Nonprofit University Blog

In criminology, there is a theory called “broken windows” used to explain how neighborhoods decline and become riddled with crime. Simply put, it goes like this: when the first evidence of “petty” crimes—vandalism, graffiti, loitering—goes unchecked and uncorrected, that is a signal to others that the neighborhood does not care. It is a welcome sign for more serious criminal activity. The first broken window that goes unrepaired, the initial graffiti that is not instantly removed, invites other, more serious crime into the neighborhood. Thus, this theory says, we need to worry about and respond to “public nuisance” crimes in a serious way.

I’d like to expand this notion to “broken decorum.” It goes like this: when a society no longer values or expects basic politeness, an adherence to the basics of please and thank you, it is a signal that society no longer cares about the homeless, the ill, poverty, hunger, health and wellbeing, the arts, etc. It has put out the welcome sign for self-centeredness and a lack of caring for others. The ramifications for our nonprofit sector are huge. This is not a conservative rant, please understand that, but a logical thought process that worries me greatly.

Recently, I have become even more appalled at the lack of common courtesy and respect exhibited regularly by people of all ages, but in particular by those who are of the generations that are, as we so love to say, “the leaders of tomorrow.” If our future leaders do not know how to hold a door open for someone more senior than they, how will they know they have a responsibility to care for a homebound neighbor? If our future leaders do not know how to say thank you when another does something for them, or to give up a seat on a crowded bus to a senior citizen or an adult with a baby, how will they know that they should care about the sick, providing access to all to the arts, ensuring a quality education for all children, protecting the environment, and so much more? If our future leaders aren’t being taught the rules of civility and protocol that ensure that a society’s windows are not broken, then we have opened the flood gates for a society that will no longer care about those less fortunate.

And this scares me.