What Happened
In a March 21, 2026 column for La Prensa, an educator reflects on how simple greetings such as “buen día” reveal deeper lessons taught at home. The column argues that manners — saying “gracias”, “permiso” or “disculpe” — are not mere formalities but evidence of an upbringing that respects others. The author warns that in everyday life these practices are weakening: people enter places without looking others in the eye, respond without courtesy, and sometimes ignore sincere greetings altogether.
Background
The column links the origins of civility to the household rather than to formal education, noting that values like humility, empathy and respectful communication are formed in family interactions. It emphasizes that while technical skills can be taught in schools and workplaces, the basic habits of courtesy emerge earlier and are reinforced by daily gestures — greeting someone, offering passage, or thanking a service worker.
What This Means
The author highlights consequences visible across public and professional spaces: silence where a reply might be expected, fewer gestures of respect toward elders and women, and a general normalisation of indifference. These shifts do not reflect a lack of knowledge but a weakening of practices once common in the home. For Panama, the column poses a civic question: if small acts of recognition fade, so too can the shared memory of values that sustain social trust and mutual consideration.
Implications and Where to Start
The column offers a simple premise as an opening for action: the recovery of courtesy begins with daily practice. Reintroducing basic salutations and polite gestures can strengthen interpersonal ties and dignity in public life without cost. The author also acknowledges that not everyone grows up with these practices, but insists there is always an opportunity to learn and model respect in family life, workplaces and public institutions.
Closing Thought
By framing the greeting as a visible marker of upbringing and character, the piece calls for attention to small, repeatable acts that project humility and trust. In the author’s view — an educator who signs the column — stopping for a moment to recognise another person is a modest but powerful act of civic culture that helps preserve the values that taught us how to live with one another.