SAY PLEASE, SAY THANK YOU In a world bereft of the simple words of kindness, the considerate gestures, the acknowledgments of deeds well done, these engaging, insightful, and often humorous stories reflect on the scarcity of civility in our lives and the importance of  small acts of thoughtfulness, compassion, and respect.  Rudeness, incivility, violence--the news is saturated with evidence that basic human courtesy is vanishing from our lives; and the results are more than rising blood pressure and flaring tempers. "The neglect of courtesy leads to the collapse of community," observes Donald McCullough. "At the heart of discourtesy is lack of respect for persons; it has less to do with breaking rules of etiquette than breaking the ties that bind us together."  In Say Please, Say Thank You, Dr. McCullough explores many of life's "little" opportunities for treating others with decency and consideration--not only because they have earned it, but because they deserve it as fellow human beings. From saying please or thank you to keeping a secret to treating elders with respect, each of us can help build a community one small act at a time. In the process, we build character--becoming gracious people, more able to give and receive life's simple but essential gifts.  Through the absorbing stories in this book, Dr. McCullough not only speaks to the reader about a wide range of circumstances that affect us every day, but also speaks for us as he articulates our frustrations, concerns, and despair.