Another thread where PC is put down got me to thinking.... where does common courtesy stop and political correctness begin ? I admire courteous and polite people very much. I tended to be brusque with telephone solicitors and others who call at the shop or even uninvited phone calls at home.

One of my co-workers became a great example for me of common courtesy. He is so friendly and polite to anyone who calls that I came to admire that and changed my demeanor since then. Remembering to treat people as I would like to be treated.

An amusing example came to mind in this quote taken from a broadcast on Jimmy Carter in the American Experience series on PBS. Here is the quote, bear with it as it is long but it is great IMO.

Doug Brinkley: There's that wonderful story of Miss Lillian when one reporter a woman from New York came down to Plains, and Miss Lillian greeted her and said, "Welcome to Plains. You know, it's so nice to see you. Would you like some lemonade? How was your journey, your dress is beautiful." You know, poring on the Southern hospitality. And the reporter jumped right in on Miss Lillian and said, "Now Miss Lillian, your son is running for president saying he'll never tell a lie. As a mother, are you telling me he's never told a lie?" She goes, "Oh well Jimmy tells white lies all the time." And the reporter said, well tell me what, what do you mean? What is a white lie?" And Miss Lillian said, "Well, remember when I said, welcome to Plains and how good it is to see you? That's a white lie."