Decent Men

Decency, these days, is like pornography. As Potter Stewart famously declared, "I can't define it but I know it when I see it."

Raised by decent folks, I took fairness for granted. Good manners. Thoughtfulness. Honesty. Villains wore black hats in cowboy movies, bleached their hair and sneaked "foreign objects" into the ring. Nobody could have convinced me that I would live to see "leaders" in government lying on television while preachers advocate hate and prejudice, two cable channels over.

Oh, every now and then a kid would cheat on a test. He- it was always a boy- would get caught and learn his lesson. Of course I was aware that banks were robbed. Sometimes folks are desperate. Kids need shoes. I knew about Capone and Dillinger, but that was like knowing about vampires and zombies.

Now, my innocence has been splattered all over the kitchen floor. I try my best to hold on to my decency, though. If I live long enough for it to come back in fashion, I hope to be all the rage.

Give us peace on earth and end this dreadful, dreadful war.