the abyss to our lowest common denominator. Doesn't anyone care anymore?

Wayne Shannon

Vinton