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Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Gallantry Is for Gentlemen of Distinction

Dear Source:
Gallantry is still alive and well in our modern day Virgin Islands. Some just don’t believe it when they see it. They look for some ulterior motive. They see a man opening the car door for a lady and they inevitably think “either the girl is new, the car is new or he’s looking for something tonight.” They see us pulling out the chair for her to sit and they assume the chair was in our way. They see a male stand up as a lady excuses herself momentarily from the table and they think he is confused or looking around for some man she might be secretly meeting by the bathroom.
When a man carries a dozen roses home with him, some believe that he did something wrong and is looking for redemption. They don’t think he’s in trouble – they already know!
When men hold the door for others, observers think they are the doormen. When climbing up or down stairs, if we let a lady go first there are those who think that we did it to get a better view of her posterior.
It is sad to say that many women see modern day gallantry as a sign of weakness thereby discouraging some men. However, there are still some of us gallant knights, just plain old “gentlemen,” who have made it a way of life and have tried to pass on these graces to our sons. We are not looking for understanding, approval, appreciation or any “extras.” That’s just the way we are and the way we were brought up.
Women still appreciate being appreciated and an occasional compliment goes a long way towards brightening her day. You should try it sometimes because remember they are our mothers, sisters, wives, fiancés and lovers and deserve the special attention they get. And to all the people who say being a gallant gentleman and being polite is being a hypocrite, I simply respond by saying that if saying good morning, to apologize, to thank, to help someone in need, to be attentive to others or to just be a gentleman is being a hypocrite, then I gladly welcome the insult. Gentlemen, this Father’s Day and every day let’s continue to show the ladies in our lives that gallantry is still alive in our Virgin Islands.
Clement “Cain” Magras

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